Here you can find all updates from our Elder team.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Elder team, rwelders@riverwest.org.

Dear River West family,

This Sunday, our elders shared an important update about the leadership of River West, and we wanted to make sure everyone in our church family had an opportunity to hear the news.

First, we simply want to say thank you.

Since Adam’s resignation in April, this has been an incredibly difficult and painful season. And yet, through it all, we have been overwhelmed by the grace, prayer, patience, generosity, and
encouragement you have extended to our elders, pastors, staff, and one another.

We have also been deeply encouraged by the way you have continued to show up, serve, give, worship, and engage in the life of River West. Remarkably, both attendance and giving have exceeded where they were at this point last year.

More than anything, we see this as evidence of God’s faithfulness to His Church.‍

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How God Led Us Through This Process

Over these past several months, our elders have prayed, studied Scripture, listened carefully to our pastors and staff, and sought God’s wisdom about how River West should be led in the years ahead.

A few convictions became important guideposts for us:

Jesus leads His Church. Every pastor, elder, leader, and staff member serves under His authority and seeks to follow His example of humble, servant leadership (Philippians 2:5–8; Colossians 1:18).

Leadership is healthiest when it is shared. Throughout the New Testament, ministry is repeatedly carried out in community rather than isolation (Mark 6:7; Acts 13:2–3; 14:23).

God gives different gifts and responsibilities to different leaders for the good of the whole Church (1 Corinthians 12:4–7; Romans 12:4–8).

And finally, shared leadership requires clarity in roles, authority, responsibility, and accountability.

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A New Way Forward

‍As we step into this next season as a church, the elders have unanimously approved the formation of a Lead Team made up of four Lead Pastors: Christopher Coffman, Eric Johnson, Mary Ann Noack, and Mike Self.

These four pastors have each served River West faithfully for nearly two decades, and together they have helped shepherd our church through this difficult season.

Rather than placing the weight of leadership on one senior pastor—or asking four pastors to carry identical roles—the Lead Team will share leadership while each pastor carries distinct responsibilities that reflect their gifts, experience, and calling.

Pastor Christopher will serve as Lead Pastor of Vision & Mission. Through this role he will lead the Lead Team as “first among equals,” carrying particular responsibility for vision, teaching, staff culture and health, and alignment around our mission, while also serving on our elder team.

Pastor Eric will serve as Lead Pastor of Preaching & Formation, providing leadership to our preaching ministry, Sunday gatherings, and discipleship formation.

Mary Ann Noack will serve as Lead Pastor of Women & Care, leading our ministry to women, care and connection ministries, and the development of lay leaders.

Mike Self will serve as Lead Pastor of Men & Families, while also helping our ministries translate priorities into healthy processes, plans, and follow-through.

Together, the Lead Team will support, oversee, mentor, and empower our pastors and staff while helping guard the health, unity, and mission of River West. They will remain accountable to our Elder Team, which will continue to provide spiritual oversight, governance, and care for the church.

We believe this shared leadership model will bring greater collaboration, healthier accountability, clearer leadership, and stronger care for our pastors, staff, and congregation. However, this change in organizational structure is not where our confidence rests.

Our confidence is in Jesus, who has promised to lead His Church.

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God of New Beginnings

‍From the earliest days of River West, our founding passage in Isaiah 43:18–19 has shaped and guided us as a church:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Those words remind us that our God is a God of new beginnings. He makes a way in the wilderness. And He causes new life to spring up from unlikely places.

As we step into this next season together as a church, we do so with a deep sense of gratitude and expectancy. In the days ahead we’re confident God will open up new ways for us to live out our church’s mission:

Building a community of Christ for the world...together.

With gratitude,

The River West Elder Team

Dear River West Church Family,

As your Elders, we want to thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and faithfulness during this season. We recognize that many in our church are asking similar questions: What is the plan for leadership? How is our church doing? What can we look forward to? We hope this update helps answer those questions.

