An Update on Leadership at Thetford Vineyard Church
Dear Church family,
As we shared on Wednesday, we wanted to write to you about some changes to the leadership of Thetford Vineyard Church (TVC) as we move into a new season together.
TVC is now six years old. We have grown from a small church plant meeting around a dining table into an established community gathering on Sundays and throughout the week. As the Church has grown, so have the needs and responsibilities of leadership. We recognise that different seasons call for different approaches, and we believe these changes will help us continue to grow in health and fulfil the purposes God has for us.
Tor's next season
After a considerable period of reflection and discernment, Tor has decided to step down from her role as Senior Pastor, with the change taking effect from January 2027.
Tor has been holding this tension for some time, and her recent sabbatical reaffirmed her sense that this role is no longer hers to hold. As TVC has developed from a pioneering church plant into a more established community, the demands of the role have changed, and Tor has recognised that it is no longer the right fit for her.
Matt is fully behind Tor in this decision, and Tor is fully behind Matt as he continues to lead the church. This is a decision we’ve journeyed through together as trustees and leaders, with the support of our Area and Regional teams.
We’re so grateful for all that Tor has poured into this community and for the part she’s played in shaping Thetford Vineyard. We want to honour all she has given, celebrate the foundations she has helped establish, and support her as she steps into this next season.
Leadership for the next season
Matt will continue as Senior Pastor. Throughout this period of discernment, he has continued to sense that this role is right for him and that God is asking him to continue. He wants to do so, and we are united in supporting him as he leads TVC into the future.
We believe healthy leadership should not rest on one person alone. Scripture reminds us of the importance of shared responsibility and wise counsel (Exodus 18:17–18; Proverbs 11:14). In the months leading up to our sabbatical, we increasingly sensed God inviting TVC into a more shared model of servant leadership. The Core Team took shape during the sabbatical and proved instrumental in supporting the Church. It will continue to provide space for prayer, discernment and input into the Church’s wider vision and direction.
Additionally, with immediate effect, Julie will serve as Voluntary Interim Associate Pastor, recognising the need for additional leadership capacity during this transition. Having already served on the Leadership Team and contributed to the life and leadership of Vineyard Churches for many years, she brings valuable experience and continuity as we discern the Church’s longer-term leadership structure.
Together, as a Leadership team, Matt and Julie will oversee operational and strategic decisions, with the Trustees continuing to provide governance and oversight and the wider Vineyard movement offering pastoral support, spiritual direction and accountability.
What does this mean for TVC?
Our Sunday gatherings, life groups and other Church activities will continue as normal. Over the coming months, we will seek God's direction together, as a Core Team and whole Church, as we discern our vision for 2027.
Our purpose remains unchanged: to build communities that come alive in Jesus and take that life into the town. We long to see the Kingdom of God extended in Thetford, with people encountering the living God and discovering healing, purpose and hope in an uncertain world.
Moving forward together
We recognise that leadership changes can bring questions and uncertainty. We want to be open about what is changing, honest about what is still being discerned, and committed to walking through this season together as a Church family.
Please continue to pray for Matt, Tor and their family as they step into this next season, and for wisdom, unity and God’s guidance for Matt, Julie, the Trustees and Core Team as they carry responsibility for the life and future of Thetford Vineyard.
Thank you for your continued faithfulness, generosity, prayer and commitment to Thetford Vineyard. We are grateful for all that God has done among us over these six years, and we look forward with faith and expectation to all that he has ahead.
With love and gratitude,
The Trustees and Leadership Team
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When will these changes take place?
1
Tor will officially step down as Senior Pastor on January 1st. The coming months will be a period of transition, during which we will work through Tor's ongoing responsibilities and how best to support the Church in this next season.
What’s next for Tor?
2
Tor is looking forward to being part of the Church community she has helped build, serving in a different capacity and enjoying Church life without carrying the responsibilities of the Senior Pastor role.
Outside of Church, Tor supports Church of England schools across Suffolk, helping them develop their Christian ethos. This is work she enjoys and feels increasingly called to during this next season.
With Tor and Matt being parents, this decision also provides them with more capacity to support their children.
Will Tor still be involved in leading or making decisions at TVC?
3
There will be a period of transition as we discern, alongside the Trustees, Tor's ongoing roles and responsibilities. While she will continue to serve in specific areas, including Growkids, her involvement will increasingly be about serving rather than leading.
We want to make this transition thoughtfully, recognising all that Tor has contributed while establishing a healthy and sustainable way forward for everyone.
Will Matt remain as Senior Pastor?
4
Yes. Throughout this period of discernment, Matt has continued to sense that the Senior Pastor role is right for him. He believes God is asking him to continue, and he is excited about entering into this next chapter as a Church.
As we move into this next season, we will work with the Trustees and the wider Vineyard movement to clarify Matt's responsibilities and how best to support him in leading the Church.
