As you know now, Our Lord has graciously moved Pastor Sam to accept His Call to be an Associate Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Oakville, MO.   He reminds us that through this process that “Jesus has wonderfully shaped me, my wife, and children throughout this entire process; I thank Him that He gave us the gift through you (people of Faith Oakville) and your gracious offering to join with you in His grand work of salvation and renewal. ….we faithfully close our story’s chapter here in Naples and begin the moving process.”

It’s been seven years, and now we continue as we prepare for our new pastor.   Prayer is the important activity for the Call committee and the entire congregation throughout the process.  Call committee members are encouraged to commit themselves to pray for one another and for the work of the Holy Spirit among them as they seek to discern God’s will for Faith Lutheran Church, Naples.  Special prayer at worship and during other meetings of the congregation is encouraged.   Soon, the names of the call committee members will be made public, with a request that special prayers be made on their behalf.

On the basis of our Lutheran theology, a pastor is called to serve a congregation, not hired.  Any pattern that includes head hunting, resume shuffling, or high anxiety interviews is highly inappropriate in the calling of a pastor.   The call process is  not a beauty contest in which hosts of candidates present themselves to their best advantage so the call committee can select one as the winner.

I have been through this process many times and even got to experience this back during my Vicarage year in Minnesota in 1985.  Wise Rev. Dr.Art Drevlow, my supervising pastor, reminded the congregation then that we shouldn’t ask questions like:   Will we be able to get the cheapest pastor?   Will we feel good having this pastor around? or even Will this warm body work until a better pastor comes along?

The foremost question for the call committee, church leaders, and congregation always is whether this is the person God desires Faith Lutheran Church, Naples to have as its pastor.  Human preferences and personalities never come before the ministry and mission to which God calls His church.  That is why every meeting of the call committee will include prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the work that is being done.

Be assured, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will send us a new pastor in due time.  It is never good to rush this process. The Lutheran call process is unique because it is an effort to discern what God wants for Faith and for the whole church, in order that the Gospel may be proclaimed and  His sacraments administered in accordance with the Gospel.

In Jesus Christ!

Pastor Don Treglown