Three Years at NDBC

April 1st marks my third anniversary as pastor of Northside Drive. I’m not so much the ‘new’
pastor anymore!

In my three years as pastor of Northside Drive, I have learned a lot. I’ve listened to many stories,
asked many questions, explored treasured history and heard hopes for the future. Arising from
these conversations, a few ideas began to take shape. These ideas revolved around deeply
caring relationships, radical welcome, social justice and offering a safe and encouraging place to
explore faith. Some of you encouraged me to share the vision that has been emerging. I shared
this vision- our vision- at the March Church Council meeting.

I now want to share this vision with the whole church. This Sunday, I will weave this vision into
my sermon. It will fit nicely alongside our two deeply moving lectionary passages: Luke 15- the
prodigal son (and his older brother) and 2 Corinthians 5. The title of my sermon is, “The Church
of Tomorrow.” This is a phrase that I have picked up from our own former minister, the Rev. Dr.
Forrest Lanier.

My Pinnacle article next week will share what I present on Sunday.

Northside Drive has always been a church that has blazed its own path, whether it was ordaining
women to gospel ministry or breaking with the increasingly fundamentalist Southern Baptist
Convention, whether it was designing our worship life to embrace ecumenical traditions or
publicly affirming our radical welcoming of gender and sexual diversity. Northside Drive has
always shown courage and tenacity and more than a little faith in being the people of God on the
hill.

The past is our evidence that Northside Drive has a rich future. We are indeed the church of
tomorrow- as we have been since faithful people broke ground here over 70 years ago.
I am grateful every day for the opportunity to serve as your pastor, and I’m proud to have my
picture hanging among a very esteemed crowd of others who were blessed to be called pastor of
this church.

Scott Hovey