Bearing fruit in unity: Welcoming a new pastor to lead and grow with us
A new chapter unfolds at Good Shepherd, grounded in the call to abide in Jesus, the true vine.
Sunday was a joyful and meaningful day at Good Shepherd Anglican Church as we celebrated the “Institution of David Libbon” as our new rector.
The service marked the culmination of an 18-month search for a new rector — the Anglican term for the lead pastor of a local church.
David accepted the call four months ago and began serving in late January. But as Terrell Glenn, assisting bishop of the Diocese of the Carolinas, noted after the ceremony:
“You need to know a little bit about what you just did. You completed the sale. … Whether you knew it or not, both of you had a few weeks to kick the tires. It’s a beautiful thing to see a pastor and a congregation make these kind of common commitments to each other. I pray that God blesses this for many, many years.”
The ceremony itself carried a sense of regality — marked by dignity, grace and a touch of grandeur — as our lay leaders formally presented David to the bishop. The bishop then read the Letter of Institution, which David received with humility, as the congregation joined in prayer for him, his family, and the future of our church.
We are thankful that David, his wife, Lisa, and their daughters, Abbie and Natalie, have now settled into their new home near the church in Cornelius, N.C., after moving from Charleston, S.C. Their presence is already a blessing.
Bishop Terrell’s sermon
Bishop Terrell preached on John 15:1-17, where Jesus proclaims, “I am the true vine.”
Here Jesus is using a metaphor to describe the vital, life-giving relationship between Himself and His followers. He is the true vine, His Father is the vinedresser (gardener), and His followers (us) are the branches.
The key message is this: just as branches must remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, believers must remain in Christ to live fruitful, faithful lives. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting spiritual value.
Terrell focused on the first two verses:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
The bishop said we should ask ourselves three questions:
Am I in the vine?
Am I bearing fruit?
Am I being pruned?
Bishop Terrell said the vine often was used as a metaphor for Israel — and often to show that Israel had failed to act as God’s chosen people.
God chose Israel to be His covenant people so it could display His glory to the world — by knowing, loving, worshiping and serving Him, and by showing others what it means to live in relationship with a merciful and loving God.
The bishop said:
“So when Jesus says, ‘I’m the vine,’ he actually adds a word. ‘I’m the true vine.’
“More specifically, Jesus is saying, ‘I am the true Israel. I shall bring forth in the lives of people connected to me the very fruit of the covenant that the people of God never brought forth.’
“He’s saying, ‘If you really want to be God’s people, come to me. If you really want to be God’s people, be joined to me. Receive from me. Abide in me.’
Just as a branch depends on the vine for life, we depend on Jesus. Trusting Him means staying connected to Him, allowing His life and all that God provides to flow into us — like sap from the vine into the branches.
Are you connected to the Vine?
If not, Jesus makes it clear — you are spiritually dead.
But if you are in the Vine, ask yourself: Am I bearing fruit? Are your actions reflecting God’s goodness, empowered by Christ?
And here’s another question: Are you being pruned?
Pruning isn’t easy. It can be painful. But it’s God’s way of shaping those who are already bearing fruit — refining us, disciplining us, and removing what hinders our growth so we can become even more fruitful for His glory.
This sermon was given by the Bishop Terrell Glenn at Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Cornelius, North Carolina, on March 30, 2025.
You can view the sermon here, starting about 29 minutes into the service.
The text for today was John 15:1-17.
Click here to read what I wrote about Jesus’ seven “I Am” statements, which Pastor David is preaching about during Lent.
Click here to read about the first “I Am” statement: “I am the Good Shepherd.”
Click here to read about the second one: I am the resurrection and the life.”
Click here to read the third: I am the way, the truth and the life.