Reverend Erica Cooper Has Resigned As Senior Pastor After Six Years, Citing Family And Personal Priorities.
The senior pastor of Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, Alabama, Rev. Erica Cooper, has resigned from her duty after six years of leading the congregation, her reasons for stepping back from the ministry is to spend more time with her family and probably for self reflection as well.
While taking this hard decision of her life, Cooper further explained that she believes God is calling her into a new season and to focus more on her family, stating that her leaving tempora and she hopes off returning back to the pastoral ministry in the future.
“I do feel God calling me to just kind of step back and be with my family,” Cooper said. “And then when God calls me back to the church, God calls me back. I trust that will happen.”
Rev. Cooper departure marks the end of her six-year tenure of leadership at the Birmingham church. During her period while leading, she reportedly served the congregation through significant challenges and this included the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her decision to leave the ministry reflects her desire to prioritize her family while remaining open to whatever direction she believes God may lead her in the years ahead and possibilities of returning back.
She has currently stepped down from her pastoral and leading role, but her statement does not totally suggest that she has permanently abandoned ministry and the work of God. Instead, she expressed confidence that she will recognize the right time to return if she feels called to do so.
Her departure leaves the congregation preparing for its next chapter as it looks ahead to future leadership, adaptation and acceptance of the parish new chapter.
