Changes in Spiritual Formation May Result in Layoff

Nicole White

As a new Campus Pastor prepares to take the helm, worry has surfaced over the possible elimination and consolidation of positions in the Spiritual Formation Dept.
Those close to the situation, including numerous student leaders, have raised concerns, saying that removal of a key figure who would provide support for the new Campus Pastor will harm the health and direction of spiritual formation on the campus.
At the end of this semester it is understood that Carlos Fernandez, Pastor of Worship Ministries, could be let go.
“I was told in Feb. that my job would most likely be eliminated at the end of this year,” Fernandez said.
Administration could neither deny nor confirm due to legality issues, but did say no final decisions have been made.
“Those who are working on how to move Vanguard to a place of financial sustainability are taking this work very seriously and are agonizing over the consideration of every position and option,” President Dr. Carol Taylor said.

This move would mark one more change as the University works to expand the role of pastoral leadership while cutting back for budget reasons, according to Fernandez. For those close to Fernandez who were aware of the situation, the potential removal of this beloved and trusted face comes as a shock.
“I know that those in charge would like to take Spiritual Formation in a ‘new direction’,” junior and current worship leader Jamie Bransom said. “I just hope that Vanguard’s new Spiritual Formation Dept. does not forget or diminish the work, heart, time, and dedication that Carlos has put into his position.”
Fernandez is known as an important element in the spiritual health of the campus, and for going above and beyond to form relationships with students and demonstrate his passion for Christ.
“Carlos has brought an invaluable dynamic to the Spiritual Formation Dept. and Vanguard as a whole,” senior Amanda Ahrenberg and previous worship team leader said.
As Pastor of Worship Ministries, Fernandez knows changes are needed, but disagrees with the severity of how that is being accomplished.
“They [administration] are trying to rescue us from dying, but we are in a place of maybe throwing out our identity,” Fernandez said, whose possible removal would not affect the job of his wife and Laguna Hall RD, Andi Fernandez.
Looking back on his days as a student and the subsequent years working at Vanguard, Fernandez reminisced. “It was a place that still felt like a tight knit community—it valued you as an individual in that community.”
That is a feeling some say is not felt as strongly now.
“I’m not convinced that the appropriate response to rectify these issues is being taken,” Ahrenberg said. “As a student highly invested in this institution, I believe that the reason why Vanguard is so successful is largely because of people such as Carlos who have greatly contributed to the atmosphere of community.”
As chapel accountability continues to be an issue, some fear that spiritual formation is being viewed as just another program on campus.
“My concern is the direction of the spiritual life on campus and what they [administration] feel is important,” senior Johnny Giovati a spiritual formation intern and member of ASB said. “There is a sense of hard rejection of current programs in spiritual formation by the administration involved in overseeing this.”
Everything will now fall to this one person, shared Fernandez, whose disappointment on how things have been handled was stark.
“I have been completely disregarded,” he said. “I am not trying to save my job, but I am trying to preserve the heritage of the Vanguard I know.”
Giovati feels what should be a perfecting of roles and leader already in place, is instead, seeming to be a simple wiping of the slate.
“If we are eliminating positions that’s one thing, but we are eliminating people,” senior Kyle Harmon and a worship leader for Shine said. “The people I’ve encountered from Bill [Dogterom] and Carlos [Fernandez] in chapel to Shelley [Youd] on VESPA or going into the student life office with Dan [Brown] and Linda [Hartzell] brought a peace. These people really helped form who I am spiritually. Spiritual formation is not the structure, it’s the people.”
Giovati and other student leaders have expressed apprehension that the multi-page list of new responsibilities required of the new Campus Pastor is going to be too administrative and overwhelming.
“It is short-handing the Campus Pastor to eliminate someone who has had so much experience here in the trenches,” Giovati said of Fernandez’ removal.
Students invited to be involved in the Pastoral Search Committee process are now coming forward with questions of why their apprehensions about the new direction were not met forthrightly or given much weight.
“There are many three and four year members of student leadership dynamically concerned with the direction of student life and spiritual formation on campus,” Giovati said candidly.“The students are the ones living this and we care deeply. When we have concerns or are uncomfortable, listen to us. Understand the gravity of those concerns. I think I’ve earned my voice. If I only have 30 to 35 days left, I’m not just going to stand by.”
A definitive answer as to what will happen in the Spiritual Formation Dept. has not been released by administration.

New Campus Pastor Selected

Hannah Petrak, editor in chief and Nicole White

The search for campus pastor is coming to a close as administration and the Pastoral Search Committee narrow the applicants to a final candidate.
Although a final candidate has been chosen, the identity has been withheld because of legality issues and until he formally accepts the position.
“We hope to introduce him to campus before the end of this semester,” said Tim Young, Director of Residence Life and Chair of Pastoral Search Committee.
The search started last semester as former University Pastor Bill Dogterom took on the role of Interim Pastor during the fall semester. This ongoing hunt left the current spring semester without specific pastoral leadership.
From the near 60 applications that came in for the position, 20 interviews were conducted to narrow down the applicant pool to three.
“It was particularly exciting to hear each candidate discuss their vision for chapel and for other spiritual formation opportunities with our students,” said Ann Hamilton, VP for Student Affairs, of the crucial elements of the candidates’ interviews.
Although the decision was not unanimous, the Search Committee reached their decision with a clear consensus. The unnamed final candidate’s testimony, ministerial experience, and administrative abilities were key in the selection process. Anxious to reveal his name, Young expressed his excitement for the candidate’s passion for diversity on campus and desire to influence large groups.
“We’re really trying to tap into diversity in chapel,” Young said of Vanguard’s stronger emphasis in finding more ways to incorporate all students.
The Committee has evolved this role into a more campus-wide position. The new job description is far reaching and integrates more pastoral leadership into academic programs, Residence Life, Dept. of Diversity Programming and Mobilization, and Spiritual Formation.
According to the VU Web site, the new campus pastor would be responsible for everything from counseling and daily interaction with students, to teaching in chapel and coordinating accountability programs, to providing Spiritual Formation events and weekly Bible studies.
“The new job description is very rigorous; we needed the right person for the [new] job,” Young said.
This far-reaching scope of a Campus Pastor’s duties comes as a reflection of what the Search Committee felt it heard from the student body, although some students are concerned the responsibilities entailed in the job description are far more than what one person is capable of.
“Students have been telling us that being able to meet one-on-one with the Campus Pastor has meant a lot to them,” Hamilton said. “They also told us that they would really like to see more mentoring and small groups.”
The future pastor’s experience in developing academic programs was a crucial factor to the decision, aligning with the more intentional focus Vanguard wants to pursue.
“This will build upon what they [Spiritual Formation Dept.] have done and is a good fit for way the University is growing,” said Nic Lauten, a member of the Pastoral Search Committee.
This process is continuing in the renewed sense of who we are as a University, Lauten shared.
The Committee hopes to have an opportunity this month to present the new Campus Pastor in an upcoming chapel. An e-mail announcement will be sent out when the employment process has been completed.