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DECEMBER 2011
Dear Fellow Galileans:
Today, November 27th, the first Sunday of Advent, is the beginning of the Church year. As we heard in today in church, the Advent season celebrates the coming of Christ. To me, it also means a new year and new challenges for Galilee. The most pressing challenge is extending a call for a new Pastor. We have now taken the first important step by sending the Congregational Profile statement for Galilee Lutheran Church to Rev., Dr. Jon T Diefenthaler, President of the Southeastern District, LCMS. As I understand the process, he will take the necessary steps to match Galilee's profile with an appropriate graduating seminary student or suitable Pastor currently looking for a new church. The next step is up to the office of the SED President. However, it is important for us to recognize and thank each person on the Call Committee for their work in preparing the profile statement. I think the outcome is a true reflection of Galilee Lutheran Church. My thanks to each of them.
The Call Committee members include:
John Anderson
Jackie Anderson
Jim Caldwell
Lois Miller
Debra Karamballas
Karl Hagelin
Betty Knop
Cliff Schwier
TomSteg
Art Wall
I would also like to recognize and thank Rev. Keith G. Less, our circuit counselor, for his guidance and support.
However, the Call Committed work is not done until we actually install a new Pastor. I will keep each of you informed of the progress in this endeavor.
Your Friend in Christ,
Art Wall
President of the Galilee Lutheran Church Council
NOVEMBER 2011
Dear Fellow Galileans:
A lot has occurred over the past month. The Call Committee for a new pastor has met several times over the past two months. The Committee has reviewed and discussed Southeastern District LCMS manual for "Calling a New Pastor." One of the first steps is to develop a congregational profile designed to give prospective candidates a glimpse of the mission and past practices of Galilee Lutheran Church. The profile, which includes demographic information of the area, Galilee financial and statistical information, mission information will be included with the Call Request sent to the seminary and perspective pastors.
We also met with Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler, President of SE, LCMS last Wednesday, October 26, 2011. It was a great meeting in which Rev. Diefenthaler had an opportunity to explain the call process and twenty Galileans had an opportunity to listen and ask him questions. We learned that next year there will be more requests for seminary pastors then seminary graduates. He suggested that Galilee explore a parallel process of calling a new pastor from the field and also a graduating pastoral student, in case we fall short of obtaining a graduating pastor. He also suggested that we also give an opportunity to the congregation to nominate someone from the field as a new Pastor.
At Special Congregational meeting, today Sunday October 30, 2011, the Congregation accepted the following edited motions without dissent:
1. Galilee Lutheran Congregation authorizes the Call Committee to explore a parallel process of calling its new pastor from the field of eligible candidates and/or a graduating pastor from the Seminary.
2. Galilee Lutheran Congregation authorizes the Call Committee to prepare and with the approval of the Church Council and Congregation to submit all of the documents necessary to issue a call to a new pastor from the field of eligible candidates and/or a graduating pastor from the Seminary.
3. Galilee Lutheran Congregation accepts Section 1 of the Congregational Profile statement, as presented to the Congregation on October 30, 2011.
The Call Committee met with Pastor Keith today. It was agreed that the Committee now needs to complete Section 2, 3 and 4 of the Congregational Profile Form, which will be discussed at its
next meeting on Sunday, November 6th at 8AM. Updates will follow as we proceed through this process, which we cannot do without everyone pulling together. Thanks to everyone for all their
efforts.
Your Friend In Christ
Art Wall
President, Galilee Lutheran Church
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