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Call Update

Vacancy Update

For those of you don't know, we have received a call list of pastoral candidates. God's hand is clearly leading us to our next pastor. Of the fourteen names on the original call list eleven said they are willing to consider a call at this time. The call committee is reviewing the personal and professional information available for these candidates, and we will meet next Wednesday to begin discussing who best fits the needs of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Please continue to pray for your family at St. Paul during this time of pastoral vacancy.

A Letter from St. Paul's President

May 30, 2012

Greetings in the name of our risen and ascended Lord,

An announcement was made at church this past Sunday regarding the process to call a new pastor. Since attendance was low because of the holiday weekend I decided to send this letter so all of you will know what has happened, what will happen, and what you can do, as members of St. Paul Lutheran Church, to assist with this process.

I talked with our Circuit Counselor and made him aware of our pending pastoral vacancy. He promised his guidance, prayers, and support during the call process. He will also assist us by working to get an interim pastor.

I also talked with our Congregation Ministry Facilitator from the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. He will be responsible for working with us through the call process. He will also assist the Circuit Counselor in determining an interim pastor.

There will be several congregational meetings throughout the call process that you are encouraged to attend. The process will be explained, questions will be answered, and a general time line will be given describing the order and timeliness of the process.

One thing that is necessary for you to help choose our next pastor is to be a voting member of St. Paul . To become a voting member you must attend a regularly scheduled Voters Meeting, state your intention of becoming a voting member, and sign the attendance sheet. If you are a voting member and have not attended a regular Voters Meeting in over a year, you must go through the above described process to be reinstated. The next regularly scheduled Voters Meeting is June 25, 2012, at 7:30pm in the lounge.

Next, as a member of St. Paul , please lift up the entire process to God though prayer. Pray for Pastor Schultz, for Michelle, Lydia and Elijah - for their safe travel, for a smooth transition to life at St. John , for wisdom and strength to lead his new flock. Pray for St. Paul - for the call process, for the leaders working at the forefront of this transition, for the continued success of our mission in Royal Oak . Pray for each other - for those who are sad or angry, for those who are uncertain about a future without Pastor Schultz, for those who need an extra measure of God’s grace and peace through this process.

Finally, please attend church every Sunday morning or Monday night. As we enter the summer season, attendance has historically dropped due to vacations, scheduling changes, or personal choice. This will be a busy and exciting summer for all of us at St. Paul , and you are needed to be a dedicated part of the call process. I will share new information with you at services when it becomes available, and announcements of special Voters Meetings will also be made then. Now is not the time to let the momentum that has been building over the last six years begin to fade. God already knows who will be our next Pastor. I ask you to please be an involved member at St. Paul Lutheran Church, and join us in discovering His plan.

 

A servant of Christ,
Jim Schultz, Congregation President