It is with great joy and gratitude that we share the wonderful news from our Special Business
Meeting. By an overwhelming vote of approval and affirmation, Piet Van Waarde has been
called as our next Senior / Lead Pastor.

On behalf of the Pastoral Nominating Committee, the Advisory Committee, and the Overseers, thank you for your prayers, confidence, and trust throughout this process. We are deeply grateful for the unity and discernment shown by our congregation, and we are confident that God has been faithfully guiding each step. We believe He has great plans ahead for the future of North River, and we rejoice that Piet has accepted this call.

Piet will be traveling from Austin to Boston this week and will begin preaching Sunday, February 1, 2026. Please join us for one service at 10am so that we can welcome, celebrate and commission Piet as our new Lead Pastor!

SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING RESULTS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25

We will gather for one service at 10:00 AM on January 25th, and immediately following the service, we will hold a Special Business Meeting to vote on the appointment of our next Lead Pastor and PNC nominee, Piet Van Waarde.

Voting Eligibility:
To participate in the vote, you must be a member of North River. If you are not yet a member and would like to become one, there is one remaining BELONG Membership Class taking place Saturday, January 24th. Click HERE to learn more.

How to Vote:
Voting will be available:

• In-person

• During the Livestream of our Business Meeting

• By Absentee Ballot

Absentee ballots must be requested no later than 24 hours prior to the Business Meeting and must be submitted by the end of the Business Meeting.

As we approach this significant day, we invite you to join us in prayer—trusting God’s timing, His wisdom, and His plans for North River.

MESSAGE FROM THE PNC / AC

We are grateful to share the exciting news that the Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) has recommended Piet Van Waarde as our next Lead Pastor, a recommendation that has been presented to and approved by the North River Board of Overseers. Throughout this process, we have seen God’s faithful hand at work—guiding us with clarity, fostering unity, and confirming His leading among all involved. We invite you to watch the video above to hear from each member of the team as they share why Piet is being brought forward as our Lead Pastor nominee. As we move ahead, we remain committed to proceeding with clarity, unity, and trust in God’s guidance, and we invite the congregation to join us in prayerful discernment as we take this important step together.

ABOUT THE PROCESS

The Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) plays a central role in identifying and recommending suitable candidates for pastoral positions, ensuring that the process is structured, transparent, and aligned with the church’s needs and values.

Who is on the committee?

• The PNC will have a total of five members:
  1. Three Overseers
  2. Two members of the congregation, nominated by the Board of Overseers (to bring a diverse and representative perspective from the congregation)

What does the PNC do?

• Vet and evaluate candidates, including interviews and reference checks.
• Discern a candidate’s fit within the congregation along with input from the Advisory Committee.
• Identify and recommend the right candidate who will align with the mission and needs of the church.
• Accountability: The PNC is accountable to both the Overseersand the congregation, ensuring transparency and trust in the process.

WHO IS ON THE PASTORAL

NOMINATING COMMITTEE?

WHAT IS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE?

Advisory Committee (AC) will assist the Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) in the search process for a new Lead Pastor.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Offer perspective and suggestions: The AC will bring a broad, well-rounded perspective to the search process, ensuring that the values and needs of the congregation are represented. They might offer feedback on what qualities or characteristics would be most beneficial in a new lead pastor.
2. Participate in meetings: The AC members will meet with the search firm to help communicate the congregation’s priorities in leadership qualities in a lead pastor. The AC members will attend certain PNC meetings and be involved in discussions. Their role will be to offer insights, perspectives, and guidance to ensure a well-rounded approach to selecting a new lead pastor.
3. Provide guidance and support: They will act as trusted advisors to the PNC, offering perspectives that might not be immediately obvious to the team. This may include providing insights into the culture of the congregation, the qualities they are seeking in a new pastor, and any other important considerations that the PNC should keep in mind. They will spend time praying for the PNC and the entire search process.

WILL A 75% VOTE BE A REQUIREMENT

IN CHOOSING THE NEXT SENIOR PASTOR?

Yes, there is at least 75% approval needed for the next Senior / Lead Pastor to be affirmed.  This is a requirement of our bylaws.

3.1 Election of a Pastor 1. The election of a Senior Pastor, unless otherwise provided, shall be for a term not specified and shall require at least a three-fourths vote of those members present and voting at a regular or special business meeting. 

Please note:  In order to participate in the vote you must be a member of North River.  If you are not sure if you are a member, you can confirm this after both services in the lobby.  If you would like to become a member, we will offer two Membership classes – BELONG before the Special Business meeting.  CLICK HERE to learn more.

HOW TO VOTE:

 Voting will be in person, during livestream of  Business Meeting and by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be requested no later than 24 hours prior to Business Meeting and must be submitted by the end of the Business Meeting.