February 9, 2025: Call Committee Announcement
The Call Team has announced Pastor Angela LaMoore as a candidate for call in worship and at the Annual Meeting this weekend, February 8-9. The announcement will be shared via Nativity’s communication channels the week following February 8-9. This announcement will include notice of a Congregational Meeting to Call for March 8-9 after all worship hours. Please find below resources for understanding Nativity’s process leading up to the March 8-9 congregational vote. This includes a full list of opportunities for the congregation to get to know Pastor Angela and her family prior to the March 8-9 congregational vote. If you have questions regarding the call process, please reach out to Donna Steinwand, Call Committee member, at donnasteinwand95@gmail.com.
- The Elijah-Elisha Model used by Nativity’s Call Committee
- Pastor Angela LaMoore’s Letter to Nativity
- Next Steps: Communication, Conversation & Congregational Vote
- The Call Committee’s full timeline for their process
The Elijah-Elisha Model
At the beginning of the transition process, Pastor Glenn and the transition team (Tim Scheid, Gail Bergsven, Beth Erickson, Denise LaMirande Clark and Donna Steinwand) met to pray, research, and ponder the transition process of Pastor Glenn transitioning from full-time to part-time pastor. It was agreed that the transition should be gentle but intentional. In this model, Pastor Glenn would decrease his responsibilities slowly, evolving from senior lead pastor to co-pastor in a shared leadership model to eventually part-time pastoral care, with very flexible hours.
The initial leadership transfer would transition over 2-3 years. This time frame would allow the community to adjust. Pastor Glenn Seefeldt has served Nativity since 1981 in various roles, serving as Senior Pastor since January 2000. His long tenure is unusual, but it has served Nativity well with trusted leadership, dependable pastoral care, and a strong staff of twenty. Long tenure can also be a challenge. Nativity’s Transition Team has addressed this challenge, reviewing transitions in other churches with long tenures as well as nonprofits and for-profits with long tenures. The team has reviewed and supports the Elijah-Elisha model.
The Elijah-Elisha Model has worked in business and in other large churches with long pastorates. Like Elijah choosing Elisha to succeed him in the biblical narrative, this model uses the trust and credibility of a long tenured, spiritually strong, loved leader to pass the mantle of leadership onto the next leader/pastor.
The team received input from Pastor Craig Pederson, Assistant to the Bishop for the Minneapolis Area Synod, as well as Pastor John Hulden, Assistant to the Bishop for the Minneapolis Area Synod, and Bishop Jen Nagel, Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod, about the Elijah-Elisha Model. They were impressed with its thoughtfulness. Pastor John Hulden commented that Nativity is unique because long-term pastorates such as this are very rare. Nativity will be building a bike while riding it. Congregations using a similar model of transition were consulted.
The goal of the call team (Donna Steinwand, Chair, Keith Setterholm, Laura Oksnevad, Michelle Gustafson DeLaune, Mark Blaede, Gail Bergsven, and Pastor Glenn Seefeldt) would be to identify a clergy person with the essential competencies who is very comfortable with the Elijah-Elisha model. This model requires a future pastor who is willing to be curious about developing the working model with Pastor Glenn, council, and other staff.
INTRODUCTIONS: Pastor Angela LaMoore’s Letter to Nativity
Grace and peace to you, Nativity Lutheran Church!
My name is Pastor Angela LaMoore. You may have seen me around…. My family and I have been attending Nativity since the fall of 2022, I sing in the choir, and I have been preaching on and off since Pastor Ben’s departure a year and a half ago. Our family includes me, my husband Morgan, and our two sons: Joshua, who just turned six, and Benjamin, who is two. We currently live down in Savage, Minnesota, with our two cats, Buffy and Willow. We’ve loved our time at Nativity as members and are excited for the opportunity for me to possibly join the staff here!
A little more about me: I was raised in the ELCA, growing up in Burnsville, Minnesota, but God’s call to the ordained ministry took some time. My original plan had been to study biology and eventually enter into the realm of cancer research. I received my BS in biology from MIT in 2008 and later enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Washington, Seattle.
I was a few years into my program when God began to reveal a different plan. I left UW with my MS in biology and enrolled in seminary in Seattle, not yet knowing exactly where God was leading. The short answer was that God was leading me home, in more ways than one. In 2013, I moved home to Burnsville to help care for my aging grandfather. In 2014, I transferred to Luther Seminary in St. Paul. That same year, I also met the wonderfully nerdy electrical engineer I would marry two years later.
