Longboat Island Chapel finds interim minister

Longboat Island Chapel is looking to the future and will soon begin its search for a permanent replacement for the Rev. Vincent Carroll, who retired July 1.

To allow board members to take the time necessary to find the right replacement, the Rev. Bill Friederich is serving as interim minister.

Friederich and his wife, Bah, have been members of the chapel for three years, and he has served as minister of music since last year.

“He has been serving our chapel as the minister of music, so it was a very logical and easy transition to interim minister,” said Barbara Koetsier, treasurer of the board of trustees.

Friederich moved to the Bradenton area seven years ago after semi-retiring from a church in Maine. He has also led churches in Illinois and Germany.

“It feels right,” Friederich said. “It feels like it’s a good match and like I’m supposed to be here at this time with Pastor Vince retiring. It makes sense. I feel up to the challenge of the church.”

Friederich led his first service as interim minister June 5 and said his familiarity with the chapel has led to an easy transition.

“We’re real familiar with the people, and they’re real familiar with me, so I think it’s a good match,” he said. “I feel like I can be of some assistance and help to the chapel in this transition time.”

The search for Carroll’s permanent replacement hasn’t begun, but Koetsier is confident the board will find a right match.

“We’re just giving it a few months,” she said. “We’ll get through the slow season until we find a replacement…We’re looking for someone who understands the diversity of our congregation and can minister to people with various and many backgrounds of faith. We’re known for being such a friendly church, so we’re excited to find our leader.”