DETROIT, MI (June 23, 2017) – Develop Leaders executive minister Mark Novak will step down from his position, effective August 31, due to ongoing family health issues.
Novak announced his decision to delegates at the 132nd Annual Meeting today. He informed Ministerium members at their meeting on Thursday.
Novak, whose home is in Seattle, said this morning that he could no longer devote the time needed to fully do the job. He emphasized to the Ministerium that he is not retiring but is seeking ministry opportunities near Seattle.
President Gary Walter told Novak during this morning’s announcement that, “We don’t want it, we want to talk you out of it, but we understand it is the good and right decision.”
Novak was elected to his first term in 2012 and was re-elected to a second term in 2016.
Dick Lucco will serve as interim executive minister beginning September 1. Lucco currently serves as executive director of ministry development. He is a former superintendent of the Great Lakes Conference.
The Board of Ordered Ministry will serve as the nominating committee for the process of naming a new executive minister for Develop Leaders. The committee will seek to have a nominee by the 2018 Annual Meeting. The new executive minister would be elected to a full four-year term, Walter said.
