Lord of Grace Family and Friends
I’ve been watching the Olympics, and especially the speed skaters. I can imagine that sense of relief and grit when they get into that final lap around the track, because that’s what I feel right now about the transition process as we enter the final couple of weeks.
Transition Report was approved by Council and is released to the congregation. You can find it by clicking this link. We will also be printing a limited number of copies and you can find those in the Narthex. If we run out this Sunday, we’ll print more for next Sunday, just let me know.
Reminder, that this transition report is used to complete the final product of our transition phase, and the first document of our Call phase – the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). This document should be completed this Monday, and then will also be approved by council (in March). It is used to share who we are, what we want to be, and what we are looking for in a pastor to pastoral candidates. Then the MSP is sent to Synod, who approves it, posts it, and collects applications from candidates.
Prayers – Please continue to pray for the transition team and thank them for their hard work these last 9 months. They are Joy Folkvord, Richard Green, Laura Tanem-Hernandez, Cindy Stein, Sam Lyth, and Sue Justis. And a special thanks to Pastor Randy who helped a lot with the transition process, but will now be leaving the team, as we move into a Call Committee, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to be a part of that.
Next Steps – Once the MSP is approved, the Transition ends and the Call Committee commence.
Pastor Randy will be the first candidate considered, but for all candidates, including Pastor Randy, here’s the process that we will follow –
The Call Committee will
1. Post the MSP to the Synod
2. Get approved names as candidates for open pastor position from Synod
3. Research the candidate as appropriate
4. Schedule Video Conference 1st Interview with the Candidate
5. Schedule In Person 2nd Interview with the Candidate
6. Perform Background Check on the Candidate as needed
7. Vote on the Candidate for approval and recommend to Council
The call committee will “rinse and repeat” this process from steps 2-7 as many times as needed
The Council will
1. Recommend the Candidate be presented to the Council
2. Vote on the Compensation to offer
3. Schedule a special meeting of the Congregation
4. Notify the Bishop, who puts together the Call Packet
The Congregation will
1. Be provided resources to evaluate the candidate
2. NOT have the candidate preach a sermon, as
a. These are available online for evaluation
b. A single sermon doesn’t represent the majority of what the Pastor will do
3. Produce a quorum to vote on the Candidate at a special meeting
4. Approve the call of the pastor
5. Accept the compensation package of the pastor
So, as you can see, there is no shortage of work for the Transition Team/Call Committee ahead of us, so my analogy above would be similar to a Speed Skater competing in 2 events, and we are just completing the first event.
William Willcoxson
wwillcoxson@comcast.net