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a new season for coast vineyard

For the past five years, Matt Lilly, our Lead Pastor (and founding pastor), has been considering the question of Lead Pastor succession. Much prayer, conversation, and discernment have been done, and over the last twelve months, in particular, Matt and others have discernment that the right time is 2025. We have been reading and researching as much as we can about successful church leadership transitions. Some of the best learning is that it is so helpful to have an existing staff pastor step up into the role because they already know and love the culture, heart, values, theology, and vision of the church. Also, they have been intentionally prepared for leading a church and are well-known by the people. Another key learning is that it is important not to change your key values when a new Lead Pastor begins.

moving forward

After in-depth discussion and prayer, our Church Oversight Team has decided not to invite applications for the Lead Pastor role. Instead, we are moving forward with our current Associate Pastor, Stanley Ross, as our sole candidate. Stanley and his wife, Rachel, have a deep love for our church and a strong desire to serve. It was through clear leading from God that they joined the staff team at Coast. They have always had deep love for the area and believe this is where God wanted them to serve and minister.

Stanley has been on staff of Coast Vineyard for six years and is known for his leadership, faith, and pastoral heart. With a theology degree and many years of pastoral experience, he is well-prepared for this role. As part of the transition, a thorough assessment will be conducted to ensure he aligns with the key values of Coast Vineyard Church, Vineyard NZ’s pastoral expectations, and that we are following God’s leading in this process. To date, Stanley more than meets these criteria.

the transition process

Our Church Oversight Team are regularly meeting, praying, and working through an agreed process. Stanley and Rachel are having in-depth interviews and presenting their vision and dreams for Coast Vineyard. We’ve assembled a Transition Discernment Team (TDT) to assist during the discernment period. They’ll be praying, gathering input from the church, reviewing prophetic words, and meeting with church leadership. We value your thoughts, prayers, and insights as we navigate this together. Please pass helpful input to any of this team.

Members of the TDT include:

  • Ann Pearson

  • Annaliese Phipps

  • Caitlin Watson

  • Chrissy Vivian

  • Craig Young

  • Michael Brown

  • Peter Mancer

  • Rachel Humphrey

  • Simon Mittermeier

  • Thomas Weston

You can also email us at transition@coast.org.nz

you may be thinking…

How long will this take? A few months. Long enough to work through a robust process but not longer than it needs to be.

Will Matt stay at Coast Vineyard? Yes. And he may continue with a small role, assisting as needed and with what would be helpful.

Will we need a new Associate Pastor? Probably! This could be an opportunity for someone new to step into a leadership role and/or for us to reconfigure the current staff roles and responsibilities.

Is the church in a good place? Yes! While there are some leadership changes happening, our church is in great health, is growing, and we are seeing God do wonderful things in people’s lives. We are confident this transition is happening at the right time. “It seems good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15).

likely key dates

  • April - Interview Stanley and Rachel Ross and gather input from the Transition Discernment Team.

  • May - Discernment and decision-making. Announcement to the church.

  • June/July - Stanley on ‘quiet leave’.

  • August - Commissioning service.

how can you support?

  • Pray - for wisdom, peace, and clarity for everyone involved. Keep Matt and Jacinda and Stanley and Rachel, and our church community in your prayers.

  • Share - If you feel God is speaking into this transition through prophetic word, dream, or insight, please share it with the Transition Discernment Team.

  • Encourage - Leadership changes can feel uncertain, but trusting in God’s timing is essential. Let’s keep trusting Him and uplifting each other through this process.

We truly believe God has great plans for Coast Vineyard, and this transition is part of it. We believe that Stanley and Rachel are not only the right ‘new Lead Pastors’ for us at this time in all the important ways of values and abilities, but we also believe God has chosen them for this. For Matt and Jacinda, our founding pastors, they feel excited to be handing over to them the church they began in full expectation that they will build on it and into the future for the next generation.

The Bible says that Jesus is the head of the church, and as the head of the church, he gives leaders to serve the church and help it to become all it’s meant to be. This is how that works out in real life.

For any questions, please email transition@coast.org.nz