Bill Clark Accepts Leadership Role with Bayside Covenant

Post a Comment » Written on July 10th, 2008     
Filed under: News
ROSEVILLE, CA (July 10, 2008) – Bill Clark, who has served for four years as director of strategic giving and stewardship for the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), has accepted a new call to serve as chief of staff for Bayside Covenant Church, it was announced today.

The founding pastor of Redeemer Covenant Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he served for 17 years prior to working in Covenant Offices, Clark will begin his new duties at Bayside effective August 1.

In his new position, Clark’s primary responsibilities include executive operational leadership that embraces the continuing development of Bayside’s strategic plan, overseeing implementation and execution of ministry priorities, developing new strategic ministries to the community and beyond, and mentoring and encouraging the Bayside staff.

Clark“Bill Clark brings the best of the Covenant Church in helping to advance the vision of planting churches, equipping leaders and sharing the good news as Bayside’s new chief of staff,” says Bayside senior pastor Ray Johnston. “We are thrilled and honored to have a person of his character and competence at the highest level of leadership at Bayside.”

“I believe Bayside is one of the most innovative and focused churches in the country,” Clark says of his decision to accept the new role. “The church manages its ministry to both regularly reach new people for Christ, and adds depth in the lives of those already a part of the ministry. I believe Ray Johnston is a uniquely gifted leader, sold out to the gospel and to the need to help people find a walk with Christ and a place in a local church. He also has a compassionate heart for people for whom life is a daily struggle and who need the ministry of the church in their lives. Ray has a great vision for helping other churches to have thriving ministries in their own contexts.”

Clark was not only involved in strategic giving and stewardship, but also served as vice president for advancement for the Paul Carlson Partnership (PCP).

“Bill Clark has made an invaluable contribution to our shared work,” says President Glenn Palmberg in reflecting on Clark’s contributions to the denomination. “He has opened new doors to resources for PCP’s vitally important work in Congo, helping to advance projects in health, poverty and education among people who urgently need assistance. His work for the ECC has been very effective, particularly in helping churches to grow their stewardship programs.”

Palmberg praised Clark’s contributions to the work of the Council of Administrators and the wisdom he shared in helping to guide the life and ministry of the Covenant. “I have often depended on his wisdom shared with us, not only as a fund-raiser, but as a valued colleague, consultant, and advisor. He is moving into an important role in a rapidly growing Covenant church, and our prayers and good wishes go with him. Bill is a highly gifted person, and this new challenge will make good use of those gifts. I am confident that his warm and wise pastoral nature, together with his administrative gifts, will make him a good counselor, mentor, and manager to the staff at Bayside. He will be greatly missed at Covenant Offices, but we are glad to send him off to join in such an vital and important ministry in the larger Covenant Church.”

Palmberg’s sentiments were echoed by Executive Vice President Donn Engebretson, with whom Clark closely worked in areas of stewardship and strategic giving.

“It has been a great joy to work with a pastor and leader as wise, gifted and committed to Christ’s work . . . as Bill Clark,” Engebretson said. “He brought so many gifts to our shared ministry, including a warm collegial spirit that was a blessing for those who worked closely with him, as well as a strong factor for strengthening the unity of the Covenant Church. Bill’s service in development as well as his strong gifts in growing the stewardship of God’s people will have an impact on our common life for many years to come.”

Promising to be no stranger to his many colleagues at Covenant Offices, even though separated by distance, Clark reiterated his deep commitment to working together to advance the cause of Christ in every area of shared Covenant life.

“It has been a joy to work with Covenant people and Covenant churches,” he said. “Ours is a unique and blessed denomination, with exemplary leadership and generous, gifted people. We have experienced numerical and spiritual growth in the last decade and have been ushered into a new era of concern and action for the world under Glenn Palmberg’s leadership. I am confident of continued progess under Gary Walter’s wise and discerning approach in continuing to take the Covenant forward as a spiritual movement propelled by the winds of the Holy Spirit.”

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