704-366-3554

Mission Study Transitional Process

Aug 14, 2026 | Church Notes Archive | 0 comments

Meet the Mission Study Team

A Mission Study is an important part of the transition process in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Before a congregation begins searching for its next pastor, it takes time to understand itself and the community it has been called to serve. The Mission Study will look at Trinity’s history, membership and congregational life, worship and ministries, strengths and challenges, our surrounding community, and the opportunities we see for the future. It will also help us identify the priorities and qualities that will be important in our next season of ministry and, ultimately, in the pastor we call to serve alongside us.

As Transitional Pastor, I have the privilege of working alongside the Mission Study Team, helping guide the process and keeping our work grounded in prayer and thoughtful discernment. In the months ahead, the entire congregation will be invited to share your experiences, insights, hopes, and dreams through a congregational survey. Your voice is an important part of this process.

Please keep the Mission Study Team in your prayers as we continue this important work.

– Rev. Nick Cheek

Bev Bradley

Bev and her husband, Doug, joined Trinity thirty-five years ago as they prepared to welcome their first son. Through the ministries of Trinity, they watched both of their boys grow in faith, supported by devoted Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, choir directors, and pastors. Over the years, Bev has served through mission trips, Session, the Pastor Nominating Committee, Personnel, and Philips Academy. She especially treasures the genuine love Trinity shows both to one another and to the wider community. Bev hopes this season of discernment will renew excitement, energy, and confidence in God’s future for Trinity.

Betty Lynn Lambert
Betty Lynn was raised in the Presbyterian Church in Statesville, North Carolina, and has been a member of Trinity since 1981. Throughout her life, she has found joy in worship, service, and building relationships within Presbyterian congregations. At Trinity, she has served in Christian Education, on Session, and in numerous ministries, while also representing the church through years of service in Presbytery, including the Committee on Ministry and several pastoral searches. One of Betty Lynn’s greatest joys has been watching children who grew up at Trinity return as adults to raise families of their own. She believes deeply that we are called to be ‘stewards of the present to ensure the future,’ and she is honored to help the congregation discern God’s vision for Trinity’s next chapter.

Lynette Neel

Lynette joined Trinity Presbyterian Church in December 1998 and has faithfully served in a wide range of ministries and leadership roles over the years. She has served on numerous committees and currently serves on Session and the Engagement and Mission Committee. Lynette and her husband, Josh, have raised their three children—Blakely, Edward, and William—at Trinity, where each was baptized and actively involved in the church’s youth ministry. She says one of the things she loves most about Trinity is the deep sense of community shared within the congregation and its commitment to caring for the larger world. Lynette is grateful for the opportunity to serve on this team as Trinity prepares to call its next Senior Pastor.

Ned Parnell

Ned has considered Trinity his church home since he was two years old. Many of his earliest memories were formed within these halls, from helping prepare for Vacation Bible School as a teenager to later serving as a Youth Advisor, ministry team member, and Elder. After moving away for college and eventually returning to Charlotte, reconnecting with Trinity felt like coming home. He describes Trinity as one of the constants in his life and believes the Mission Study Team will honor the church’s rich history while embracing new opportunities for ministry that faithfully glorify Christ.

Janet Sarjeant

Janet has been a member of Trinity for more than fifty years and has faithfully served through worship, committee work, and countless opportunities for ministry. Looking back over five decades of congregational life, she is especially grateful for Trinity’s desire to remain rooted in Scripture while continuing to engage the world around it. Janet believes this season offers an important opportunity to tell Trinity’s story with honesty and hope. She hopes the Mission Study Team will clearly communicate who Trinity has been, who Trinity is today, and who God is calling the congregation to become.