At 9:00 a.m. on January 29, 2012, the Congregational Church of Batavia (21 South Batavia Ave, Batavia, IL) will hold a special worship service to officially release David Foxgrover as their pastor. Because of the number of people expected to attend, overflow seating arrangements have been made, and permission to park in adjacent lots is being arranged with Bethany Lutheran to the west and the public library across Route 31. To further celebrate the good times this congregation and pastor have known together, the church plans an extended reception in Paxton Hall immediately following the service.

Foxgrover has told church members many times in the past year that he did not expect to retire from the Congregational Church of Batavia when he took the position as minister there more than 22 years ago. He had expected to stay for about eight to ten years, then move to another pastorate before retiring. When asked why he stayed, he says, “There were always enough new and exciting things going on that this position never felt stagnant.”

During Foxgrover’s tenure, the Congregational Church of Batavia instituted term limits on church officers, a practice common to many well-run institutions, religious or secular. This keeps boards fresh, gives more people experience, and keeps the congregation from taking advantage of willing servants. At the same time, the church changed its governing structure from board to church council and from committees to ministry teams. As Foxgrover explains, “The church council exists not to inhibit ideas but to encourage people to start new ministries.” He also sees teams as having opened service to persons with an interest in the area, whereas the board structure seemed to have become a set number of slots needing filling. He continues to be delighted by the number of people active in some area of service within the church, as well as by the mix of long-term and newer members on teams.

Some significant growth has occurred while Dr. Foxgrover has been its senior minister. The church hired Cindy Kenney as its first full-time Christian education director the year after he came, and the Logos mid-week children and youth program she started laid the foundation for the strong programs that exist today. As Sunday attendance grew, the church added a second service on Sunday mornings.

In 2002, the church acquired the Parkway Press property on the corner south of the main building, which allowed the church to add a wing, providing offices for staff and an inviting fellowship area, Paxton Hall. This became even more of a blessing for the period a few years later, when services were held in Paxton Hall after cracking of plaster in the ceiling of the newly refurbished sanctuary in 2007 revealed serious structural problems in the main roof, necessitating the sanctuary being off limits for almost a year during replacement of the roof trusses and sanctuary ceiling.

But the most significant aspects of the time Foxgrover has spent leading this congregation, in his view, relate to people and service. Some examples he offers:
• Marcia Schneider’s formation of and work with the junior and senior high school teams
• The church’s choosing to continue and help develop the Batavia Nursery School after founder Jeannie Fisk’s retirement.
• The fact that the congregation consistently assigns 10% of the annual budget to mission and social services—and gives half again that amount through special giving.
• Times of worship, gathered as a church family, praising God and singing together.

Foxgrover enjoys not being a “lone ranger.” He loves the supportive team spirit that has developed among church staff. Church secretary Debbie Poole and Director of Youth Ministries Marcia Schneider have been on staff for 12 years; Director of Music & Worship Vicki Linich, Director of Children’s Ministries Laura Bernabei, and Director of Connections Pam Russell joined the staff more recently. Plus, any interested church members can contribute to worship planning through the Experience Worship team, which meets each Tuesday morning.

When asked about how he wants the Congregational Church to remember his tenure, he says, “I hope I’ve been able to keep the congregation looking ahead, looking for what we need to be doing next, how to present the gospel to reach unchurched people.” Speaking of the wider church, he continues, “My desire has been to have the Bible become an open book to people: for them to read it and be inspired by it. Renewal of the church begins with return to the scriptures and the biblical message. The church has to win the right to be heard—how can churches get people to hear the message of Christ & gospel?”

Before accepting the call to pastor at the Congregational Church in 1989, Dr. Foxgrover, who holds a PhD in history of Christian thought, held joint appointments as college chaplain and religion professor at Rockford College since 1972. He enjoyed the combination of duties, feeling that this helped him bring heart & mind together in the life of students and faculty.

This theme of “heart & mind together” grew naturally from his PhD thesis, which explored John Calvin’s understanding of conscience—that the forgiveness in Christ gives peace of conscience because God’s grace supersedes our accusing conscience and thus forgiveness holds the final word.

Dr. Foxgrover taught biblical studies, both the Hebrew scriptures and the New Testament. He also enjoyed teaching world religions and the occasional course on his graduate study focus, John Calvin, as well as courses in Rockford’s liberal arts honors program. He stays in touch with some of his students; in fact, he had a chance to talk with a 1973 Rockford graduate just this past week.

Seventeen years of ministering as chaplain made the transition to congregational ministry a logical choice when the time came to move on. At the Congregational Church of Batavia, his academic achievements enrich his preaching.

Being able to move such a short distance within Illinois made the transition much easier for the Foxgrover family. David and Marsha Foxgrover remain grateful to the church members who went out of their way to help them and their three children feel at home in the new community.

Batavia has truly become home now. Wife Marsha continues as organist at Wheaton Bible Church and Batavia Covenant, with organ recitals coming up in Connecticut in March and at Wheaton Bible in April. So, with daughters Sarah and Amy and son Craig all in the Chicago area still, the Foxgrovers expect to stay in Batavia after David’s retirement January 29. A second Foxgrover grandchild should arrive in April and David plans to enjoy this one as much as he has the first.

A class that Foxgrover teaches at Wheaton College will continue into the spring. He plans to circulate his academic resume to area colleges and universities, looking to teach classes in his fields, particularly in teaching about Islam and its relation to Christianity. He would also enjoy speaking to church or civic groups about these very timely topics. Foxgrover sees himself continuing in other forms of ministry as well and has been preparing to do intentional interim ministry.