Church Council Update - June 30

Dear Trinity Friends,

The Council has adopted a Bridge Leadership Plan, which creates a team of strong leaders to provide administration, pastoral care, and worship leadership while the Call Committee seeks a replacement for Pastor Erik Christensen. He leaves at the end of July to transition to his new role as Bishop of the Metro Chicago Synod.

This plan was presented to the congregation by the Council at a Town Hall held following worship on Sunday, June 28. The new Call Committee was also announced.

“Circumstances are guiding us in this direction,” Council Vice President Detlef Schumann explained. “We are not talking about a retirement of a pastor with a lot of time to plan and think ahead. We are faced with a short deadline. It was made clear to us that finding an interim pastor in five weeks was a very tall order.”

With assistance from Interim Bishop Wayne Miller and Pastor Erik, the Council has already identified two key members of the team: Pastor JoAnn Post, who recently retired from Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Northfield, and Pastor Peg Otte, a longtime Trinity member. Pastor JoAnn will start in late July as administrator, working with and supporting staff, the Council, and the Call Committee. Pastor Peg will start providing pastoral care to Trinity members on September 9, once she has completed an existing obligation. Until she is available, other area pastors will fill in on pastoral care needs, as they would for a vacationing pastor.

Worship leadership, including sermons, will be provided by a series of pastors-in-residence who will serve for multiple consecutive weeks, aligned with the church calendar. Pastor JoAnn will handle arrangements with these individuals.

The new Call Committee will be led by Kate Fester, co-chair of the Call Committee in 2023-24. She is joined by other Call Committee veterans including Carol Cyrus, Susan Gullickson, Paul Lindman, Jared Storck, and Carol Wilson. They will begin work immediately, starting with a revision of the Ministry Site Profile (MSP), the document that is ultimately sent to potential candidates to reflect who Trinity is as a church, our demographics, our values, and what we do.

Kate explained that much of the earlier MSP used to call Pastor Erik remains valid, but updates are needed. Members of the congregation are welcome to provide input. More information on how to do so will be available shortly.

While the Call Committee hopes to have an expedited process, Kate stressed that its efforts wouldn’t be rushed and promised transparency for members and staff as to what is happening.

Council President Jason Reno reminded the Town Hall that Trinity remains strong as a congregation, financially and programmatically, and will continue to follow the Strategic Plan adopted earlier this year. He pointed to the recent retirement of Trinity’s mortgage as a key sign of strength and congregational support.

Sincerely,
Trinity Lutheran Church Council