Church Staff Openings

Faith Lutheran Church is seeking a LCMC certified, full-time Pastor to serve the congregation and community. We are looking for a shepherd to guide us and lead us in the post-covid era and revitalize our ministries. We are seeking a bible-based preacher and educator to share our love of Christ.

Faith is a country church where 50-60 people gather weekly to worship and grow and then scatter to share the Good News of Jesus. Faith is a member congregation of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) and recently voted to align with the Augustana District.

Monticello Minnesota is a major town on the interstate freeway with a population of almost 14,000. We are continuing to grow with many amenities, restaurants, stores, and especially housing. Monticello has shopping with Target, Walmart, Cub grocery, and more. We have Eastview Education center, two elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. There are approximately 4,000 students in our public school system.

We seek a candidate who brings insight, enthusiasm and spiritual maturity, with a strong personal and spiritual grounding. We seek someone who truly enjoys meeting with and working alongside all ages. Our active faith community will welcome a leader with strong articulation skills, a compassionate heart and help us to grow in faith and service and to fulfill our mission.

We have a part time secretary and active committees that support the financial and structural foundation of our church life.

Minimum qualifications:

Master of Divinity degree from an accredited Lutheran seminary and complete the requirements as outlined in the bylaws of LCMC. Our pastor should have proper LCMC certification with a preference to be a member of the Augustana District.

Congregational Information Congregation Council

President is Kim Garberich.
Phone: 763-639-5498
Email: [email protected]

Call Committee Chair: Mike Bregenzer
Phone: 320-250-0379
No Email available

Alternate Call Committee contact:
Dane Hasbrouck
Phone: 763-325-3023
Email: [email protected]

Events or developments that are important from the history of our congregation:

• Church was founded in 1890 as a Swedish Lutheran Church.
• We have supported a solo Pastor since 1980.
• We were ELCA, then transitioned to LCMC in 12/6/2009 and joined the Augustana District Jan, 2022.
• Construction of original building was around 1890. The 1986 addition added indoor bathrooms and a second story over the old entry. The 1995 addition added a pastors office, new entry a kitchen and some classroom. The 2006 addition added a parking lot, classrooms, Fellowship room, Nursery, bathrooms, pastors office, secretary’s office, kitchen, entry, Narthex and larger Sanctuary.
• A trend in our Congregational demographics is a decline in youth and young adults since about 2017.
• Congregational Constitution was last updated 1/24/2016.

Ministry Practices, Structure, and Future Worship

• Current Sunday Worship is at 10:00 am, is a traditional style service and average attendance is 50 to 60 worshippers.
• We have offered 2 worship services in the past, one traditional and one contemporary service. At this time we are transitioning to a more blended service.
• We serve Holy Communion on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
• We hold services on Wednesday nights during Lent.
• We have previously offered a service on Wednesday or Thursday night during the week.
• We have held combined Lenten worship services with Silver Creek Community Church (a congregation in a nearby town).

Education

• We hold an Adult Bible Study before Sunday worship at 9:15 am.
• Sunday School is held after the worship service.
• Confirmation classes are held on Wednesday evenings.
• We have held Vacation Bible School in August.
• We have a Thursday morning women’s bible study.
• We have a subscription to “Right Now Media”.
• We hold a CCLI license for music, and a Onelicense for the LBW.

Evangelism

• Our Faith Lutheran Fall Festival held in September, is our biggest outreach activity. It is outdoors and is advertised to the public. We have a good public attendance for this event.
• We have had a booth at the Monticello Walk-n-Roll event to support the local community and get some exposure. This is a community outreach event for businesses and services. We hand out homemade crosses, water and informational brochures about Faith Lutheran.
• We have participated in community outdoor worship in Ellison Park, Monticello’s largest city park.
• We have had a float in the Monticello River City Days parade in July.
• We have a Facebook page and Website.

Special Ministries

• Special ministries have included area nursing home visits and worship services.
• We have a Christmas Hat tree at Christmas time for those in need.
• We participate in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.
• We collect items for the local Food Shelves.
• We have had a choir, but none currently.
• We have had an Intern a couple of times, to help us encourage involvement and outreach.
• We utilized a radio broadcast and Facebook Live during the pandemic but have since discontinued.
• We have a Good Samaritan program for delivery of meals to the home bound.

