Senior Pastor Transition

Pastor Paul Nelson is retiring from Immanuel in June 2025 after almost 30 years of ministry. We are happy for Paul and his family on the new adventures ahead!  Keep our congregation and lay leadership in your prayers as we do the work of visioning and planning to welcome our next Senior Pastor.  Throughout the transition process it is important that our congregational leadership communicates where we are at in the process.  This page is dedicated to updates and information.  If you have questions please contact Kelly Meyers and she will direct you to the appropriate committee or team.  

Pastor Paul retirement announcement June 2024

Official celebrations for Pastor Paul will be scheduled in 2025.  Watch for email communications on dates, times, and gifts for Pastor Paul & Karen.

Process

The process for calling a new pastor takes time and discernment and we will be working closely with the Minneapolis Area Synod throughout the entire process. While we are fortunate to have a relatively large window of time for the congregation to work through the process of transition, there are many steps to be completed. The Executive Committee, along with the full Council, are working to identify the steps in the process and potential timing, knowing that we need to ensure that the congregation’s voice is heard and that we take the time to consider what is important for Immanuel and the broader community that we serve. The following are actions currently being taken:

• The initial phases of this process are designed develop a picture of who Immanuel is, the direction Immanuel wishes to go in the future, and the skills desired for our next Senior Pastor.
• The Immanuel Executive Committee held 2 listening sessions in September.  As we spend time working to deeply listen to congregation members and discern what Immanuel needs, this is an important step.
• Please complete the survey below to be sure your input is included.
• After all listening feedback is completed the results will be shared with the congregation.
• The listening sessions will be used to create a Ministry Site Profile. This document is a required first step in the call process and will be shared with the ELCA Minneapolis Area Synod once completed.  You can review a copy of the Ministry Site Profile completed in 2022 as a part of the Associate Pastor call process.
• Pastor John Hulden, Assistant to the Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod, met with the Church Council in October to review the process and guide us through completion of the Ministry Site Profile.

Current work:

A Transition Team has been created - The main focus of the Transition Team is completing the Ministry Site Profile, attending to the needs of the congregation and church staff during the process of pastoral transition, and coordinating communication with the congregation and staff on transition progress and call committee activities.

Next steps:

Call Committee - The group is appointed by the Executive Committee and installed at a worship service. Their job begins after the Transition Team has completed our Ministry Site Profile.  This group will solicit candidate nominations from the congregation, review candidates provided by the Minneapolis Area Synod, and conduct interviews of candidates. The interview process often includes multiple interviews and, if the committee wishes to pursue a candidate further, a worship visit at their current congregation to hear them preach. Once the call committee reaches a consensus on a final candidate, they submit their recommendation to the Council President. A decision to offer a call to a candidate is voted on by the congregation at a special congregational meeting.

Check this page frequently for updates and documents.  Continue to keep Immanuel in your prayers during this important time of transition!