Call Committee - Associate Pastor

Documents & Call Committee Updates

• Ministry Site Profile (MSP)
• March 5 Update

Please keep our Associate Pastor Call Committee in prayer:

• Kim Rathjen, Monte Johnson, Wendy Wurscher, Blake Sipek, Kari Totall, Sharon Peterson, Grace Held, Allison Ranallo and Pastor Paul.
• The Call Committee was installed on Sunday, March 5.

Nominate a Pastor You Know:

• Members of the congregation can suggest a Pastor for the Call Committee to consider for the Associate Pastor position.  
• Please submit the Associate Pastor Nomination Form to the church office by Sunday, March 19.

Church Council Approves Call Committee

January 10, 2023

The Immanuel Church Council, at its January meeting, approved a motion to charge a call committee, working with the Minneapolis Synod of the ELCA, to identify candidates for call as an associate pastor. In formulating the parameters of this call the Council:

• carefully considered the work of the Visioning Team that was convened by our Council Vice President, Julie Maes.
• examined the ministry needs of Immanuel, our existing ministry staff, and how we can best meet our ministry needs with current and new staff.
• considered the availability of candidates interested in such a call and the financial position of Immanuel to provide sustained support for an associate pastor at various effort levels (including half time, three quarter time, and full time calls).

Based on these discussions, the Council has decided to call a new Associate Pastor to Immanuel for 25 hours per week, with the associate Pastor on site or providing caring ministries at least Sunday through Wednesday each week. Moving forward with this call and with ministry staffing at Immanuel, our goals are three-fold:

1. Meet the ministry needs of Immanuel, particularly related to welcoming fellowship and relationship building.
2. Continue to grow both vibrant outreach through our social ministry efforts, and compassionate in-reach through our Caring Ministry Team.
3. Maximize our staff while meeting a sustainable budget.

The Associate Pastor, along with Senior Pastor Paul Nelson and Deacon Savannah Olaphson, will form our ordained ministry team at Immanuel.

Leadership Teams

Immanuel members are actively involved in congregational leadership, serving on committees, Church Council, Executive Committee and working closely with staff.

The Church Council is our governing board:

• Council members also serve as committee chair-people leading specific ministry areas in partnership with the staff.
• The Executive Committee is made up of president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, financial secretary and pastors.
• Council & Exec. meeting minutes are posted online.
• Council President's update
• Pastor's update

Committees of the congregation are: Adult Faith Formation, Children's Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship, Middle School, Senior High, Social Concerns, Stewardship, Properties, and Worship, Music & Arts