Message to Franklin Baptist Church from Pastor Tim

To our Franklin Baptist Church family,

I am writing to let you know that over recent months God has been leading me to consider new ways to serve Him.  There are a range of emotions I feel as I need to inform you all that I have resigned from the role of senior pastor at Franklin Baptist Church to take up a new ministry role.  

Recently I have sensed that it is time to shift away from a senior pastor role after 7 years at Franklin Baptist and a further 6 years at Waihi Baptist.  These years have been fulfilling, stretching, challenging and joyful.  It is humbling to recognise the way the Holy Spirit has been at work in people’s lives, and it is a privilege and grace to share in this.  I am deeply grateful for the people God has placed around me over this time, including each of the staff and leadership team at Franklin Baptist Church throughout my time here. 

I have just accepted a leadership position at Gracecity Church (formerly known as Greenlane Christian Centre).  My new role will bring leadership to pastors who currently lead campuses/congregations, and also to help train new pastors specifically toward church campus planting.  I will be working within a pastoral leadership team under a visionary senior pastor whom I deeply respect.  It will be an opportunity to focus on equipping pastors for ministry and mission in our growing city.  I know that the new role will also be stretching, yet it seems like a really good fit in this next season.  Jenni and our family are supportive of this decision and we are still adjusting to the idea.

This news is very fresh to our leadership team and staff, who just heard about it this week.  The leadership team will be meeting on Monday night to discuss the next steps, including establishing a call committee and discussion with the Baptist Northern Association.  I will be joining you all in prayer for this discernment process.  God has gifted Franklin Baptist church with excellent and capable leaders and staff, and I ask you to pray for all of them at this time.  We are still working through dates and details for next year.

The past few years at Franklin Baptist have been challenging for everyone with the impact of COVID lockdowns, vaccine mandates and my burnout recovery situation.  I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our leadership team, staff and others who surrounded our family with hope, care and support.  You did everything possible (…and more!) to enable a complete recovery.  The new executive pastor role was an excellent decision which will continue to benefit the church moving forward.  The journey also helped me identify areas of ministry strength, alongside gaps and limitations within my leadership skills and capacity.  Through this I have clearly recognised that God is now calling me to a different kind of ministry role. 

However, I will go with a sense of optimism for the future of FBC.  The church has many amazing people who serve faithfully in the life of the church.  The next five years leading up to the church centenary will be significant.  The Holy Spirit will lead and define a new chapter to continue outworking the heritage of God's redemptive presence in this community.  I will be praying with you as you discern where God is leading.

Grace and peace,

Tim Palmer
 

Message to Franklin Baptist Church from the Leadership Team

It was with very mixed emotions that the Leadership Team heard and accepted that Tim will be leaving his position as Senior Pastor here at Franklin Baptist.

We have so valued and appreciated Tim’s passion for the teaching & mission of God’s Word, his love for our fellowship and it’s people, and the involvement of Jenni and all the family in our church life as they have shared in our lives.

We are however excited for them as the position Tim has been called to seems an excellent fit for the training and passion God has given him for the training and equipping of new pastors in a team environment.

We believe too that as God enables & blesses in the going out, He will enable & bless us as we move to bring new leadership into our pastoral team.

Faye Snook

On behalf of the Leadership Team