The Call

February 15, 2026 - The Call Committee held its first meeting with discussion on the way forward

• Chairman Threlfall will contact the Circuit Visitor and Southeast District and arrange a meeting.  Purpose of this meeting will be to understand the Call process, what we are expected to provide, and what they will provide the congregation.  

• This phase is where the Call Committee does its core work. This includes preparing the Congregational Profile, receiving the Call List from the District President, interviewing candidates, communicating with the congregation, and prayerfully discerning which candidates to present at the Call Service. This phase is deliberate, prayerful, and shaped by listening—to God’s Word, to one another, and to the needs of the congregation. 

• Any congregational member can access the District Call site to see what congregations are Calling, which Ministers have accepted, and which Ministers have declined.  We will make it to this webpage after we meet with the District.

After serving in the Pastoral Ministry for nearly 43 years, Pastor Olson has announced his retirement for the fall of 2026.

This page will provide you with information regarding the Call for a new Pastor to lead our faithful flock.  According to our By-Laws Article I, the first thing the congregation must do is establish a Call committee.  This committee is comprised of the Chairman (which is the President of the Congregation), the complete Board of Elders, and two members at large selected from the congregation appointed by the President.  

The Call Committee was selected at the annual voter's meeting on Sunday, February 8, 2026.  The members are:

• Congregational Chairman - Grant Threlfall

• Head Elder Michael Leveskas

• Elder Anthony Link

• Elder Micah Wilmoth

• Elder Emeritus Jay Hill

• Member at Large Luzia Trexler

This committee of six members will begin Call procedures in the very near future.  To start the process, each member will review the steps in the Call process and prepare a strategy for implementation.  Here are the steps:

1. Call Committee is formed according to the congregation’s constitution and bylaws.   Completed 2/8/26

2. District President and Circuit Visitor meet with call committee.  Completed 3/14/26

3. Congregational treasurer or those responsible for congregational finances should review the Missouri District compensation guidelines and Concordia Plans Compensation Decision Tool for LCMS Churches.  Task assigned

4. Call committee conducts an all-congregation survey with assistance of Rev. Peter Kirby (LCMS).  Survey will assist the committee in development of position description.

5. Call committee discusses care of church workers and their family with Rev. Kirby.

6. Congregation leaders complete “Pastoral Profile Ranking” assessment. Call committee collects the assessments, calculates an average, and sends results to District President.

7. Board of Elders develops/changes/adopts the Ministry Description after input from the survey and the call committee. Ministry description should be sent to District President to assist in development of call list.

8. Call Committee receives nominations for the pastoral call for 2-4 Sundays.

9. Nominations are submitted to District President.

10. District President develops call list for the congregation.

11. Call committee receives call list with Personal Information Forms (PIFs) and Self-Evaluation Tools (SETs) on each candidate.

12. Call committee should contact each individual on the list to confirm their availability.

13. Call committee evaluates PIFS/SETS and determines which candidates to interview.

14. Call committee conducts phone/video interviews.

15. Call committee should discuss benefits such as vacation time and moving expenses with Circuit Visitor.

16. Call committee presents candidates to voters’ assembly according to directives of the constitution and bylaws.

17. Congregation votes to issue a call.

18. Call committee/congregation invites pastor and his family to visit as part of his deliberation.

19. If call is accepted, pastor is installed.  If call is declined, congregation may continue with previous list or request additional names from District President.