Present Staffing

• Paid staff consists of a Pastor, and a Church Secretary.
• Our organist receives a stipend.
• Snow removal is paid.
• Custodial services are currently done by volunteers.
• Mowing and grounds keeping is volunteer.
• In the past five years, the congregation has not conducted a process to review its’ ministry goals.
• The mission of Faith Lutheran is to “Reach people, young and old, who need Christ in their lives, and to help them Know, Love and Serve Christ”.

Structure

• No building program is projected at this time.
• The building may need power doors for the Main entry to provide accessibility.
• The entry curbs are sloped, and the main building is on one level with no stairs. The original building is 120 years old with ongoing issues, but it is in good condition. The original building does have a stairway to a second floor (no lift or elevator).
• There are opportunities for technology upgrades.
• The parking lot is going to need replacement and resurfacing.
• A Stewardship drive is held in the Fall of each year.
• As a congregation, we tithe 10% of the monthly congregational giving to organizations of the Council’s choosing. Currently we contribute to 8 different missions. We are not limited to those, and we are always looking for good ways to expand or change our giving opportunities.
  We have a mortgage run-down program in place. We are trying to pay down our mortgage as quickly as possible to free up funds to be used in beneficial ways.
• A copy of our Annual Report is available upon request.

Congregations needs and strengths

We are a rural congregation, located north of Lake Maria State Park. So, location may be a challenge. There are several church choices in the City of Monticello (about 9 miles away), as well as other surrounding communities.

At Faith Lutheran we have dedicated people, who love the Lord Jesus Christ in a Bible based environment. We are a truly caring congregation. We truly try to take care of each other and anyone that comes to our attention.
We are not aware of any process that is unique to our congregation as it pertains to calling a Pastor.

Our greatest need is a pastor with sound Biblical teachings.

Faith Lutheran is asking God to call a Pastor that will lead and help us grow in faith in Christ, and serve others in the community.

Please see the attached list of strengths and challenges from our Congregation Vision Sessions (see below) that our congregation has identified.

God’s blessings as you consider this Call to Faith Evangelical Lutheran of Silver Creek Township.

We, as a congregation, truly strive to reach out to people of all ages who need Jesus in their lives. We are always looking for ways to help people to get to know Jesus as their Savior and to find ways to help us all grow in and serve Christ.

^{Posted: May 31, 2022}

Zion Lutheran Church (LCMC) Kerrville, Texas is looking for a Solo Pastor who will bring a balanced ministry of preaching, teaching and pastoral care. Kerrville, Texas sits in the midst of the Texas Hill Country in the beautiful Guadalupe River valley.

Kerrville is an hour from San Antonio, two hours from Austin, and Fredericksburg, The Capital of the Texas Wine Country, is only 30 minutes away. Kerrville also has multiple Christian children’s camps within a short radius of the city.

Zion Lutheran Church has a long history beginning with the German settlers over 120 years ago. Currently, Zion is an active, multi-generational congregation averaging 140 attendances for worship. There are numerous active ministries including Sunday school for ages 4 to adult, ladies Bible study, mission’s ministry that includes local mission initiatives and high school mission trips, Vacation Bible school, confirmation classes, quilting group, vibrant music teams, visitation communion assistants, weddings and funerals, and Zion Children’s Ministry community daycare. Our building is also actively used by many groups in our community.

The financial standing of Zion Lutheran Church is strong and consistently meets annual budget goals for operations.

The church staff includes a full-time secretary, volunteer coordinator, youth leader, custodians, part-time music and worship leader, choir director, organists, praise team leader and financial secretary.

Our newly constructed sanctuary was opened in 2001 and will seat approximately 400. The exterior of the new sanctuary features an all-limestone facade common to the Texas Hill Country and the interior of the building provides a state-of-the-art communication technology. Our old sanctuary remains as an all-purpose room. Our property has offices, Sunday school rooms, a choir practice room as well as a smaller fellowship hall. We also own a house that sits on our property that houses a para-church ministry. Zion’s daycare facility sits independent of our church building and provides ministry to children of the community. We average 75 children ages 6 weeks to pre-kindergarten. The ministry employs a director, an assistant director, and about 16-18 staff.