During my time at Luther Seminary, God (slowly and with infinite wisdom) unveiled the path before me, which eventually led to my seeking an ordained pastoral call in the ELCA. I graduated from Luther in December 2017 and was ordained the following summer. My first call was to South Santiago Lutheran in Clear Lake, Minnesota. After leading the church through a decent amount of transition and the COVID-19 pandemic, I went on leave from call at the beginning of 2021, in order to focus on my family and act as a stay-at-home mom. In the spring and summer of 2022, I took a break from my break and served as term pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Princeton, Minnesota, before Benjamin was born that fall.
These days, I am back home full-time with my boys. As you might imagine, our days are typically filled with pirate battles and snacks, dinosaurs and Star Wars. I will always cherish this time with my kids, but with Joshua now in kindergarten, I am also looking forward to new adventures in ministry! I look forward to talking to you all and answering whatever questions you might have in the next few weeks!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Angela
NEXT STEPS: Communication, Conversation & Vote
February 8-9: The Call Team announces Pastor Angela LaMoore as a candidate for call in worship and at the Annual Meeting and via Nativity’s communication channels that following week. The announcement will include notice of Congregational Meeting to Call for March 8-9 after all worship hours.
February 15-16: Pastor Angela LaMoore will preach, and representatives of the Call Team will be available to address question or concerns regarding the Elijah-Elisha Model, the call process, and Pastor Angela’s qualifications.
February 22-23: Pastor Angela and family will be available for a meet and greet. Pastor Angela will be available before and after all worship hours. Her spouse Morgan and the boys will join her when it works for the family.
March 1-2: Representatives of the Call Team will be available to address questions or concerns regarding the Elijah-Elisha Model, the call process, and Angela’s qualifications.
March 8-9: The Special Meeting of the Congregation to Call Angela LaMoore as co-pastor will take place in person after each worship hour. Vote will be by written ballot. Nativity’s Constitution calls for a two-thirds majority. Results of the vote will be announced via email and the church website on Sunday, March 9.
NATIVITY’S CALL PROCESS: The Call Committee Timeline
The following is the process the Nativity Call Committee followed over the past several months, which led to our recommendation that Angela LaMoore be called to the position of Pastor at Nativity Lutheran Church.
- In 2024, Pastor Glenn communicated the Elijah-Elisha Model of shared leadership and succession to the congregation. In this plan, Pastor Glenn remains in a full-time role, which includes ongoing mentorship of a new co-lead pastor, enabling a smooth transition and the transfer of wisdom, experience, and institutional knowledge. The entire call process was conducted with this model in mind.
- The Call Committee was formed in July of 2024 and met one to three times each month from August 2024 through February 2025, in addition to discussions and work completed via email between meetings.
- In August, we familiarized ourselves with the Elijah-Elisha model and the basics of the call process, laying the groundwork for the task ahead.
- In September, we met with Pastor John Hulden, Assistant to the Bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod. He helped clarify the process and responded to our questions.
- We reviewed synod documents explaining the call process and roles of the committee.
- We read in detail the 10-page Ministry Site Profile, a detailed description of who we are as a congregation along with our hopes and dreams for the future.
- We communicated to the congregation the Call Committee members and requested names of possible candidates from the congregation. Pastor Angela’s name was brought forward numerous times, alongside a small number of additional suggestions.
- All suggestions were carefully considered as the committee determined which were viable options to pursue further.
- In October, we communicated further with John Hulden at the synod to discuss the vetting of candidates, including those suggested by the congregation.
- It was the strong recommendation of synod leadership to consider any internal candidates before considering any candidate from outside our congregation. The committee agreed that this would be the most fair and ethical process for all parties involved.
- Because of her role as a member of Nativity and her ongoing work filling in during this transition period, Pastor Angela was considered an internal candidate. So, our next step was to thoroughly vet Pastor Angela as a candidate and make a decision whether or not to recommend a call.
- In October and November, we developed a set of interview questions based on questions provided by the synod as well as questions specifically tailored to our congregation and the Elijah-Elisha Model.
- In December, we met with Pastor Sara Jensen, who provided training on Implicit Bias, helping us to carefully consider the wording of interview questions and to guard against unintended biases in the interview process.
- Due to holiday schedules, we scheduled interviews to begin in January 2025.
- In January, the entire Call Committee interviewed Pastor Angela through two in-person interviews, conducted over the span of two weeks. The total time interviewing Pastor Angela was between four and five hours. We took time after each interview to discuss and prayerfully consider the call to Pastor Angela.
- Integral to this process has been our support for and recommendation of the Elijah-Elisha Model of shared leadership and succession, for which Pastor Angela continued to be a fantastic fit, a fact which the interviews only further solidified in the opinion of the committee.
- As we are confident, after prayerful discernment, in our recommendation of Pastor Angela and the Elijah-Elisha model, no external candidates were interviewed for this call.
