This is a very significant time in the life of our church. For over 30 years Mark and Roz have faithfully and diligently established and grown all aspects of the church. They have done so well. We are extremely grateful to them, and we wish that we could somehow keep them forever young and bounding with energy, and that we could then stay under their leadership. We can’t. Mark has already retired from leadership responsibilities in the church, and Roz also needs to step down. They want to garden, and travel and have time to enjoy being grandparents, and stay in the church but not have the demands of leading the church.

And so, the board have been working with Roz to find a path forward. With assistance from some experienced consultants, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are releasing Mark and Roz to move from being parents of the church to becoming grandparents of the church and we are looking to a new leadership team to be responsible for ushering the church into the next season.

Over the past 12 months we have been identifying and training a team of people who are already established members of our church. A team who are skilled in leadership, who understand and love our DNA, who have a wide range of giftings and experience, and who are passionate about ensuring that we stay true to our anointing. A team who will hear from the Holy Spirit in order to shepherd our people well, who will lead us and inspire us as we expand and grow Christ’s influence in the community and beyond, so that we as a church will effectively shine the love and grace of God in our world.

Over the next 12 months Roz will gradually step back and hand over her leadership responsibilities to the leadership team. Some of the team will be full time, and some part time. Some paid, and some voluntary.

The early church leadership that we see in Acts worked under a model similar to that which we are moving towards. Acts 15 describes a situation where the church had a need for direction on a particular issue, and the church council (their leadership team) met and eventually came to a point where they could say "The Holy Spirit and we have agreed that…” (this is what is required), or another translation records it as “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to…”. It is the board’s strong, faith filled expectation that the leadership team will lead well under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and that they will also be able to say "The Holy Spirit and we have agreed that” when providing direction for Macquarie Life.

So know that we are in good, safe hands. Know that the DNA of who we are as a church will be maintained. Know that we will continue to be a Spirit filled church that operates under the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Be confident that we can rely on our leadership team to inspire and lead the church in this next season so that we will effectively do the work that the Holy Spirit has planned for us. Our encouragement from the board to you is to embrace our new leadership team, and to be an active part of what God will do in us and through us as the body of believers at Macquarie Life.

If you have any questions, ask Roz, or Mindy, or a board member. This will work, and it will work well.

Phil Evans

Board Member

Macquarie Life Church

January 2023