Why is Julie becoming Interim Associate Pastor?
5
Her voluntary interim appointment recognises the need for additional leadership capacity and support during this transition. Julie has already been part of the Leadership Team and has contributed to the leadership and life of Vineyard Churches for many years. This appointment is an immediate step to support the Church, while we discern the longer-term leadership structure.
Is Matt leading on his own? How are decisions made?
6
No. Although Matt continues as Senior Pastor, and carries the ultimate responsibility for leading TVC, we believe healthy Church leadership should never rest on one person alone.
The Leadership Team, currently Matt and Julie, is where operational and strategic decisions are made. The Core Team provides a space for prayer, discernment and input into the wider vision and direction of the Church. The Trustees provide governance and oversight, and Matt is supported and held accountable within the wider Vineyard movement.
This structure ensures that leadership is shared, supported and focused on the health and growth of TVC.
Why do we need a Core Team? Isn't that what the Senior Pastor is for?
7
The Senior Pastor has the ultimate leadership responsibility, but that does not mean they should carry everything alone. Scripture gives us examples of leaders sharing responsibility and seeking wisdom from others.
In Exodus 18, Jethro warns Moses that trying to carry the responsibility of leading God's people alone will wear him out. Proverbs 11:14 also reminds us of the value of seeking wise counsel.
In the months leading up to Matt and Tor’s sabbatical, we increasingly sensed that God was inviting TVC into a more shared model of servant leadership. The Core Team began to take shape and proved instrumental in supporting the Church during the sabbatical. However, we knew it was never intended to be just a temporary arrangement.
The Core Team is a place to ask, "What is God doing?" and "What is God inviting us into?" It brings together prayer, spiritual discernment and different perspectives to help the Senior Pastor and Leadership Team discern the Church's direction. It is not intended to make every operational decision, but to help us hear God and serve the Church well.
What is the difference between the Core Team and the Leadership Team?
8
The Core Team provides a space for prayer, discernment and input into the wider vision and direction of the Church. Together, we ask, “What is God doing, and what is he inviting us into?” It helps us listen to God and discern the direction he is leading us in.
The Leadership Team, currently Matt and Julie, is responsible for operational and strategic decisions, helping to lead the day-to-day life of the Church and put that direction into practice.
Both teams play an important role, working alongside the Trustees and the wider Vineyard movement to support the health, leadership and future of TVC.
How does this affect our Church gatherings?
9
Our Sunday gatherings, life groups and other Church activities will continue as normal.
As we move through this transition, we will be actively seeking God's direction for the next season, including our vision for 2027. There may be developments over time, but we will communicate any changes that affect Church activities as decisions are made.
What will happen to Growkids?
10
Growkids will continue, with Tor remaining as ministry lead and line manager for Growkids employees.
Growkids remains an important part of TVC's life and our commitment to children and families.
11
Will the Church's vision or values change?
Our central purpose remains the same: to build communities that come alive in Jesus and then take that life into the town. We long to see the Kingdom of God extended in Thetford, with people encountering the living God and discovering healing, purpose and hope.
We are entering a period of active discernment as a Core Team and as a whole Church, seeking God's direction and vision for 2027. We do not have every detail of the future settled, but we remain committed to the purpose God has given us and to following where He leads.
Who is supporting the Church through this transition?
12
TVC is part of Vineyard Churches UK and Ireland, where Senior Pastors are supported and held accountable through a wider network of leaders, including Area Leaders, Regional Leaders and National Directors.
This wider structure provides pastoral oversight, spiritual direction and support. We have already experienced the value of that support in the lead-up to our sabbatical and throughout this period of transition.
We will also be working with the Trustees and drawing on external coaching as we clarify responsibilities and establish the right leadership arrangements for TVC's future.
What can we do as the TVC community to help during this time?
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First, please pray for Tor, Matt and their family. Pray for Julie, for the Trustees and Core Team, and for the whole Church as we navigate this transition.
Continue to participate in the life of the Church, serve where God has called you, and share what you believe God may be saying. We want to be a Church where everyone gets to play, bringing their gifts, experiences and insights to help build the community.
This is not simply a leadership issue for a few people to resolve. It is an opportunity for all of us to seek God together and contribute to the life and future of TVC.
How can we be confident that God is leading us through these changes?
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We cannot claim to know every detail of what lies ahead, but we can continue to pray, listen to Scripture, seek wise counsel and pay attention to what God may be doing among us.
During this period of discernment, we have been hugely encouraged by God's provision for TVC.
Ultimately, our confidence is not in a particular person or leadership structure, but in Jesus, who continues to build his Church. Our responsibility is to remain faithful, listen to the Holy Spirit and respond to what He is inviting us into.
What we do know is that TVC remains a Church with a heart for Thetford: to see people encounter Jesus and experience the healing, purpose and hope that come through him, and to take that life into our community.