- The Call Committee has made a unanimous decision to recommend Pastor Angela for this call.
For questions regarding Nativity’s Call Team or process, please reach out to Donna Steinwand, donnasteinwand95@gmail.com.
September 15, 2024: Call Committee Update
Greetings from the Nativity Call Committee! As a reminder, Nativity is in the process of calling a pastor to join Pastor Glenn as a co-leader of our congregation, with an eye to the future where Glenn can retire to a reduced role. The Call Committee is charged with vetting candidates and eventually submitting a final candidate for consideration by the Church Council and congregational membership.
I’m here to tell you that the Nativity Call Committee is open and ready for business!
The members are Gail Bergsven, Mark Blaede, Michelle Gustafson DeLaune, Laura Oksnevad, Pastor Glenn Seefeldt, Keith Setterholm and Donna Steinwand.
We’ve met with our representative from the Minneapolis Synod’s Bishop’s staff, Pastor John Hulden. He clarified the call process for us and will continue to guide us throughout our work as we select a new pastor. Pastor Hulden said our charge is to listen to God, listen to the worshiping community, and listen to the community.
We’ve submitted the Ministry Site Profile to the synod, which helps us describe our ministry and congregation, and perhaps most importantly, our plans, hopes and dreams for the future. It helps candidates know who we are, what we’re all about and where we’re going.
Our next step is to finalize some information, including the names of potential candidates brought forward to us from members of the congregation. If you, as a member of this congregation, have someone you would like to recommend for this pastor position, please contact Donna Steinwand at 651-233-6184 (call or text). This information is due by the end of September.
We promise to share as much information as we can, understanding that some of our work is confidential and won’t be shared.
We ask the congregation of Nativity to support us in prayer, asking for guidance and discernment in this process.
Thank you, Nativity!
The Call Team: Gail Bergsven, Mark Blaede, Michelle Gustafson DeLaune, Laura Oksnevad, Pastor Glenn Seefeldt, Keith Setterholm, and Donna Steinwand.
June 23, 2024: Call Committee to Be Formed
Dear Nativity Community,
Following the departure of Pastor Ben last July, a Transition Team was formed by the Nativity Council to help lead Nativity through the early process of discernment and to provide direction for Nativity’s future and our search for new leadership. The Transition Team was led by Tim Scheid and consisted of Gail Bergsven, Beth Erickson, Donna Steinwand, Denise Lamirande Clark, and Glenn Seefeldt.
On June 18, the Nativity Council formally approved the team’s Ministry Site Profile of Nativity and submitted it to the Minneapolis Area Synod. The Transition team studied the congregation through extensive listening sessions, a survey, and comprehensive analysis. This work, undertaken over 10 months, culminated in the Ministry Site Profile. On behalf of the congregation, I want to thank the team for their dedicated efforts, the devotion of many hours to this work, and the deep care with which they undertook this task.
Also on June 18, having approved the Ministry Site Profile, the Nativity Council approved the creation of a Call Committee to lead us in the search for an additional pastor. Both Pastor Glenn and the council, with the tacit support from the congregation as understood through the Ministry Site Profile effort, have chosen a model of transition known as the Elijah-Elisha model. Like Elijah choosing Elisha to succeed him in the biblical narrative, this model uses the trust and credibility of a long tenured, spiritually strong, loved leader to pass the mantle of leadership onto the next leader/pastor. We believe the model is well-suited for a smooth transition for both Pastor Glenn and an incoming pastor to best support Nativity, ensuring stability and continuity for our congregation and our current/future ministries. It is not entirely new: a similar approach has been used for leadership transitions in nonprofit organizations and other churches.
The call committee will be chaired by Donna Steinwand, a past President and current Secretary of the Council. Members will be appointed in the coming weeks. The call committee will seek a clergy person that will take on leadership over a mutually determined period of time. The Elijah-Elisha model is essentially a model of shared leadership. Roles would, right from the beginning, be distributed and/or shared between both pastors. Nativity’s Transition Team consulted with other pastors and churches familiar with this model and also with the Bishop’s staff of the Minneapolis Area Synod.
We will update the congregation when the Call Committee has been formed. The Call Committee process is a deliberate one and will likely extend into the new year. We will keep you informed on their process. Please feel free to contact me, Council Vice President Karen Volker, Call Committee Chair Donna Steinwand, Transition Team Chair Tim Scheid, or any other Council member with your questions or comments.
Thank You,
Keith Setterholm, President of Nativity Council
February 1, 2024: Listening Sessions
Nativity’s Transition Team will host “Listening Sessions” throughout the month of February to discuss priorities you consider important for the future of Nativity along with what type of leadership will be needed to help move Nativity forward in ministry. We invite everyone in the congregation to share their thoughts in one of the scheduled sessions and/or through the online survey. (The survey ran through February 21 and is now closed.)
