ELDER AND PASTORAL STATEMENT REGARDING EXECUTIVE MINISTER JOE MITCHELL
AUGUST 23, 2026

Tom Martens, Elder Chairperson:

At the end of July, our Executive Minister, Joe Mitchell, submitted to Rob and the Elders his letter of resignation. He said he was looking forward to a new season vocationally and shared words of blessing and gratitude for our church. His plan was to remain on staff until the end of the year.

For the last two to three weeks, we wanted to give Joe some time to share his decision personally with teammates and friends, and we were soon to share the news widely with the congregation and then honor and celebrate Joe later this fall. However, before that could happen, Joe asked to meet with Rob this past Wednesday.

In that meeting, Joe confessed that over time he had embezzled from the church a total of $14,890 and handed Rob a check made out to the church for that amount. He said he understood the implications of this and would accept the consequences. Rob immediately brought this situation to the Elders.

All our elders are here this morning, and I’d like them to stand so you can see them. Their photos and names are also on the screens, along with my email as board chairperson. Each of us is available to talk now and anytime.

We love Joe and want all God’s best for him. We also know that such an ethical breach means Joe cannot remain on staff. Additionally, we will be contracting an external certified fraud examiner to conduct a multiyear forensic financial audit. The findings and conclusions of this audit will be shared with the congregation.

We are pained by all of this, and ask that you would join us in praying for Joe and his family, for Rob and the staff, and for our precious church.

Rob McCord, Senior Minister:

Joe Mitchell has been my teammate for 15 years and a friend for more than 20. These are difficult things to learn, to say aloud, and to accept. We do not share any of this to disparage Joe. He is our brother. But you deserve to know, and it would be negligent and unethical of us to be anything other than transparent with you. In my 23 years here and to the extent of my knowledge of our congregation’s history, we’ve not encountered anything like this. And if this diminishes your trust of the church, I understand. I can only hope you will stick with us, and that above all it doesn’t dim your faith in Christ.

As you’ve heard me say so many times, none of us are the worst things we’ve done, and we love Joe. Grace always runs right alongside truth, and love in its truest form always includes accountability. I echo Tom’s request that in the days, weeks, and months ahead, we keep the Mitchells, our staff, and our church in our prayers.

The elders and I are, as always, completely available should you want to meet to talk and pray.

Thanks for listening and for worshiping together this morning. Go in peace.