A Re-Call or a Reset?
On July 1st, TLC found itself in a rare position as a congregation of the ELCA’s Sierra Pacific Synod. Due to the East Bay Lutheran Parish’s closure, my work came to an end in the nursing home ministry and, by extension, so did my call to Trinity. As a result, we needed to go through a “call process” or, more accurately, a “re-call process.” So, following worship on August 4th, Trinity held its Congregational Call Meeting to vote on whether or not to “re-call” me – this time as your settled (permanent) pastor – the way most congregations do it. The decision: YES!
As I’ve reflected on this process, it occurs to me that much has changed in my seven years with you and we’ve gone through quite a journey together. It also occurs to me that being in this rare position has given us an extraordinary opportunity! Some might call it a “reset”. Our congregation is a bit different than it was when I first arrived in 2017. We are smaller – presently, our official roll indicates we are at 33 members and as many more “friends of the congregation”. We are older – as fewer younger people seem interested in traditional church. We are more generous – with all the wonderful community-oriented projects and programs we support. And we are in transition – as we pay closer attention to our needs and realities, as well as those of the community we serve.
So, what’s next? Well, that honestly depends on you. Part of the “re-call process” involved a decision to pay me at the minimum guidelines the synod has set for compensation. In order to do that, my hours were reduced to 15 hours/week. Most of those hours will be spent on worship and preaching prep, as well as pastoral care. But not all! The remaining time will be spent on administration and other tasks. But what I’m most excited about is that the Council has identified and committed to our ongoing need for visioning into the future God has in store for us.
That’s where you come in! In order to move in God’s direction, we need to find a balance between what is important to us now (i.e., what comforts us, defines us, matters to us) and how to take that with us as we align in new ways to what God has in store. It starts with all of us taking some time to think about what is important to us and continues with listening to see if God agrees.
Are you up for the time ahead? Transition is not always easy. It will be challenging. It will be exciting. And I trust that as we listen to God and to one another, we will learn how to better be “church in Oakland” for years to come. In voting to “re-call” me as your pastor, this is what you’ve committed to. And I, for one, look forward to what’s ahead!
Blessings to all of us as we “reset” our ministry at this place we call “TLC”!
In God’s Love and Care,
Pastor Ned