Update from the Mission Study Team (MST)
Monday, August 24, 2026

During worship yesterday, the Mission Study Team shared about their work as they begin laying the foundation for our upcoming senior pastor search. They would love to hear from you! Please consider completing this survey so that the Mission Study document reflects as many voices as possible.

Click on the SURVEY button below. Fill in your name and email address. Click on “Yes! I Want the Survey and eBook.”

A few things to keep in mind:

• All responses will be strictly confidential (only our external consultant will know who said what).

• If you’d rather complete it via pen and paper, stop by the Connect Center to pick up a hard copy!

• The Mission Study Team will also be hosting an informal Q&A about the Mission Study and Pastoral Transition process after worship on Sunday, August 30, in the Fireside Room.

_________________________________

Meet Your Mission Study Team (MST)
Thursday, August 20, 2026

The Mission Study Team is comprised of:
Matt Bumpus, Dave Andersen, Gini Hinch, Kris Swenson and Julie Huber

_________________________________

Update from Session
Thursday, June 11, 2026

Dear Friends,

At our Session retreat on Saturday, we took some time to reflect on the news of John’s impending retirement. First, we are profoundly grateful for John’s faithful, strong, generous, and compassionate leadership. We’re sad: we’ll miss John and Jen deeply. And additionally, there are feelings of uncertainty and anxiety as First Pres moves toward a season of transition. Maybe you can relate to our mixed emotions.

We’d also like to take this opportunity to share some initial news.

On Saturday morning, Session members had a good meeting with Sheryl Kinder-Pyle, our Executive Presbyter, who talked through next steps, answered many questions, and laid out some options for us to consider. Here’s a summary of where things stand currently after that conversation and some prayerful discernment.

Step one, as John mentioned in his letter, is a Mission Study. This process will result in a document that highlights our identity as a church, as well as our strengths and the challenges we face as we seek to live out the gospel together. We will be contracting with a consultant who will facilitate this work alongside a committee comprised of three elders and a few other First Pres members. The Mission Study will probably take 3-4 months to complete.

Once the Mission Study is complete, we will start the search process for a new senior pastor (or clergy couple). John’s 18-month “offramp” is a major advantage! We will do our best to carry out and complete the search -- identify and call a new senior pastor -- while John is still serving in his role. In other words, Session is unanimous in our desire to carry out this process without hiring an interim pastor.

We’ll have much more information to share in the weeks and months to come about the search process. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you have questions or thoughts, and please join us in praying as we embark on this transition together.

In Christ,
Session, First Presbyterian Church of Spokane

Jimmy Condon, Gini Hinch, Wendy Largent, Krystal Roberts, Dave Andersen, Matt Bumpus, Raeann Decker, Vivianne Schuur, Dan Finney, Colt Greer, Hannah Stearns, Paige Swaim

_________________________________

A Special Message from Pastor John Sowers
Saturday, June 6, 2026

Dear Friends,

I love First Presbyterian Church. I love the people of this church – how you love the Lord and love each other and love our community. I celebrate what the Lord is doing here and the ways in which all of you are responding to the leading of the Spirit. With all of that said, I have some news to share.

By January of 2028 I will have turned 67 years old and will have served here as senior pastor for twenty years. That’s twenty good years pastoring this wonderful church. My plan is to retire at that time.

I shared my retirement plans with the Session and the staff earlier today at our annual retreat. And now, with this letter, I am sharing the news with you.

So, why am I sharing this news now – a year and a half prior to my scheduled departure? I want to provide First Pres flexibility in finding my successor.

Here is a basic outline of the process according to our PCUSA Book of Order: Under the Session’s leadership, the process begins by doing a “mission study” of the church. The mission study team will produce a document that lays out who we are, who we wish to be, what our strengths are and what areas need to be strengthened. The study will also look at our region and the distinctive opportunities and challenges that come with being a downtown mainline church in the Inland Northwest.

You will be hearing soon from the Session with some of their initial thoughts and considerations about next steps.

A few other things to say: We will have plenty of time for goodbyes; let’s please just keep moving forward in our common ministry until then!

I pledge to “finish the race” and to “keep the faith” all the way to the end of my time with you all. Indeed, I am so energized by what the Lord is doing here at First Pres and I am eager to lean into what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives!

Also: I have such trust in our Session and in our staff. These are remarkable people who love the Lord and, out of that, love this church.

And: I won’t be involved in the search for my successor. That is the wisdom of our PCUSA system, and I do believe it to be wise. What I will be doing is faithfully praying for the Lord to bless this transition.

Blessings in Christ,
John Sowers