Transition Plans and Updates
Our Synod liaison has changed from Pastor Gaeta to Pastor Mark Lingler, primarily due to time constraints on the part of Pastor Gaeta. I have met and spoken to Mark several times.
We are in the process of forming our Transition Team. Our goal is to have at least 6 members, with one Council representative on this team by mid-June. We then plan to meet with Pastor Mark Lingler to further develop a plan specific to our needs.
We realized that since we completed the CAT (Congregational Assessment Tool) 3 years ago, we have changed as a congregation. Although we still have many voices, we are truly one congregation now. Completing the CAT as a congregation is necessary to update “who we are” identifying both our strengths and the shadows that strengths sometimes cast. This will also help us determine who we would like our next Pastor to be.
Pastor Mark Lingler will be here Sunday, September 21st at a congregational meeting to review and jumpstart our transition process, starting with completing the CAT. We will have approximately 3 weeks to complete the CAT. Pastor Lingler will share the results of the CAT with the Council and Transition team by mid to late October.
Once this occurs, the Transition team will begin the process of integrating this information, into our demographics, history, and needs to develop the first draft of the Ministry Site Profile. This is the document that Synod will use to share with interested Pastors. This document will not only describe “who we are” but what we hope to be and who we hope to have lead us. We may hold some Adult Forums to gain more input from members during this time period. This will take approximately 4- 6 months. I am guessing completing the CAT and the MSP will take us through April of next year.
The Call Committee will then take this document and begin the process of interviewing and discerning candidates.
At the same time, we will be fully participating in our ministry with Pastor Luther, looking for an interim minister, and then saying “goodbye” to Pastor Luther at the end of November.
This will be a time of change for us. Yes, there may be times of anxiety. When we are anxious, it is difficult to feel close to God and pray. When change occurs, we require more of “God space”. “God space” usually involves joy and delight. We as humans want happiness, yet God’s space does not always hold happiness, yet it does hold joy. I hope this summer each of you can co-create some God space to revel in joy with family, friends, in nature or in a church singing with others so we can embrace change as a community.
Peace, Erlinde