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Letters from Meghan and Ben

  • Vertical Family, 

    As you begin to process the news of Ben’s resignation, I hope this letter will answer some questions you may have about what’s next. 

    Ben and I have worked together in different capacities for 10 years and served as the Executive Leadership for the last 4. This transition is not an easy one, but I am proud of my friend for following the call God has placed on his life. Like Ben, I hope to see as little disruption as possible during this time. 

    This week, we met with the Staff Team and Advisory Team to develop a plan following the guidelines as stated in our bylaws:

    Effective April 1st, I will assume the position of Interim Lead Pastor and remain in that role until a new Lead Pastor is hired and assimilated into the Vertical Community for some time. 

    Ben will remain a member of the teaching team and will continue to teach on Sunday mornings as long as Vertical needs him there.

    A Lead Pastor Search Team will be formed to lead out in the process of hiring a new Lead Pastor. This team will be made up of 2 Staff Team members, 2 Advisory Team members, 2 Partners and myself. 

    Once the Search Team is formed, the job will be posted on various outlets and we will begin screening potential candidates. 

    The process of searching for and hiring a new Lead Pastor will not be rushed, it will be intentional and more importantly, we will seek God’s guidance throughout each step. My desire is to see Vertical stay true to the mission God has called us to - being the church that is generous, unpredictable, inclusive, and real. 

    I am entering my 12th year of leadership in the Vertical community, and each year has taught me more than the last about trusting God’s promise to do what He says He will do in my life, my family, and this church. It is bittersweet to see our leader and friend move into the next phase of his ministry, but I know God has something amazing in store for Vertical Church.

    Love you all, 

    Meghan Petyak
    Executive Pastor
    Vertical Church

  •  Vertical Family,

    My time here at Vertical Church, from the beginning, has been a miraculous gift from God. From first walking through the doors in 2011 until today, God has used this church, this community to initiate radical change and growth in me as a follower of Jesus and a man.  I’m incredibly thankful for this.  The last 10 years have certainly been full of challenges, but my time here has been, to this point, an honor and a gift.

    In late November of 2020, I began to feel an internal and unexpected shift in my ministry desires. As you can all imagine, it was difficult to discern at that time if this was an act of God or simply the result of the disruption, and resulting fatigue and uncertainty, of the pandemic.  It was a hard year for all of us.  I simply felt that God was opening my heart up to his guidance in new ways.  

    In January of 2021, I began a slow and intentional process of discernment. This discernment included both private disciplines and professional intervention.  Very early on, I began speaking with my counselor about what I believed God was doing.  His encouragement was to be slow to act and quick to engage with curiosity.  In short, he encouraged me to back away from my counterphobic tendencies and move towards trusting God.

    I did exactly this for the first six months of 2021.  I did my best to discern what God wanted from me.  Thankfully, he was faithful in his guidance.  I believe that God speaks through desire and will in certain circumstances.  Philippians 2:13 is very clear on this point, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”  For the first six months of 2021, I felt the growing desire to enter into the field of biblical counseling.

    On advice from close friends in this line of ministry work, I began, in July of 2021, the certification process to obtain a Masters Diploma in Biblical Counseling through the American Association of Christian Counselors.  That work was completed in early December of last year. During those six months, my new assignment became clear.  As difficult as this clarity was to face, I knew my time leading Vertical Church was drawing to a close.  God was clearly leading me to sit with individuals to share the hope of Jesus with them in a counseling setting.

    As I have often instructed, I now must also live out.  I must be obedient to God’s guidance.  His prompting and encouragement have been unmistakable. And, his careful attention to every detail regarding this move has been evident.  In a way that seems in line with the character of God over my story, he has opened two doors for me to pursue this new assignment that will allow for us to remain a part of this community we love. 

    In the future, my ministry will take on two, interdependent expressions.  I will be joining the team of counselors at Cornerstone Counseling in Jackson while also serving as the Executive Director of the Hangar, which has now been established as its own nonprofit.  These two positions will allow me to pursue a long-time passion of helping men find freedom through community, emotional awareness, and the teachings of Jesus.

    My family and I want to continue to be a contributing part of this beautiful expression of the local church.  Cammie and I believe in the work being done here, and we don’t want to miss out on what God obviously has planned for Vertical’s future.  My heart, our hearts, are heavy with grief over this ending.  At the same time, we are grateful to be under the guidance and provision of God for what is ahead.

    From the bottom of both of our hearts we say thank you for believing in us, investing in us, and allowing us to become a part of this community over the last ten years.  Know that our gratitude for this church will remain with us indefinitely.  We believe that fresh, new leadership will take this church to places in the future that are beyond even what we imagine. Finally, we hold fast to the belief that God’s future for this church and our family are in good hands.

    Thank you, Vertical family, for all that you have allowed us to experience here.

    Ben DerrickLead Pastor Vertical Church      

 

Timeline

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Search Team

Search Team, led by Meghan Petyak

Austin Roberts

Reshma Reeves

Charlotte Cockrell

Michael Traylor

Rachel Tharpe

Lee Wheatley

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Lead Pastor Job Description

The Lead Pastor of Vertical Church will be the primary teacher with broad responsibility for the spiritual growth and well-being of the Vertical Community. While serving as the primary leader and vision-caster, the Lead Pastor will work alongside the Executive Pastor to execute the vision, strengthen the culture, and play a critical role in church governance as a voting member of the Advisory Team, our church leadership board. 

Lead Pastor Responsibilities Include:

Leadership:

  • Working alongside the Executive Pastor.

  • Acting as a voting member and officer of the Advisory Team, in accordance with the Bylaws of Vertical Church.

  • Participation in the current leadership processes of Vertical Church. 

  • Communicating a clear vision and direction which can drive and create cohesion between all teachings and ministries within the church.

  • Building and maintaining relational equity within the community, both internally and externally.

Teaching:

  • Leading the Teaching Team, where weekly teachings are developed in a team setting for accountability and alignment with Vertical’s theology. 

  • Serving as the primary, but not the only, Sunday morning teacher.

  • Working with the Teaching Team to build an annual calendar of clear, dynamic, and accessible teachings that contain a spiritual depth and reach a diverse population of people with different backgrounds and levels of spiritual maturity. 

  • Teaching with vision and discernment, taking a developmental approach toward the goal of life change through the lens of discipleship, and compelling the church forward in action.

What You Bring:

Education and Experience:

  • Degree preferred but not required based on experience level.

  • Must have 10+ years of ministry experience, with at least 3 of those in a leadership role. 

  • 5+ years of biblical teaching experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • The ability to write, edit, and deliver biblically sound teaching:

    • 12 hours of recorded teaching (audio or video) is required for review.

  • Must fully embrace Vertical’s Statement of Faith and Values.

  • Evidence-based ministry experience in the following areas:

    • missional work 

    • community engagement

    • previous ministry growth

  • An understanding of budget formation and management.

  • Knowledge of Google Suite, Planning Center, Asana, and Slack preferred.

Personal Characteristics:

  • Fits culturally with Vertical Church.

  • A willingness to submit and participate in the current processes of Vertical Church for an agreed-upon period of time upon hire to gain a better understanding of the staff and church culture. 

  • A gift for biblical teaching

  • Willingness to participate in mentorship and accountability

  • Values feedback.

  • Understands team building and is able to mentor and equip others.

  • Has a good work ethic and is passionate about God and serving others. 

  • Is personable and approachable, showing the ability to handle difficult situations with discernment and grace.

  • A good steward of time and resources.

 

Important Documents

 
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Submit Your Resume

 
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