Members of the Call Committee
Mike Christiason, Chair; Del Carpenter, Vice-Chair; Craig Johnson, Recorder
Larry Fox, Diane Heindl, Victor Ochoa, Renee Steffens, Dave Welter
December 14, 2009
To read the Call Committee's recommendation to extend a call to Pastor Brian King, click here
To read a summary of the process used by the Call Committee to select Pastor Brian King as a candidate for Senior Pastor, click here
Click to open information about the Nazareth Call Process
Call Committee Reports - Click to open the file in PDF format
February 17
February 21
February 26
March 4
March 11
March 28
April 4
April 23
May 2
May 14
May 21
May 23
May 28
May 30
June 4
June 8
June 17
June 24
June 25
June 27
July 16
July 19
July 23
July 29
July 30
August 6
August 10
August 17
August 20
August 22
September 3
September 17
September 20
October 1
October 14
October 18
October 25
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 19
November 22
November 30
December 5
News from the Call Committee
from Craig Johnson, Call Committee Recorder
Update: August 17, 2009
The Call Committee has been working diligently toward finding a Senior Pastor for Nazareth. This summer we have met with and conducted first interviews with four candidates. Our questions were based on the profiles submitted by candidates and on the ministry areas outlined in the Nazareth Congregational Mission Profile. We began working with six candidates, and, after initial contact, four candidates agreed to be interviewed.
Each interview was a very enjoyable experience both for the candidates and our committee. Interviews were held in a relaxed atmosphere and included conversation, dinner, devotions, and the formal interview. Our purpose was to focus on getting to know each candidate as much as possible and to determine how well they matched with the Nazareth profile ministry areas, including Evangelism, Preaching, Inter-personal Climate, and Spiritual Discipline. We are addressing other areas as well. Part of each interview was devoted to allowing the candidate to ask questions of us to help them learn more about Nazareth.
Discerning God’s will for Nazareth is a prayerful and patient process. The committee is working closely together in a spirit of openness, recognizing that each of us has essential insight into this important decision. Each pastor who has entered into this process is also making a step of faith and must discern God’s direction for his or her life. It is in this spirit that we are moving forward and conducting second interviews. We are praying for discernment as a committee and as individuals, and we ask the Nazareth congregation to continue praying for God’s guidance, too.
To learn more about our progress, you may pick up a Congregation Report for each committee meeting at the Information Desk, or go to the Nazareth website at www.naz.org and click on "Call Committee." If you have the name of a possible candidate for the Call Committee, please give it to any committee member. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.
Update: June 9, 2009
The Nazareth Call committee has moved into the interview phase of the call process. On May 28, the committee received from the ELCA the names of six candidates for Senior Pastor. One name was withdrawn before we began interviewing due to receiving another call. The names received were suggested by the ELCA and the Nazareth congregation and were screened for availability and interest in Nazareth. Because of the strengths shown by the five remaining candidates, the committee began scheduling and conducting interviews with each in June and expects to continue throughout the summer.
We do not know how long this process will last, but please pray for God's leadership and our discernment of god's will. The Call Committee is getting to know each candidate and helping them learn as much as possible about Nazareth. We also ask your prayers for the candidates who are open to a call. It is a major decision for them to seek consideration.
Even though we are interviewing candidates, please feel free to suggest names to any member of the Call Committee. We are always open to your suggestions. Members of the committee thank you for your prayers, support, and words of encouragement.
Update: May 24, 2009
The Nazareth Call Committee is continuing its work to find a senior pastor. Since first meeting in February, the committee has met thirteen times. Recent accomplishments include:
Review of Congregation Profile ministry areas.Development of candidate interview questions.
Held a practice interview and feedback session.
Requested candidate names from the synod and received names from the congregation.
A meeting has been scheduled for May 28 with a representative of the Northeast Iowa Synod offices. At that time we expect to receive our first names from the synod. Members of the congregation are encouraged to submit names of possible candidates to any member of the Call Committee.
Every committee meeting opens with Joshua 1:6-9. This scripture is our guide, assuring us of God’s unwavering support through our work. We also need and appreciate the many prayers and expressions of support from the congregation. Keep them coming.
Update: April 13, 2009
The Nazareth Call Committee continuesto search for a Senior Pastor. Dave Bartlett continues to meet with the Committee as the team building facilitator. Meetings are being held approximately every 7 to 10 days. Each meeting includes spiritual focus and prayer as we seek to discern God’s leading for Nazareth and the Committee. Time has been reserved at each meeting to develop the teamwork necessary for the Committee to function efficiently in the discernment process.
The following tasks have been completed:
a. Organization of the Committee including a Chair, Vice Chair, Recorder, and Liaison to the Council.
b. Defined the duties of Committee members.
c. Met with two members of the previous Call Committee.
d. Determined the methods of communication to the Council and the congregation.
The Committee will report regularly to the congregation through the Sunday bulletin and The Messengerand at worship services. Copies of the Call Committee Congregation Reports, which are summaries of each Call Committee meeting, are available at the Information Desk.
Members of the congregation are invited to speak with any Committee member about the call process.
The Committee has been reviewing the Congregational Mission Profile and developing the interview process. Your prayers of support are requested by the Committee members as we work through this important process of discernment of God’s will for the future direction of Nazareth.
Update: March 15, 2009
The Nazareth Call Committee as chosen by our congregation includes: Del Carpenter, Mike Christiason, Larry Fox, Diane Heindl, Craig Johnson, Victor Ochoa, Renee Steffens, and Dave Welter.
The Call Committee has met four times since being elected at the January 26 Congregational Meeting. They have chosen the following leadership for their committee:
Chairman – Mike Christiason
Vice Chairman – Del Carpenter
Recorder – Craig Johnson
Communicator to Council – Larry Fox
The Call Committee is committed to keeping the congregation appropriately informed of its progress while maintaining very important boundaries of confidentiality. Minutes of the Call Committee work will be available at the Nazareth Information Desk.
To date the committee work has included:
a. focusing upon the spiritual nature of the task
b. building teamwork
c. organizing the Call Committee
d. communication with synod personnel
The Call Committee asks Nazareth partners to join with them in praying for this very significant journey of choosing a new senior pastor.