Transition Team News from Pastor Heidi

I am delighted to report that the Transition Team has completed its work on Redeemer’s Ministry Site Profile. They have done an excellent job and it has been a pleasure to work with them. Please give your thanks to: MaryAnna Connor, Debbie Cotner-Davis, Josh Crecca, Sue Reitz, Debbie Witzel, and Melissa Zeiger. Thanks to you as well for sharing your insights into this process at the Transition Team Brunch. Below you will find the results of the congregational surveys as they will be presented to pastoral candidates through the Ministry Site Profile.

First are the Ministry Site Characteristics. You were asked to rate the congregation for twelve characteristics.

Second, you were asked to identify the Top Five Ministry Tasks. These are those tasks that you felt were the most critical to be performed by the pastor. The final tally was:

• Pastoral Care and Visitation
• Building a Sense of Community
• Children’s Ministry
• Preaching/Worship
• Christian Education

Finally, you were asked to identify the Gifts for Ministry that you felt were imperative for the pastor to possess and then five that would be “very helpful.”

Top Priority

• Help people develop their spiritual life
• Be active in visitation of members and non-members.
• Be effective in working with children.
• Be an effective communicator.
• Be able to share leadership and work in a team

Very Helpful

• Build a sense of community among the people with whom they work.
• Be an effective teacher.
• Bring joy and good humor to relationships.
• Be creative and innovative about his or her tasks.
• Be able to use technology and media.

 What’s next?

At its May meeting the Council hopes to finalize the election of the Call Committee.  This group of six people will be the first to meet pastoral candidates. Their work is confidential. They may not discuss it with anyone, including me! As a part of their work they will review candidate files, meet and interview candidates, travel to a neutral site to hear the candidate preach and vote on whether to recommend the candidate to the Church Council. 

If you are interested in serving on the Call Committee, please contact me or Lou Guarino by email and we will share your name with the Council. Please know that the Council will try to form a committee that is diverse in gender, age, interests, and experience. Not everyone can be on the committee, but everyone willhave the opportunity to meet the candidate prior to a congregational vote. 

If you have questions about this process or suggestions regarding candidates for the Call Committee, please let me know.  

Peace be with you!

Pastor Heidi Rodrick-Schnaath