Elder Gerald Hoffstead and Caleb Mercer met Tuesday morning at Prairie Ridge’s only sit-down coffee establishment for a forty-seven minute conversation that both men have since described using the word “productive,” leading the Dispatch to investigate whether the two men attended the same meeting. Preliminary reporting suggests they did. They extracted substantially different meaning from it.

The meeting — the first to occur since Caleb Mercer began requesting it in September of last year — was confirmed by both parties. Elder Hoffstead characterized it as “a pastoral investment in a young man who is learning how the church works.” Caleb Mercer characterized it as “the beginning of a serious conversation about where I might serve.” Elder Langley, who was not present, called it “a good sign” when reached by the Dispatch, and then asked this reporter not to quote him because “Gerald reads the Dispatch.”

According to Caleb, Elder Hoffstead spent the first twenty-two minutes discussing the history of Prairie Ridge Reformed, the importance of patience in institutional life, and a specific incident from 2003 that Caleb could not fully contextualize but understood to be a cautionary account. Elder Hoffstead then asked Caleb three questions: about his family, his engagement with the Westminster Standards, and whether he had read the church’s 1992 constitution. Caleb had not read it. He has since obtained a copy. He is currently on page thirty-four.

At the forty-minute mark, Caleb asked Elder Hoffstead directly whether he believed Caleb might be “moving toward eldership at some point.” Elder Hoffstead’s response, as recounted to the Dispatch: “The church benefits most from men who are not in a hurry.” Caleb has written this in his notebook. He has underlined it. He is not entirely sure what it means for his timeline but has interpreted it as encouragement.

Elder Hoffstead confirmed the meeting occurred, confirmed it was productive, and noted that Caleb “asked good questions.” He also noted that the coffee at the establishment they visited was acceptable but not exceptional. He did not elaborate on either point.

AT PRESS TIME: Caleb sent a three-paragraph follow-up thank-you note to Elder Hoffstead within four hours of the meeting. Elder Hoffstead replied with one sentence. Caleb described the response as “warm.”

DEVELOPING: Pastor Williams has finalized the outline for his proposed sermon series addressing the church’s recent outreach initiative. The series is now four parts. Part One is scheduled for the third Sunday of the month. Its projected length has not been confirmed, though a source familiar with the outline describes it as “ambitious.”