December 2025
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Interim Process
Things are really beginning to ramp up!
Transition Team (TT)
The TT started meeting in October with two goals: hear from the congregation to help generate material for and begin to work on the Ministry Site Profile (MSP), the document the Saint Paul Area Synod leadership will use to match candidates with Prince of Peace’s call; use listening sessions, forums and a survey to pursue the Community Process of Defining what community means for Prince of Peace, Equipping members to pursue that definition, and Encouraging the congregation to pursue and build community long term.
Many of you have participated in Listening Sessions conducted by Jenna Sethi, and/or have engaged in Sunday forums on Scripture led by Scott Tunseth. On Friday December 12, an all-congregation survey will be made available to the congregation to hear from you the kind of pastor you feel God needs to take Prince of Peace into the future.
The week of December 15, the Nominating Committee will be giving names of person to the Counsil that they recommend to serve on the Call Committee (CC). Constitutionally, the Call Committee must include the Council President, Vice-President and one at large member. An addition four or five members will be voted on by the congregation at the Annual Meeting January 25.
Call Committee (CC)
The CC will likely hold its first meeting early in February, and by the middle of that month there is a goal to have the TT and CC meet together so that the former may hand off what it has learned. The CC will also meet with Synod leadership during the month of February to learn more about their role. Part of the MSP will have been written by the TT, and the CC will then complete it and send it to Synod leadership. If all goes well, the MSP will be given to the Synod in early or mid-March.
Synod leadership will use the MSP to suggest candidates for call to the CC. Members of the congregation will also be asked for names of pastors they know who they believe might be a fit for the call. The Synod bishop will approach candidates in the St Paul Area Synod to ask about their interest in being considered for call, and for candidates in other synods, the Saint Paul Area Synod bishop will contact the bishops of the synod in which other pastors are serving to ask about their interest. As all of this is taking place, the CC will create an interview process and conduct a few practice interviews with pastors in the area. Synod leadership will then give to the CC candidates for consideration, perhaps as early as mid-April.
First interviews will be conducted, followed by call-back interviews. When the CC chooses a candidate they believe is a fit, they will do additional work like checking out references, viewing sermons and worship leadership by the candidate. Prior to a candidate being recommended to the Council, that candidate will likely meet with staff and some key leaders. If all goes well, the Council will call a special meeting of the Congregation to recommend a candidate for vote. If everything happens perfectly, it’s possible a vote could take place by mid-May.
That’s A LOT of information! As we move forward, information will be made available to the congregation at each step along the way. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, a Council member or, after elected, a member of the Call Committee.
Interim Pastor Steve Sylvester