Music minister search planned.
In January, Associate Pastor Doug Haney announced his plans to retire from full-time ministry and leave Wilshire at the end of April. The Personnel Committee has been working to determine a path forward and offers the following information in the form of an FAQ.
When is Doug’s retirement effective?
Doug’s last day at Wilshire will be Sunday, April 30. In May, Doug and his wife, Lori, will be moving to the Charlotte, North Carolina, area to be near their children and grandchildren.
What will be the search process be?
Although we will have a search committee, this process will be different from last year’s senior pastor search. As per Wilshire bylaws, the Personnel Committee will work closely with the senior pastor and associate pastors in the search for a minister of music. The Personnel Committee will assemble a search committee of six to seven church members, including those with ties to music ministry and representatives from the Personnel Committee. LeAnn Hampton has agreed to serve as search committee chair.
Will we have an interim minister of music?
Yes. Senior Pastor Timothy Peoples and the Personnel Committee are working to secure an interim music minister as soon as possible in hopes he or she can start on May 1.
When will we have a new minister of music?
Our hope is to be able to present someone to the congregation by October. If that doesn’t happen, we would probably not try to bring someone in until after the new year since Advent is such a busy time for music ministers.
How will we recognize Doug for his long service at Wilshire?
On Sunday, April 30, Doug will be honored with a time of recognition and gifts during morning worship, and an informal reception will be held after worship in James Gallery. That evening, make plans to attend a special concert featuring Sanctuary Choir, orchestra and guest musician Ken Medema. The concert will benefit the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas.
What about Doug’s areas of responsibility outside of music?
When Doug was named associate pastor in 2020, he took on oversight of human resources, budgeting and stewardship. The Personnel Committee plans to hire an interim business administrator to help cover Doug’s responsibilities in these areas and will continue to evaluate long-term staffing needs.
Search for senior adult minister also in planning stages
The Personnel Committee will also manage Wilshire’s search for a new minister to senior adults. As with the music minister search, the Personnel Committee will appoint and utilize a search committee, and the two searches are expected to begin accepting applications around the same time. Larry Link will continue serving as interim minister to senior adults.