For viewing our website go to www.zionkerrville.org

Responsibilities:
The Pastor of our church will lead worship services, encourage spiritual development confirmation classes, provide support and pastoral care in times of need including visits to hospitals and nursing homes, and encourage member to participate in fellowship and outreach programs.

Minimum Qualifications
This pastor will have a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary.

Other qualifications we are seeking from a candidate are:

• Committed to the authority of the Bible
• Committed follower of Christ in all aspects of life who engages in daily prayer, scripture and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
• Relational, approachable, loves people and has a sense of humor
• Will prepare biblically-based sermons to inspire and challenge the congregation
• Has a heart for the lost and will make efforts to reach the unreached in our community

We are asking you to send the following by mail or email (Attn: Call Committee)

1. Cover letter explaining why you feel God is calling you to this position.
2. Resume that includes contact information and education background
3. Work experience inside and outside the church, with dates and job responsibilities.
   • Mail to:
     Zion Lutheran Church
     Att. Call Committee
     624 Barnett St.
     Kerrville, Texas 78028
   • Email to: [email protected]

^{posted: 5/17/2022}

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus,

After serving Abounding Joy Lutheran in St. Cloud, Minnesota (as founding pastor) for 11 years, Pastor Tom Wright will be retiring on June 1, 2022.

The congregation is seeking an interim pastor to serve here beginning on June 1, 2022, for 6-12 months. A Transition Team was formed in March, 2022.

We are a healthy, growing, financially stable, congregation of 220 souls with an average weekly worship attendance (during COVID) of about 110. The staff currently includes one full-time pastor, one 1/2 time Dir. of Youth and Family Ministries, a Secretary/Parish Administrator, and multiple part-time musicians.

We host a Lutheran African immigrant congregation in our building and have many Liberians who are members. Our beautiful $2 million facility is just 7 years old. We hold a mortgage balance of only $170,000. We are members of LCMC, the NALC, and the Augustana District.

If you have interest in this interim position, please reply by sending your resume to [email protected], and/or to 6000 County Road 120, St. Cloud, MN 56303.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Samhold (which means HOLD TOGETHER) is in the community of Gonvick, Minnesota.  Gonvick is a town of 300.  We are a farming community as well as a central location for the pipelines, which keeps our economy steady.

Our area has many opportunities for recreation such as hunting, fishing. Our Clear Waters Life Center offers local art studios for pottery, mosaic and other creative outlets, as well as Christian counseling or book groups.  Pickle ball is also a big hit in Gonvick.  We are 50 miles from Bemidji Minnesota which has many attractions as well.

While traditional liturgy, hymns and vestments with occasional special music is what you would commonly find on Sunday morning, at times one might discover a congregation gathered at the park or rodeo grounds to offer praise and worship in a different light, and to involve the larger community.

On a Weekly basis we host Sunday School, youth group, WNALC/WNALC, Bible Study as well as church services.

Our new pastor should:

1. Enjoy and embrace small town life with all its challenges and rewards.
2. Be ready to help us rebuild and expand our congregation.
3. Help us be good stewards of our financial resources in ways that glorify God.
4. Consistent visitation with those who need pastoral care, as well as involvement with youth.

The Parsonage that is available for our new pastor is undergoing complete renovation, with new Kitchen, appliances, Flooring, and Doors.  It is a lovely 4 bedroom, 2 bath with a full basement and a yard that is large and ready for gardening and play space.  It is also located conveniently next door to the church.

There is so much more to know about us, we hope to hear from you soon!

We are ready to welcome you with God’s Love,
Pam, Denise, Ben and JoAnn
^{Samhold Call Committee}

Samhold Lutheran Church
259 N Ave, PO Box 69
Gonvick, MN 56644

Email us 

Category: Pastoral Ministry

Position Title: Pastor

Position Type: Full-time

Description:
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church located in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota is seeking an outgoing, positive, faith driven pastor that can relate to all ages and lead our congregation into the future.  Buffalo Lake is a small farming community located in Central Minnesota on US Highway 212 about 23 miles from Hutchinson and 80 miles from Minneapolis/St Paul.  Zion began in 1886 starting with Worship services in German.  On June 24^th, 2003, a tornado severely damaged the church and parsonage.  On Dec 1^st, 2003, the congregation held its first service in the restored church.

