Dear Church Family,
Many of you will have been in Church this morning and heard from Jason and Bev that they will be leaving their roles as Senior Pastors in November this year and the background to God calling them to new roles in His Kingdom.
Jason is to become Principal of Waverley Abbey College, near Farnham in Surrey, where Bev will also become Head of People.
You can watch a video of their story here.
Naturally, this will be a bittersweet moment for us as Trustees. We have journeyed with Jason and Bev as they have sought God’s wisdom in this, both for their own future calling and the next stage in Sutton Vineyard’s journey. We are all at peace that God is with us and directing our paths in what is happening. We’re excited both for their future and for ours!
Saying goodbye to Jason and Bev will obviously be with huge sadness. But it also gives us the opportunity to celebrate all the wonderful things God has done through them and the Church that they planted here 25 years ago. We were already planning a big party to mark our 25th anniversary and that will now be reshaped as a celebration and farewell for Jason and Bev.
As well as celebrating all that has come before, our job as Trustees is also to steer the next steps for Sutton Vineyard — for which, as you would expect, Jason and Bev have been equally focussed on during their own discernment process. Together, we have put plans in place for the next few months, for the smooth transition to new Senior Pastors.
As you would expect, our main role as Trustees will be overseeing that appointment and supporting our amazing staff team as they continue to oversee the day-to-day running of the Church.
The appointment process will run from now until December. In the in-between period from now through to early 2023 (called an ‘interregnum’), we’re delighted to share with you that Steve Burnhope, formerly Senior Pastor of Aylesbury Vineyard Church, with his wife Lyn, has agreed to become acting Senior Pastor to oversee the Church until the new Senior Pastors are in place. Steve and Lyn are long-time personal friends of Jason and Bev. They will be introducing Steve and Lyn to you in person at the first opportunity. For more about them, see below.
I am sure that you will feel the same mix of sadness and joy that we do, at this momentous time for Jason and Bev and the Church they so love. Please continue to pray for them and the Church and for God’s rich blessing on all of us as we look to the future with excitement and encouragement as to what God is going to do amongst us.
We have pulled together some FAQs here but if you have any immediate questions not answered there, do please speak to Jason and Bev or any of the Trustees. We will be in touch with further news from time-to-time, as the transition process continues.
With very best wishes,
The Trustee Team
Jonny Page (Chair), Tom Miles, Aredi Pitsiaeli, Merita Speed, Sarah Worsley and Sam Worsley
About Steve and Lyn Burnhope
Steve and Lyn led Aylesbury Vineyard from 2013 before leading its transition to new Senior Pastors in 2020. During their tenure, the Church doubled in size to be one of the largest Vineyard churches in the UK & Ireland, with a significant compassion ministry in its Community.
Steve and Lyn both received Masters degrees in biblical interpretation from The London School of Theology. Steve also has a PhD in systematic theology from King’s College London. Lyn is a qualified teacher and is currently studying for her theology PhD. They have four children and three grandchildren.