CALL PROCESS

The Church Council (President Mike Eschelbach, Vice-President Walter Kopf, Treasurer Gwynne Kadrofske, Financial Secretary Jon Harrison, Secretary Molly DeHate, and Members-at-large Jean Lewis and Linda Hirt) met via Zoom with Bishop Satterlee on March 20.  The Bishop outlined the “regular” call process, which would include appointment of a Call Committee and preparation of a Ministry Site Profile that would be submitted to the Bishop for approval and once completed would be available to pastors seeking a call.  Normally, an interim pastor is engaged by a congregation during the call process (from a list of names provided by the Synod), but Bishop Satterlee indicated that he does not have any interim pastors available for us at this time.  There is a shortage of interim pastors (our Synod currently has 21 congregations seeking new pastors) as well as a nation-wide shortage of pastors available for call.  He advised us that the North/West Lower Michigan Synod is not a “destination” synod for pastors and congregations in our Synod have a more difficult time securing new pastors than do those in some other synods.  Without an interim pastor, we would have to seek “supply” pastors (a supply pastor leads Sunday worship services but provides no other pastoral care or services) on a week-to-week basis.  As there is also a shortage of supply pastors, there is no guarantee that we would be able to find a supply pastor every week.

Bishop Satterlee then laid out what he called “Plan B,” which he described as an “extraordinary” option available to Faith.  Pastor Bruce Thorsen is currently winding up a 2-year interim call at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ishpeming, MI (not in our synod).  As interim pastor, he is not eligible for a regular call to that congregation.  The Bishop told the Church Council that we could issue a 2-year “transitional” call to Pastor Thorsen.  During those 2 years he would serve as our full-time pastor; we would pursue the call process and Pastor Thorsen would assist us in that effort.  Because Pastor Thorsen would be a “transitional” pastor rather than an “interim” pastor, he would be included in our list of potential pastoral candidates if he wishes to be.

The Church Council conducted a Zoom interview with Pastor Thorsen, and has had the opportunity to listen to his sermons (available on Bethany Lutheran Church’s website at www.bethanyishpeming.org and Facebook page at Bethany Lutheran Church, Ishpeming | Ishpeming MI | Facebook and look at other aspects of his ministry in Ishpeming.  The Council believes that the “transitional” call of Pastor Thorsen would be the better way to proceed.  It would provide consistent and full-time pastoral care for our congregation as we pursue our call process.  And we were very impressed with Pastor Thorsen himself.

Bishop Satterlee informed us that a “transitional” pastor can either be appointed by the Bishop or called by the congregation.  Council would rather we do this through a congregational call.  Additionally, Council believes it would be helpful to meet Pastor Thorsen before making a decision.  To that end, Pastor Thorsen will join us for worship on Sunday, April 23.  He’ll join us before worship (from 9 to 10 am) and after worship (from 11 am to noon) for “meet and greet.”  A special congregational meeting to consider making a 2-year “transitional” call to Pastor Thorsen will be held at noon on Sunday, April 23. 

In the meantime, members are encouraged to read Pastor Thorsen’s Rostered Ministry Profile (RMP), which will be available on the counter in the narthex.  An RMP can also be emailed (or mailed, if no email is available) by contacting church secretary Katie Love (517-349-0620).  Pastor Thorsen’s sermons and ministry information can be accessed at the sites listed above.  This is an important decision for our congregation, so it behooves us to be informed!  Questions may be directed to any member of the Church Council.