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| In April and May 2006 we began the
process with a formal meeting with the Bishop of the Southern Ohio
Synod, and followed that with a meeting with Ed Williams, assistant to
the Bishop. These meetings provided opportunities for leadership to
learn more about the call process and what steps were needed. We were
encouraged to take our time in the process and to be confident that we
will have pastoral services on Sundays and there will be pastors
available for funerals, weddings, and other services. Until a more
permanent Interim pastor is identified (currently there are no available
interim pastors in our area, since there are several churches in some
phase of the search process. It is likely that once one of these
churches is able to make a call, an interim will become available for
Trinity). This is likely not to happen until Fall at the earliest. |
| On June 19 2006 the Pastoral Needs Study Group had
their initial meeting. This group will be surveying the congregation in
a variety of ways to make sure everyone has an opportunity for input on
what we should be looking for in our next pastor, and to help form an
assessment about Trinity that potential candidates need to know about
us. Essentially this group will consider what we are doing well and not
so well, in addition to things we should do that we aren't now doing,
and things that we should consider not doing. You will be given ample
opportunity over the next 6 to 8 weeks or so to offer your ideas,
concerns, and suggestions. The group is headed by Perry Schneider, at
large council member in charge of pastoral transition, and members
include Marilyn Plummer, Dawn Bouman, Lorraine Schnier, Michael Wrench,
and Lou Williams. Staff members will also be gathering statistical
information to complete the Congregational Profile form that is required
by the Synod. |
| If you are aware of
any possible candidates for us to consider, they need to contact the
Synod Office. |
| In July the surveys were
distributed to members and the study group is compiling results. This
information will be included in materials that will be given to the
Bishop, and will be made available to Trinity members. The office staff
is also compiling information for the congregational profile, which is a
form required by the Bishop's office. It includes statistical data
about Trinity and other information that describes the congregation at
Trinity. |
| In August the study group has been
compiling results of the surveys and they provided an opportunity for
everyone at the recent church picnic to provide further input.
Additional opportunities for input will be provided in September, and
they hope to have their report complete in October. |
| The Call Committee was nominated by
the council and voted by the congregation on October 22 2006. There
were 77 votes total, of which 75 approved the slate of nominees:
Gail Fredensborg, Kevin Hoch, Dean Nicholas, Matt Peters,
Sarah Pritts, Fred Schneider, Kathy Schnier, Ann Theders, Kevin
Upchurch. |
| On November 7 2006, members of the
Church Council, the Study Group, Call Committee and Staff met with the
Assistant to the Bishop. The study report was reviewed and discussed.
The Assistant to the Bishop presented the materials for conducting the
call process and the entire group discussed how we will move forward in
the search. The Call committee will meet on a regular basis to identify
the questions to be asked, to review potential candidates, and to
conduct interviews. The Bishop's office will provide up to 3 names at a
time for our consideration. Once the call committee decides on a
candidate, they will be presented to council for approval, council will
negotiate salary, and the candidate will meet with the congregation
prior to the final vote by the congregation. |
| The Call Committee is meeting
regularly and reviewing information from potential candidates as they
are provided by the Southern Ohio Synod Bishop's office.
Interviews are conducted as needed. Kathy Schnier is the head of
the Call Committee. |
| May 2007
Call Committee Update
The Call Committee is continuing to
meet, to solicit candidates from the Synod Office, and to consider the
resumes sent to us. There
has been somewhat of a lull recently due to the Lenten
Season—understandably a time
period in which most pastors cannot be away from their current
congregations or have extra time for paperwork from us.
We are hopeful that soon we will be back in the active stage of
our search. Toward that end,
we are in very frequent communication with the Synod Office, keeping our
needs and progress known to Pastor Ed Williams, our Synod Liaison.
In addition, we are following up on all suggestions from the
Trinity congregation and would welcome more.
Sometimes it takes many weeks or months for a suggested name to
filter through the Synod Office, be acted upon by the nominated pastor,
have the paperwork find its way back to us, and then be studied and
acted upon by our committee.
The Synod has shared with us that we enjoy a good reputation within the
clergy, but the pool of candidates willing and capable of taking on a
congregation of our size and circumstances is a bit small at present.
We remain confident God is working in this business and will
provide the person we require.
We continue to seek your patience and prayers in this endeavor.
Kathy Schnier, Call Committee, Chair
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