FAQ: Leadership Transition

  • After more than twenty-one years of serving as Lead & Founding Pastor of Orchard.Church, Doug Dameron will transition into the role of Founding Pastor, and Tyler Hart will become the next Lead Pastor, effective January 1, 2027, pending the affirmative vote of the membership.

    This transition has been prayerfully planned over an extended period of time and reflects our desire to position Orchard.Church for decades of healthy ministry ahead.

  • Healthy churches intentionally prepare the next generation of leadership before a crisis requires it.

    Rather than waiting until retirement or an unexpected circumstance, Pastor Doug, Pastor Tyler, and the Executive Council believe this is the right season to intentionally pass leadership in a way that strengthens the church and positions it for long-term health.

  • No! 

    Pastor Doug will transition from serving as Lead Pastor to Founding Pastor on January 1, 2027.

    His ministry focus will gradually shift from leading the daily ministry of Orchard.Church to coaching Pastor Tyler, providing historical context and strategy, strengthening leaders, advancing local and global missions, building Kingdom partnerships, and encouraging pastors and churches beyond Orchard.Church.

  • Like Pastor Doug, Shellie will continue serving on staff full-time during this transition.

    She will remain actively involved in ministry while gradually transitioning according to the same timeline.

    Her ongoing ministry will continue to focus on serving people, empowering leaders, supporting ministry initiatives, and strengthening the culture of Orchard.Church.

  • Yes, Pastor Doug will continue preaching and teaching at Orchard.Church at the invitation of the Lead Pastor.

    Pastor Tyler will determine the overall preaching calendar and teaching strategy for the church and will become the primary communicator.

  • Beginning January 1, 2027, Tyler Hart will serve as the Lead Pastor of Orchard.Church.

    He will provide the overall vision, leadership, staff direction, ministry oversight, and day-to-day leadership of the church.

    Pastor Doug has publicly committed to joyfully supporting Pastor Tyler's leadership and strengthening his role as Lead Pastor of Orchard.Church.

  • No, while Pastor Doug will continue serving in significant ministry responsibilities as Founding Pastor, Pastor Tyler will serve as the Lead Pastor and will provide the primary leadership and direction for Orchard.Church.

    Whenever Pastor Doug's responsibilities intersect with the internal ministry of Orchard.Church, he has committed to willingly and joyfully support and submit to Pastor Tyler's leadership.

  • The title of Founding Pastor recognizes Doug's unique calling in establishing Orchard.Church and honors his continuing ministry during this transition.

    The Founding Pastor's responsibilities are intentionally distinct from those of the Lead Pastor and are designed to strengthen, encourage, and support the Lead Pastor rather than duplicate or compete with his leadership.

    Pastor Doug's ministry will increasingly focus on:

    • Coaching, encouraging, and supporting the Lead Pastor.

    • Providing strategic counsel when requested.

    • Investing in the development of current and emerging leaders.

    • Continue cultivating and strengthening relationships with key ministry partners and financial supporters of Orchard.Church while intentionally mentoring and introducing the Lead Pastor to these relationships, ensuring the continued stewardship of trust, generosity, and shared commitment to the mission and future of Orchard.Church.

    • Provide strategic leadership and oversight of the Local and Global Missions ministry of Orchard.Church while intentionally mentoring and preparing the Lead Pastor to assume this responsibility upon Doug's future retirement.

    • Representing Orchard.Church in Kingdom partnerships, denominational and inter-church relationships, and ministry collaborations.

    • Provide strategic counsel regarding the financial health, long-term stewardship, annual budget planning, and major capital initiatives of Orchard.Church, ensuring that financial decisions remain aligned with the church's mission, vision, and long-term ministry objectives while supporting the leadership of the Lead Pastor.

    • Assisting with long-range strategic initiatives as requested by the Lead Pastor or Executive Council.

    • Preaching, teaching, and representing the church when invited by the Lead Pastor.

    • Undertaking other ministry assignments that are mutually agreed upon by the Lead Pastor and the Executive Council.

    • Serve as a non-voting member of the Executive Council, providing wisdom, historical perspective, strategic counsel, and encouragement in support of the Lead Pastor and the ongoing mission of Orchard.Church.

    His greatest contribution will increasingly extend beyond the daily leadership of Orchard.Church while continuing to strengthen the ministry of Orchard.

  • Pastor Tyler's leadership will be devoted to the flourishing of Orchard.Church and fulfilling its mission of People Helping People Find and Follow Jesus. 

    As Lead Pastor, Tyler shall possess the primary responsibility and authority for the spiritual, directional, and operational leadership of the church. These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

    • Casting and communicating the mission, vision, and strategic direction of the church.

    • Providing spiritual leadership to the congregation.

    • Leading, developing, and supervising the staff.

    • Directing the overall ministry strategy of Orchard.Church.

    • Overseeing weekend worship services and the preaching ministry.

    • Exercising final leadership responsibility for day-to-day ministry decisions.

    • Representing Orchard.Church publicly as its Lead Pastor.

    • Lead the financial stewardship of Orchard.Church by providing final direction for budgeting, financial planning, and major financial decisions while thoughtfully considering the counsel of the Founding Pastor, Executive Council, and financial staff.

    • Ensuring the church remains faithful to its mission of People Helping People Find and Follow Jesus.

    His greatest ministry investment will be leading Orchard.Church into its next chapter.

  • For seasoned church leaders, like Pastor Doug, the best use of time shifts from daily operational management to intentional legacy building, succession planning, and mentorship. Rather than holding tightly to the spotlight, mature leaders maximize their impact by transferring hard-earned wisdom, empowering younger generations, and stabilizing vulnerable ministries.

    The Founding Pastor role recognizes that God can use a leader's experience, relationships, and wisdom to strengthen both the church and future leaders during an intentional transition.

    Rather than stepping away abruptly, Pastor Doug will invest in the next generation while helping Orchard.Church continue moving forward.

  • Pastor Doug will continue providing strategic counsel regarding long-term stewardship, budgeting, and major initiatives.

    However, Pastor Tyler will have final leadership responsibility for financial decisions, consistent with the Constitution, Bylaws, and financial policies of Orchard.Church.

  • Our leadership will transition. Our mission will not.

    Our mission remains: People Helping People Find and Follow Jesus.

    Our commitment to biblical teaching, reaching people with the Gospel, serving our community, developing disciples, planting churches, and supporting local and global missions remains unchanged.

  • You can help make this one of the healthiest leadership transitions possible by:

    • Praying regularly for Pastor Doug, Shellie, Pastor Tyler, Megan, and their families.

    • Encouraging Pastor Tyler in his new role.

    • Supporting the staff and volunteers.

    • Continuing to serve faithfully.

    • Continuing to tithe faithfully toward Orchard's mission. 

    • Inviting people to church.

    • Remaining focused on our shared mission.

    • Speaking words that build unity and hope.

  • Because this transition is not built on personalities. It is built on God's faithfulness.

    For more than twenty-one years we have watched God lead Orchard.Church. We believe He is leading us now.

    Jesus Christ remains the Head of His Church.

    Every leader is temporary. Every season is a stewardship. Every opportunity is a gift. Every victory belongs to God. Our confidence is not in one pastor. Our confidence is in the One who promised:

    "I will build My church."
    Matthew 16:18

    And together we will continue living our mission:

    People Helping People Find and Follow Jesus.