Transition process

Pastor Prince Thomas - new Lead Pastor starting October 15, 2026

Here is some of his story.


The Transition Process has been successfully completed with the hiring of Pastor Prince Thomas. We praise God for his goodness to Circle during this process!

The Transition process started at Circle Drive when Pastor Bob Claxton joined the team on September 1, 2023, to bring leadership to the process.

As an overview, here are the Big Idea, Objective and Purpose statements.

Big Idea:

Times of transition are windows of opportunity for churches to experience transformational turning points toward health and mission. 
 

Big Objective:

Welcoming a new Senior Pastor to a healthy, functional, spiritually renewed church community.

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of our transition is to bring closure to the past, health to the present and renewed vision to the future.

Transition Process

Here are the steps we took in the Transition Process

The Transition Team has been finalized and will now begin working with Pastor Bob as we continue the Transition process.

We are currently in the process of receiving congregational feedback through our Church Health Assessment.
– November 07, 2023

The Church Health Assessment is complete, with 218 surveys completed. Now Pastor Bob is tabulating the results and anticipates a summary presentation in January 2024.
– November 15, 2023

New Elder’s Board – 2023/2024

At our Elder’s Retreat – following the AGM, the Elders decided to focus on these priorities for this year. Here they are:

  1. Governance Review – see below
  2. Update Bylaws – ready for AGM – October 27th, 2024
  3. Leadership Development
  4. Establishing Board trust with the Congregation, Staff & District
  5. Transition Process

– November 18, 2023

The Church Health Assessment Report was presented to the Transition Team (January 15th) and then to the Board of Elders (February 14th) for their review and adoption. Then a video presentation was created to report to the congregation.

Church Health results

Church Health Survey Results

There were 290 total views and 183 unique views. Here are the Key Result Areas (Key Result Areas) that have come out of it. The balance of the Transition period will be to achieve these KRAs.

Before Search Begins

  1. Call to Prayer (100 days with Triads)
  2. To Engage the Congregation in the Transition Process
  3. To Clarify the Role of the Board of Elders
  4. To Clarify the Role of the Lead Pastor

Before & During Search

  1. To Create a Leadership Development Strategy
  2. Survey the Young Adults – Lead Pastor
  3. Survey the Congregation – Qualities of a Lead Pastor

While in Search & With New Lead Pastor

  1. Discipleship Pathway

– Presented to the Congregation from February 22nd. to March 2nd.

KRA 1 & 2 - 100 Days of Prayer Discernment Triads

The congregation was invited to participate in creating a triad (group of 3) to prayerfully discern what the Holy Spirit wanted to say about the following areas:

  1. Visionary Leadership
  2. Relational Experiences
  3. Programmatic Emphases
  4. Accountable Management
  5. Community Engagement
  6. People of Pastoral Leadership
  7. People of Passion
  8. People of Position
  9. Numerical Vitality
  10. Spiritual and Emotional Maturity

– April 1st to June 30th, 2024

History Town Hall Meeting

Nearly 100 people attended the History Town Hall Meeting where Pastor Bob reviewed the 90 years of Circle Drive Alliance Church history. There was time set aside to review the high points and the hurt points over the years. A time of prayer commenced to discern what next steps, if any we should take. Those present formed a circle at the end of the meeting, and Pastor Bob led us in a prayer of thanksgiving, closure and asked the Holy Spirit to seal the past so we can now look ahead.  The History Wall was made available for 2 Sundays following the meeting so those interested could view it.

– April 20th, 2024

A Commitment to Reconciliation

Following the History Town Hall, the Transition Team spent 2 weeks asking for God’s leading from the meeting. It was apparent that attention should be given to ensure the relationships between three groups:  Former Pastors with Staff Members, Former Pastors with Elders; and Elders with Staff Members be reconciled as much as possible. During the Summer months, Pastor Bob has been meeting with individuals to encourage reconciliation where needed.

– July, August 2024

KRA 3 – To Clarify the Role of the Board of Elders

This Spring the Board of Elders have been working to evaluate their effectiveness. Pastor Bob led us through a comprehensive Board of Elders Self-Assessment in the following categories:

  1. Legal & Trust Responsibilities
  2. Governance
  3. Preparation for Meetings
  4. Practices at Meetings
  5. Decision Making
  6. Board – Lead Pastor /Staff Relationships
  7. Board Training
  8. Future Board Development
  9. Evaluation

                       – Spring 2024

Next Steps: Fall 2024 into Winter 2025

Vision Town Hall

January 18th, 2025 – 9am to noon in the Chapel

During the Fall, the present and new Board (AGM in October) of Elders will prayerfully discern in a prayerful posture seeking the heart of God for the next season of ministry at Circle. The purpose of this would be to discern and clarify the mission and vision of the church. We will review and ask God if what was stated in prior years is the right vision or if we could see some alteration or addition to it.

After we have articulated this, we can then start formulating the church profile to use during the search committee.

Pastoral Search

(Starts March 2025)

Once the Vision is articulated, then the Transition team will prepare a Church Profile to enable a future applicant to understand Circle Drive Alliance Church. 

Lead Pastor Church Profile

This document has been created to give prospective pastors a fuller understanding of Circle Drive Alliance Church and the type of Lead Pastor the church seeks to hire. This is the guiding document for the Circle Drive Alliance Church Search Team.

This document answers the following questions:

  1. Introduction
  2. Who Were We?
  3. Who Are We Now?
  4. What is our Community Context?
  5. What kind of Pastoral Leader Do We Need?
  6. Appendix 1 — The Story of Circle Drive Alliance Church

Pastoral Search Team

Once the Church Profile is complete and posted the Board of Elders will select a Search Team to give leadership in receiving applications, vetting, interviewing and presenting a name for the Board of Elders to pursue further. Trusting the Lord’s timing and provision, the Board of Elders will then invite a candidate to come.

Completed: March 2, 2025

DISCLAIMER: We can do all the work of Transition and be ready but we have to wait upon the Lord for His timing to bring the right person.

These will be completed in conjunction with creating a Church Profile.

KRA 4 – To Clarify the Role of the Lead Pastor

KRA 6 – Survey the Young Adults – What do they want in a Lead Pastor

Completed March 2, 2025

KRA 7 – Survey the Congregation – Qualities of a Lead Pastor

207 Responses to the Survey

– Completed  February 2025

Ministry Match Town Hall

March 15, 2025 –  9 am to noon in the Chapel

The purpose of this would be to discern and construct a ministry model to action the mission & and vision completed in the previous meeting. What ministries are the primary means to accomplish the vision? This will bring clarity and focus on where our resources should go as we prepare for the new Lead Pastor.

Entrance of New Pastor

August 16, 2026 – Pastor Prince Thomas announced as the new lead pastor of Circle.

Pastor Prince installed on October 15, 2026.

Transition Process