- February 3, 6:30 pm following Saturday worship
- February 4, following both AM worship hours
- February 10, 6:30 pm (during the Annual Meeting)
- February 11, following both AM worship hours
Additional sessions will coincide with scheduled book groups and confirmation:
- February 7, during Wednesday AM Bible Study (Contact bppat127@gmail.com)
- February 7, during the Student Action Leadership Team session (Contact renee@nativitychurch.org)
- February 8, during the Thursday AM Book Study (Contact Jules Bonde at madjules@gmail.com)
- February 10, during the Saturday at Nine Book Group via Zoom (Contact Jerry Hoffman at jerjo.hoffman@gmail.com)
- February 13, during the Tuesday AM Social Justice Book Club via Zoom (Contact Paula Biessener at paulabgolfer@icloud.com)
- February 21, during Confirmation (Contact renee@nativitychurch.org)
We look forward to hearing from the Nativity community. All are welcome to join the in-person sessions and/or submit survey feedback. Questions? Contact Tim Scheid at timscheid@gmail.com.
January 4, 2024: Transition Team
With Pastor Ben’s departure this summer, a Transition Team was authorized by Nativity Council and was formed to help lead Nativity through the early process of discernment. The Transition Team, consisting of Gail Bergsven, Beth Erickson, Donna Steinwand, Tim Scheid, Denise Lamirande Clark, and Glenn Seefeldt, is actively working on completing the Ministry Site Profile and is planning listening sessions with the congregation in the first quarter of 2024. After listening to the congregation, the team will complete the Ministry Site Profile and submit it to the Minneapolis Area Synod Bishop for review and conversation. This phase determines what is needed for Nativity to move forward in vital mission.
August 11, 2023: Transition Process Ahead
Dear Siblings in Christ,
In this weekend’s message, I reflected on the wisdom of Ecclesiastes reminding us that change is inherent to the many seasons of life. God promises to be with us in the midst of change, providing a rhythm to cope and wisdom for the journey—wisdom gathered via community.
Nativity is in a season of change as we adjust to Pastor Ben’s departure and think about our future together. Calling another pastor will be a significant part of the discernment process, a process that all of you will be invited to be a part of.
As we begin our process to call another pastor, the author of Ecclesiastes provides good counsel.
God is in the midst, providing an energy and rhythm to discern God’s wisdom.
The path forward is not linear, but organic. Be flexible and listen, listen, listen. In listening, we can discern the wisdom of God.
Be patient. Resist the temptation to move too quickly.
Trust the process. God will provide.
As we look ahead in faith, I propose the following process over the next year for Nativity’s transition.
Phase 1: Taking Care of Business
The Ministry of Nativity will continue, and current staff will fill in for areas Pastor Ben covered. When needed, we will employ part-time help.
Confirmation was one of Pastor Ben’s key areas. A team approach involving myself, Deacon Kyle Soderberg, Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy, and Renee Hoffman will serve confirmation ministry. Our 10th grade confirmation will begin in September as usual. The 7th, 8th and 9th grade confirmation will begin in November on their normal schedule.
Worship and preaching were also among Pastor Ben’s responsibilities. We will have a variety of speakers over the next months, offering diversity of presence and thought.
Phase 2: Transition Team
Nativity Council authorized the formation of a transition team at its June 2023 meeting. The team began meeting this week. Their work will focus on completion of the Ministry Site Profile. This profile involves a survey and study of the congregation. Completion of the profile involves lots of listening to the community and staff.
Upon completion, the profile will be submitted to the Minneapolis Area Bishop for review and conversation. This phase determines what is needed for Nativity to move forward in its vital mission.
Phase 3: Recruitment, Interview, and Call
In this phase, Nativity Council will appoint a call committee. Typically, two or three people from the transition team are part of the call committee along with additional people from the Council and congregation. The call committee meets with Synod staff to understand the process better and learn how candidates are selected and recommended.
The call team will interview candidates and then recommend a name to Nativity Council for recommendation to the congregation. When this occurs, there will be opportunities for the congregation to meet the candidate for call, after which a special meeting of the congregation will be held for the purpose of voting on the candidate to serve as pastor.
The outline here is what our community might expect over the next year or so. Is God in the midst? Yes, indeed, and we are following a process that will invite spiritual wisdom as we move into the future, trusting that God is leading us and God’s love supporting us.
To hear more about the transition as well as wisdom for the journey ahead, I invite you to listen to this weekend’s message.
In Faith,
Pastor Glenn Seefeldt
