In addition to this letter below, please also see the announcement from the PFR Board of Directors.

September 25, 2006

Dear Family of Presbyterians For Renewal,

Over the last two years, the Lord has graciously given us both joy and fortitude as we have labored for renewal in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We have witnessed both the beginnings of missional transformation in many of our congregations, as well as the encouragement of unprecedented cooperation among renewal ministries in response to the ongoing challenges we face in our denomination. PFR has engaged the church at every level, both in those matters that have attracted much attention and in stories of faithfulness far removed from the spotlight of controversies: witnessing youth come to Christ, equipping leaders to proclaim the good news with passion and clarity, engaging the governing bodies of the church, as well as fostering a new grassroots vision for how we as Presbyterians might fulfill our apostolic calling to bear witness to Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. In the midst of the challenges and the signs of hope, I have become accustomed to saying that we are “free to be faithful” in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and I continue to believe that is true with all my heart.

Two years has also been a long time for me to spend “on the road” away from my young family and away from my Ph.D. dissertation. My Christian vocation as father and husband, and my continued pursuit of my academic degree have required me to make the difficult decision to resign from my position as Executive Director of Presbyterians For Renewal. I am grateful for the members of the PFR Board of Directors, for being gracious and supportive, sharing the commitment to my family and my academic life.

I love PFR more than ever, and I believe in its mission and the importance of its work in the life of the church. In the coming months and years, I look forward to serving PFR in other capacities, as well as continuing to serve on the leadership team of the Presbyterian Global Fellowship.

Between now and the end of the year, I will have the privilege of working with PFR’s Board of Directors as we engage in a time of concentrated strategic planning. In order to be faithful stewards of God’s resources in the service of Jesus Christ, we are conducting a full professional evaluation of our focus, our activities, our response to the spiritual needs of believers, and our ability to equip individuals and congregations of the PC(USA) to be Christ’s faithful witnesses in the world. Every aspect of our ministry will be examined with our continued and unchanging goal in mind—to bring glory to God through our Lord Jesus Christ and to bring spiritual joy to our sisters and brothers in the PC(USA).

This is a bold move. And I would challenge every entity within the Presbyterian Church (USA), including the other renewal organizations, to follow our lead. We must take our mission and the changing nature of our ministry context seriously, and we must be open to following Christ wherever he leads us. And, I invite you, as one who lives to make Christ known, to join us as we follow God into the adventures he has for us in the future. How can you do this?

• Pray with us, daily and fervently, for the joy of Christ and the witness of the individuals and congregations of the PC(USA)
• Commit, with us, to share the gospel in real and personal ways as you are gifted to do, and
• Generously support the re-energized and focused vision of PFR as part of the mission of your congregation and through personal designated giving.

Again, it has been a privilege to serve with you for these two years as the director of PFR. As I return to focus on my academic work and my family life, I also look forward to seeing how God will use this family of Presbyterians For Renewal to bring the transforming love of Jesus Christ to the world.

Your brother in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

Michael R. Walker
Executive Director, Presbyterians For Renewal