We currently hold a Sunday morning worship service that is also broadcast over our local cable channel and YouTube each week.  Before worship, we offer Sunday School for PreK to 8^th grade.  Confirmation is currently also on Sunday mornings.  Women’s bible study is offered once a month and the youth group meets monthly also for devotions and activities.  The Church staff includes a secretary, two musicians, a custodian, an audio/video technician, a PowerPoint operator, and many volunteers.

The church building includes the sanctuary, a Sunday School wing, a family room and large fellowship hall in the basement.  Zion Lutheran owns a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bath parsonage with a garage located next to the church that is available for the Pastor and his/her family.

Duties and Responsibilities:

This person shall:

1. Serve as our Spiritual leader and Christian role model
2. Prepare and lead Sunday morning, Advent and Lenten services, and special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, Confirmation and 1st Communion
3. Provide communion on the first and second Sunday of the month
4. Make home, assisted living, nursing home, and hospital visits to those members who are confined and also provide communion to those who are unable to attend worship services
5. Have a presence at Sunday School, Youth Group and other youth activities
6. Teach confirmation in accordance with Luther’s Small Catechism
7. Mentor other staff members and volunteers to help grow and develop our youth programs and guide additional opportunities for spiritual growth of the whole congregation
8. Develop meaningful relationships with members of our congregation, other area churches, and community overall
9. Attend and become involved in community and school events
10. Assist church secretary in preparing worship materials and communications with congregation

How to apply:  Please submit your cover letter, resume, and references by email or mail to the address below.

Address:

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
Attn: Lisa Taylor, Call Committee
PO Box 398
Buffalo Lake MN 55314

Contact: Lisa Taylor, Call Committee
Phone:  320-212-4373
Email:  [email protected]

We are looking forward to hearing from you and providing you with further information about our church and community.

^{2022.03.18 10:29a}

Church: Shepherd of the Hills

Position: Associate Pastor

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 262.628.2633

Mailing Address: 
Shepherd of the Hills
ATTN: Pastor Mike Matzek
1350 WI-175
Hubertus, WI 53033

About Shepherd of the Hills:  For more than 50 years we have ministered and  focused on three things:

• Taking the message of Jesus seriously. We have a long tradition of excellent preaching and teaching. We seek to keep the Bible at the center of who we are and how it relates to life today.
• Warm relationships. This is a congregation that loves to spend time together in fellowship. We want visitors to feel welcome when they walk in the door.
• Sharing the love of Christ. We have many outreach ministries where we reflect how Christ loved us first. Two of our signature ministries are Serenity Inn, a rehabilitation ministry in Milwaukee, and Operation Christmas Child, which helps kids all over the world.

We are currently applying the results of our church health survey and working to continue to share the love of Christ with new generations. Our children’s ministry is a key strength with a vibrant Sunday School program and we have 37 kids in confirmation (grade 6-8) right now. We know that our call is to continue to build on the foundation that Jesus has given us.

We have several adult discipleship opportunities including a pastor led adult Bible Study, fellowship and small group ministries.

We offer two worship service styles: traditional at 8:30 and contemporary at 10:30.  During the pandemic, we adapted moving to outdoor worship and online offerings. Our musicians did amazing work. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Fx7NNdHuVs) Even after we restarted indoor worship, we continued outdoor worship in our pavilion during the worst of the pandemic. We’ve recovered well from the pandemic and our attendance (currently over 230) is coming back at about 90% of pre-pandemic levels. We also continue to offer online worship.

We are proud of our church campus which features a new building (completed 2010), pavilion, play structure, fire pit, and plenty of greenspace.

About the Associate Pastor: We are looking for someone to focus on three areas:

• High School Ministry – We have an excellent children’s ministry and a strong Middle School group. We are looking to allocate more resources and expand our High School ministry. You would organize and lead our volunteers, direct the program, and develop relationships with students in this critical phase of life.
• Welcome and Invitation Ministry – We are a relational church where we have deep roots in our community. We want you to encourage and help our members to invite friends and neighbors. You’ll also be in charge of our welcome team to make sure that when people enter our church, they are greeted warmly and made to feel part of our family.
• Pastoral Ministry – We need someone to help lead the congregation and share the load of preaching and teaching. In this role, you’ll be given opportunities to take charge of ministries and help grow this congregation.

