Next Steps

We are delighted to welcome Sam and Rachel Duerden and their children, Seth & Phoebe, to New Hope during the week of September 8^th. Our board of directors would like to introduce Sam as their recommendation for the role of Lead Pastor at New Hope.

We want to make every effort to provide you with opportunities for interaction and in-person meetings with Sam. In each of these informal gatherings, we will encourage times of question and answer so you can learn more about Sam, his vision and ministry philosophy. 

The schedule below highlights several opportunities to get to know Sam throughout the week. We want to provide ample time for you to ask questions of Sam during the week, allowing you to have an informed opinion prior to the Sunday business meeting, where, if you are an official member of New Hope Community Church (London), you can cast your vote.

At most of these meeting times, we will provide light food and refreshments. All meetings will be hosted at New Hope. Please schedule some time to come and meet with Sam, and be very prayerful about this process. No RSVP is needed.

Sam will also have a detailed schedule of individual meetings with current staff and key leaders to help formulate a better understanding of each other.

On September 14^th, Sam will share the Sunday morning message. Following second service, there will be an official members' business meeting in which members of the charitable organization of New Hope Community Church (London), through the process of a private ballot, will vote as to whether to approve Sam Duerden as the Lead Pastor of New Hope.

It's with thanks to God that the Board have successfully concluded the in-person interviews last week.  As we wait for decisions to be made, here’s what you can expect to see next in the process. The selected candidate will spend a week (Monday to Sunday) at New Hope. We will host several meetings with staff, department leaders and other groups that are part of the church, where the pastoral candidate will have the opportunity to become familiar with some of the church.  The members will also have a chance to get to know the potential pastor through these meetings.  The pastoral candidate will share the Sunday message as the week concludes.  Once this has taken place, there will be a New Hope Congregational meeting and a vote by the official membership to express their support of the new pastor.  (Please see the video below regarding official membership)  The timing of this week-long process will be determined at a later date once a final decision has been made.