First Baptist Family:

I am writing to share an update in our Music Ministry Transition plans. Earlier this week, we learned that Eric Mathis has rescinded his commitment to come to First Baptist Greensboro as Associate Pastor of Music & Worship. 

Eric accepted our Congregation’s call on April 28. He was scheduled to begin his tenure with us on September 3. During this transition period, Eric was offered a new job and arrangement at the church he was departing, First Baptist Church in Washington, DC. This includes shifts in responsibility, compensation and advancement opportunities. First Baptist DC has also made changes in staffing this summer, leading to a redistribution of responsibilities and change in workplace environment. Coinciding with this, Eric has himself indicated that he has altered his vocational and professional pursuits in the time since his call to First Greensboro. The transition period we arranged together was in order to enable him to serve as Acting Pastor in the sabbatical absence of First DC’s Senior Pastor — an experience that has contributed to him shifting his current interests and plans away from music ministry and more toward general pastoral leadership. His new job includes responsibilities in Formation, Worship and Leadership without his previous tasks in Church Administration and Music Ministry. Eric found this combination of factors to be highly appealing, competitive, and ultimately preferred to the job he accepted here.

This shift is atypical, particularly in its timing. Eric’s last Sunday in DC was to be this Sunday, July 28. No doubt, we all feel surprise. There are feelings of disappointment, to be sure, especially from those who have been most closely connected to this process. We hold all of those processing this change in love and prayer. As we have shared this news in smaller groups, amidst the response it has been so encouraging to sense a uniform spirit of resolve, commitment and hope.

As we have said throughout, a Search and Call process is a reaffirmation of who we are as a church. Amidst this change, we can be grateful for the gifts of this process that remain with us. We have practiced emotional vulnerability, spiritual integrity, generosity, trust and deep faithfulness. We have shown ourselves to be imaginative, ambitious, open, inclusive and confident about the future. We are a stronger and healthier church through this process, and we will carry that forward. This also allows us to pray God’s blessings for Eric and First Baptist DC, and to trust that this change is ultimately best for all.

In the immediate, we continue with our interim leadership arrangement and are grateful to have so many gifts and resources present in our Congregation. Our Personnel and Search Committees will be meeting in coming days to discuss next steps and will remain in communication with the Congregation. Whether now or in the weeks ahead, please know our staff and leadership are present to you and to your questions as they might arise. 

Thank you, friends, for your continuing faithfulness in this and in all things. We love our church, we are confident in the Spirit’s work among us, and we move forward with continued “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.”

Together In Love,