What you bring:

• Authentic and Biblical faith
• Willingness to learn
• Team player
• Master of Divinity is preferred, but we would consider someone who is finishing up their seminary education.
• Ordained or on track to be ordained by a Lutheran body and certified or on track to be certified by LCMC

What it’s like to live here: This is a beautiful and wonderful place to live nestled in the heart of the Kettle Moraine with gentle rolling hills and endless lakes and rivers. Our congregation pulls from many local communities across Washington County. Menomonee Falls and Germantown are outer ring suburbs of Milwaukee while places like Hartford, Slinger, and West Bend are their own communities.

You can live in a great school district with cultural and outdoor opportunities right next door. Arts, entertainment, music festivals, and the world champion Milwaukee Bucks are less than a half hour from here. If you love the outdoors, you want to be here. The Ice Age Trail runs through our community and we have countless outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, skiing, hiking, golfing, and watersports.

Why should you take this call? This opportunity is not just a job, but rather the calling of a Shepherd who loves God’s people and will help lead them through the power of the Holy Spirit. If you are adaptable, want to be part of a stellar team, see how God is working in new ways in a changing culture, then this may be your new home.

We want to be part of the process with you, as you pray and discern where God is calling you.

Website: https://www.shepherd-hills.com/

_{posted:2022.03.09}

Church: St. John’s Lutheran Church, Howard Lake, Minnesota

Job Type: Part-time

Salary: $17,000–22,000

Number of Weekly Services: 1 (9 AM Sunday)

Number of Weekly Rehearsals: 3 (Wednesday evenings)

Hours Per Week: 15–18

Pipe Organ: We are in middle of an organ project; see Additional Information below

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Music plays organ, directs choirs, and oversees the musical ministries of St. John’s with the purpose of bearing the gospel in music and leading the congregation’s song. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Play organ and piano for worship services on Sunday mornings, holidays, midweek services during Lent; and be primary contact for weddings and funerals
• Oversee adult and children’s choirs and youth bell choir that sing and ring in worship services, with midweek rehearsals
• Direct one-week children’s Music Camp in summer
• Direct instrumentalists as appropriate for worship services
• Assist pastor in selecting music that is reflective of the liturgical season and lectionary texts
• Submit information for bulletins to the secretary
• Supervise the church’s choral library
• Oversee the tuning and maintenance of all musical instruments of the church and report maintenance needs to the Worship and Music Committee
• Provide for substitute when not able to be present

JOB QUALIFICATIONS 

• A joy of music and sharing the Christian gospel with others
• Ability to lead congregational singing of hymns and liturgy from the pipe organ and piano
• Ability to direct choirs of various age levels
• Comfort playing music of various periods and complexity, with emphasis on Lutheran tradition
• Familiarity with services in Lutheran Book of Worship
• Knowledge of liturgical calendar to select appropriate music for worship
• Effective communication skills, good organization, and positive attitude

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• The congregation will provide the following with full salary:
  • 1 week vacation for the first six months, then 2 weeks annually
  • 1 week of sick leave for the first six months, then 2 weeks annually
  • 1 week continuing education annually
• The Director of Music may use the organ and pianos for private teaching. Times of lessons must be scheduled with the office so as not to conflict with other events.
• This position can be divided into separate positions (such as organist and choir director) depending on applicants’ interests and skills.
• We are in the middle of an organ project, working with organ builders Grandall & Engen. Currently we have a 4.5-rank Wicks. We have purchased the Casavant at Luther Seminary and will renovate it, combined with pipes from our Wicks, to create a 28-rank instrument

SUPERVISION

• Reports to Pastor and Chair of Worship and Music Committee
• Performance and adequacy of salary will be reviewed annually by Staff Support Committee

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Send letter of application stating qualifications or resume to:

St. John’s Lutheran Church 
ATTN: TiffanyAnn Gorton
PO Box 307
Howard Lake, MN 55349

Or [email protected]

Responsible for preaching and teaching the Word of God, administering sacraments, adhering to Lutheran Confessions, providing pastoral care, pastoral counseling and private absolution. Provide leadership in the congregation’s mission, participate in continuing education. The pastor shall also serve as a non-voting member of Church Council. Installment date and time commitment are negotiable.

Salary dependent on experience and time commitment.

