After nearly three months on the search for a new campus minister, Professor of Religion and University Church of Christ Elder Ron Highfield, on behalf of the elders and the Campus Minister Search Committee, announced today that Thomas Fitzpatrick will return to his position.
In March of this year, Fitzpatrick announced his decision to leave Campus Ministries at the end of May 2011 to work as an associate preaching minister at a church called The Hills in Fort Worth, Texas. After only six weeks at the job, Fitzpatrick realized he made a mistake leaving the University Church campus ministry, according to Highfield’s announcement.
Just one week ago, on Monday, June 27, Fitzpatrick contacted Highfield, in the middle of interviewing another candidate, and asked if the committee would consider having him return.
“I desire in the depths of my soul to come back to Pepperdine and be the campus minister once again … I honestly can say you will be getting a better me (more committed, more passionate, more seasoned) — although a much more embarrassed, humble, broken, sympathetic me as well,” Fitzpatrick said to Highfield.
The Campus Minister Search Committee, comprised of Linda Truschke, Gary Selby, Emily Gibson, Rich Dawson, Stacey Rouse, Cory Howard, David Lemley, John Jones, Senior Pastor Rich Little and Highfield, reviewed more than 30 resumes, conducted nine interviews (via Skype, phone and in person) and offered two of the nine interviewees to join the committee in person for a series of interviews. It was in the middle of that final step in the process that Fitzpatrick voiced his interest in returning.
“We [the Search Committee and the elders] realize this is an odd twist of events. But we are convinced that Thomas’s return is best for the ministry,” wrote Highfield.
Highfield explained that the Search Committee and the elders spent two hours on the phone with Fitzpatrick, during which they asked him “some hard questions,” before unanimously deciding to invite him to return.
Karl Ihfe and Neil Reynolds, the two applicants invited to complete further interviews for the positions, were notified by Highfield of the turn of events, and “each of them proved to be gracious and understanding of [the committee’s] decision,” according to Highfield.
Highfield and Little were not available for further comment. Please check back for updates as the story develops.