Update from the Call Committee

Bishop Hofstad and Ron Hoyum, Assistant to the Bishop, have sent the names and profiles of four Lutheran pastors for the Call Committee’s consideration.  One or two more names and their profiles will likely be received soon.  The committee agrees that all four pastors are worthy of our consideration since their description of their experience, gifts, and strengths could be a positive match for our congregation.  We will contact each pastor and begin conversations with them about St. Mark and our ministry, their ministry, and when ready set up interviews.

We have received the names of two individual pastors and a husband/wife pastoral team who want to co-minister together.  The Call Committee appreciates the support given by the council and congregation encouraging us to consider both options of ministry.  Four individual pastors were nominated by members of our congregation; two of these were available for call and were submitted for considered to the call committee.  It is good to have such interest and input from the congregation.

Thursday morning, October 20^th, I telephoned and began a conversation with a pastor who lives in a different state.  The pastor asked about St. Mark, I asked about their ministry.  The words gospel, family, community, communion, service, mission, and ministry were laced through the conversation.  At the end of what I thought was the end of the conversation, I said that the committee would like to meet and talk in person so could we work to find a time us to meet with the pastor in person.  The pastor said, “Let’s continue this conversation next week.  I need to go talk with my family about St. Mark.  We will talk and pray and I will call you next week.”  I asked about their family, writing down the names of their children, and asked if I could share their names with the Call Committee so we could also pray with them about this very important decision.  The pastor was grateful that we would pray with and for them.  We both agreed to ask for God’s guidance for their family and the family of St. Mark. 

From that conversation I became aware of many things:  the shared language and tradition we have in Christ with fellow Lutherans; the similar challenges and joys Lutheran congregations share; the need for many conversations and much communication with prospective pastors; the need to understand and be sensitive to the process of a call for pastors and their families; the need for us to pray boldly and often for wisdom, guidance and patience.

Pastor Nina Body, St. Mark’s former intern has agreed to do a practice interview with the Call Committee.  We are asking her to help us to identify and ask questions that will provide the best information from the candidate and to assist us in listening for the information that will allow us to discern what is being said and not being said.

Thank you for your support, prayers, input, and nominations.

– Trudy Hoy, Chairperson