1. What is the plan for leadership?

Over the past several months, your Elders have been intentionally investing time in prayer, Scripture, and study as we seek God's wisdom for the future leadership of River West Church.

In addition to our regular meetings, the Elders have been gathering twice each month to study biblical leadership together and discuss how we can best shepherd our church. One of the resources we've been working through is Embracing Shared Ministry by Joseph Hellerman, which has encouraged thoughtful conversation around shared leadership, mutual accountability, and the New Testament model of caring for Christ's Church.

We've also sought wisdom from trusted leaders both within and beyond River West, including former Elders and our founding pastor, Guy Gray. These conversations, together with much prayer, continue to shape our thinking as we evaluate our leadership structures and practices.

As we make decisions and implement changes, we are committed to communicating openly with our church family. Thank you for your patience and for continuing to pray that we would lead with humility, wisdom, and faithfulness to Jesus.

2. How is the church doing?

Many have also asked how River West is doing financially and in overall engagement.

Like many churches navigating seasons of leadership transition, we've experienced some impact in both attendance and giving. While average attendance is modestly lower than this time last year, giving has remained encouraging, and we are grateful for the continued generosity of so many in our church family.

Recognizing the realities of this season, we've also taken a conservative approach to this year's budget. By God's grace and through the faithful generosity of our community, River West remains on stable financial footing, and we are thankful for His continued provision.

Thank you for continuing to worship, serve, give, and invest in the life of our church. Your faithfulness is making a tangible difference.

3. Looking Ahead

We’re excited to share that beginning in September, Mike Self, our Men and Families Pastor, will be joining our Sunday preaching team. Mike, and his wife Kathleen, our Kids Ministry Pastor, have been a faithful part of the River West community for the past 18 years. We are grateful for the gifts God has given Mike and look forward to hearing him open God’s Word alongside the rest of our teaching team.

Continuing in Prayer

Finally, your Elders continue to gather every Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m. to pray for our church body, our pastors, our staff, and our community.

If there is a way we can be praying for you or your family, we would love to hear from you. Please come speak to one of us directly, there’s typically one of us at all three services, or send your prayer requests to rwelders@riverwest.org.

Thank you for your continued trust, your prayers, and your love for River West Church. We remain confident that Christ is faithfully building His Church, and we are grateful to serve Him alongside each of you.

Grace and peace,‍

The River West Church Elder Board

Church family,

Several weeks have passed since we shared the difficult and heartbreaking news of Adam’s affair and his resignation as Senior Pastor of River West Church. Since then, Pastor Christopher, under the direction of the elders, has continued to provide leadership alongside our pastors, staff, and ministry leaders. Together, they have done their best to faithfully care for our congregation and the ongoing ministry of River West.

We are deeply grateful for the prayers, encouragement, and support we have received from so many within our church family. In a difficult season, we have seen our community come together with grace, unity, and love. Your steadfast love for Christ, His church, and one another continues to encourage us.

Please continue to pray for the McMurray family. Cathy’s pain has returned, her cancer has been progressing, and her spinal cord stimulation surgery was canceled because of an insurance denial. Her doctor is appealing that decision. Cathy and the girls have been deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from the entire church family.

Over the past few weeks, many of you have also asked how Adam is doing. Adam is receiving support from wise, trusted counselors as he works through the impact of his actions and the hurt they have caused. He and Cathy have also begun meeting with a couples therapist.

Adam is grateful for the care and concern people have shown for him and his family. At this time, he is focusing on repentance, healing, and rebuilding trust in his closest relationships.

This summer, the elders will be devoting additional time to prayer, discernment, and planning as we seek the Lord’s wisdom for River West’s leadership needs in the season ahead. As significant progress is made, we will continue to share updates during our Sunday gatherings and through our website, app, and newsletter.

While much has changed, our confidence remains in Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. He has been faithful to River West in every season, and we trust He will continue to shepherd, sustain, and lead His church in the days ahead.

With gratitude,

The River West Elders

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