By Rev. Dr. David Dubovich
Change is something most of our congregations know well—sometimes too well. Pastors retire or accept new calls. Long-time members move or pass on. Communities shift. Ministries evolve. Change often arrives whether we invite it or not.
Yet as followers of Christ, we trust that change is never the end of the story. Scripture reminds us that God is always at work bringing new life out of uncertainty. The Apostle Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2). Transformation is not simply about doing something different—it is about becoming something new in Christ.
Throughout the biblical story, God’s people encounter transformation in moments of disruption. Abraham is called to leave what is familiar in order to follow God’s promise (Genesis 12:1). The Israelites learn to trust God not in settled security, but in the wilderness (Exodus 16). The early church discovers new ways of being the body of Christ as the Spirit leads them beyond old boundaries (Acts 2:42–47).
As Disciples of Christ, we affirm that God is still speaking. That conviction calls us to listen carefully—to Scripture, to the Spirit, and to one another, especially in seasons of change. We are people shaped by covenant rather than coercion, by faithful conversation rather than fear. Change invites us to ask not only what we must let go of, but where God is calling us to be faithful now.
Many congregations across our region are living into these questions:
- Who are we becoming?
- What is God inviting us to release?
- How is the Spirit calling us to embody Christ’s love in our communities today?
These are not signs of decline; they are signs of discernment. Jesus reminds us, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). God often brings transformation through release, trust, and renewed purpose.
As a regional church, we walk this journey together. We are bound not by uniformity, but by unity in Christ. We support one another in experimentation, accompany one another through grief, and celebrate signs of resurrection where new ministries take root.
Our hope rests in God’s promise: “See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:5). May we trust that promise, lean into the transforming work of the Spirit, and move forward together – faithful to Christ and open to the future God is unfolding among us.