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
