Questions and Answers

Pastor Thad expressed experiencing persistent patterns of unhealth. He felt that the structure and habits of the elder board did not create an atmosphere of unity that he could healthfully work in. Over the past two years the elder board has worked to change how it functions together. Progress was made, but not at the pace he felt was needed. He has also been honest about his own limits and about carrying too much. We are grateful for his honesty and for his service.

This was Pastor Thad's decision. The elders did not ask him to resign. See more details below.

No moral failure, misconduct, or financial wrongdoing is involved. The reason is the one Pastor Thad has shared: disunity among our elders made it hard to move forward together. We will answer your questions honestly, and when we don't know something, we will say so.

Pastor Thad informed the elders on October 5. The elders grieved but respected his decision and spent 12 days trying to identify alternative paths forward. We asked him to consider another option on October 17, seeking a path that would keep Pastor Thad as lead pastor. Despite a healthy dialogue, we as a board did not reach unity on a path forward together.

There is mutual respect and care on both sides.

Pastor Thad's last day is Sunday, November 1, when we will thank and celebrate Pastor Thad and Lori at a reception on the concourse at 11:30am. Please join us.

Yes, our church will be supporting Thad financially throughout his transition.

The elders lead the church through this transition. Mike Congrove, one of our elders, oversees day-to-day ministry operations, and our staff continue to lead their ministries. The Sunday preaching schedule for the rest of 2026 is largely filled, thanks to Pastor Thad's strong work. Joshua Mlay, another elder, will help coordinate preachers for Sunday morning messages going forward. The staff has already created the sermon series for 2027. Not all preaching spots for 2027 have been filled but we are working on it.

Fellowship has been in a season of transition for several years, and we are smaller than we have been in the past. There is also real life here, in our life groups, local outreach, global missions, and the ministry of the Word and prayer. We want to be honest: more changes could come. We have several elders whose terms are up or close to complete, and some staff may decide to move on. We will tell our staff directly before we tell the church about any staffing change that affects them.

The elders will work with our staff, deacon team, and key volunteers to ensure kids services have ample care and support. The board has met with leaders at Dallas Theological Seminary who have also offered resources to help provide interim support.

The elders and deacon team will be covering these areas. Contact Leslie Bateman (leslieb@fellowshipdallas.org). The elders are also available after every Sunday service, in the connecting center and at the front of the stage, to listen and pray with you.

The staff is discouraged to be losing Thad as their leader and pastor. They have questions and frustrations with the elders over his departure. He is a wise and capable leader, a caring presence, and a strong supporter of their work. The staff and elder board have a meeting the week of November 9 to hear and address their concerns.

We have not started a search, and we are not going to rush into one. First, we are going to seek the Lord in 40 days of prayer together. Second, we want to hear from you and from our staff about what you believe God is asking of Fellowship. More details on the formats of these feedback sessions will follow. On Sunday, December 13, we will lay out several paths forward and ask for your response.

We do not have a firm timeline, and we will not invent one. Prayer comes first: 40 days, from November 1 to December 11. On Sunday, December 13, at 11:30 in Fellowship Hall, we will hold an all-church meeting to share what we have heard and the options before us. Until then, we will update you every two weeks with a message from the elders to the congregation as we seek the Lord together on what He wants for our church.

We will report what we have heard from you and from our staff in November, share honest information about the church, and present a small number of options for Fellowship's future. We will ask which of them sparks your zeal, and we will leave room for you to suggest something we have not listed. If you cannot attend or prefer to write, please email us at elders@fellowshipdallas.org.

Being ready to serve is not enough. We need a board structure that makes us shepherds first, not overseers who shepherd when called on. If our structure does not keep us close to our staff and lead pastor in a healthy way, we are not fulfilling our duties. Despite two years of diligent work, we lost the confidence of our lead pastor. We own that, and we are committed to changing how we function so that we are the kind of board this church needs.

Join us for the prayer gatherings during the next 40 days. Lean in to your church family and your relationships. Talk with the elders, share what you are hearing, and help us ask God what He wants to do with Fellowship.

Pray for them. Write them a note of thanks. Join us at the reception on Sunday, November 1.

Email elders@fellowshipdallas.org. The elders are also available after each Sunday service both in front of stage and in the connecting center. We will keep adding to this FAQ as questions come in.