For more information, please contact:

Pioneer Lutheran Church
ATTN: Valerie Hicks
20180 474th Ave
PO Box 6
White, SD 57276

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 605.695.3805

Download Additional Information

Description:

New Hope Lutheran Church (LCMC-Augustana District) located in Comfrey, Minnesota is seeking an enthusiastic, faith-driven pastor to lead and inspire our congregation into the future. Comfrey is a small farming community located in Southwestern Minnesota about 125 miles from Minneapolis/St. Paul.  At the present time our current active membership is 140 households, 297 baptized with 236 confirmed.  New Hope Lutheran Church emerged out of two century-plus congregations, Faith Lutheran and Salem Lutheran.  On March 29, 1998, a tornado devastated the town of Comfrey and both Lutheran Church buildings were damaged beyond repair.  The spirit of the two church bodies came together and was physically reborn in 1999, as New Hope Lutheran Church with a new building dedicated in November of 2000. 

As a joint congregation we offer a Sunday morning worship service with an average attendance of 65 that is also live streamed on Facebook. Following worship and fellowship, we offer Sunday school for K-6^th grade. Confirmation class is held on Wednesday nights. Men and women’s bible studies are offered once a month and the youth group meet on a routine basis. The Church staff includes a secretary, two pianists, a custodian, and many volunteers.

The church building includes a large sanctuary with removable partition walls for overflow seating, TV displays with live stream cameras and a digital sound system, Sunday school rooms, a chapel, and a fireside room with library for Christian educational opportunities as well as a large fellowship hall and narthex.  The Parish Secretary and Pastor’s office are also in this building.  New Hope Church owns a 4-bedroom, 1.5 bath parsonage with an attached 3 car garage that is available for the Pastor and his/her family.  The home is located across the street from the K-12 school and community library.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Sunday worship and administer the Sacraments
• Lead special services including but not limited to weddings, baptisms, and funerals
• Lead Confirmation class
• Advise the Sunday school, youth group and bible studies
• Advise boards and committees as asked within the church
• Visit the sick and shut-ins
• Visible member of the community

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduate or near completion of Seminary
• 1-3 years of ministry experience or equivalent
• Strong communication skills
• Servant heart for God and people

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified in LCMC
• Skilled musician (vocal or instrumental)

If these are beliefs and talents that you have, we would love to hear from you.  Please submit your cover letter, resume, and references by email or mail to the address below by April 1, 2022.  However, we do reserve the right to re-open the application process if the Call Committee feels it is necessary.  Sending links to taped or recorded sermons are strongly encouraged.

Address:

New Hope Lutheran Church
Attn: Jody Anderson, Call Committee
204 Court Street South
Comfrey, MN 56019

Contact: Jody Anderson
Phone:    507-276-8577
Email:      [email protected]
Position: Full-Time Pastor

Online:    www.facebook.com/NewHopeLutheranChurchlcmc/

Appendix

The mission statement is as follows: We, the members of New Hope Lutheran Church, saved by grace, are called, gathered and united by God’s Spirit to:

N urture our faith through worship, God’s Word and His Sacraments,
E ncourage people of all generations to share their gifts and talents to serve God,
W ork together to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

H ear the concerns of our neighbors,
O pen our church to all people,
P roclaim God’s message of hope,
E xpress God’s Love in word and deed.

Church Name: Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church

Church Address: 
101 Atlantic Avenue
P.O. Box 98
Badger, MN 56714

Church Phone: 218-528-3231

Contact Person: Mary Karl

Description: 
Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Badger, Minnesota is searching for a shepherd to lead our small, northwestern Minnesota flock on a part-time basis. This half-time pastoral vacancy requires 16 to 20 hours per week which includes preparing for and leading our weekly worship service in accordance with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, home and hospital visits, working with and through the members of our congregation to sustain and grow a fulfilling and Gospel centered ministry in our church home and in our small, rural community; leading us to a better understanding of the message of the Scriptures through Bible study and other teaching and counselling opportunities.

Our Redeemer’s is blessed with a faithful base of parishioners with a heart for volunteering, fellowship, mission and giving. We have a beautiful church home that is fully handicap accessible and free from debt. A housing allowance will be provided if desired. 

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Big Sandy is anxiously pursuing a qualified LCMC/NALC dual-rostered minister to serve in the beautiful rural McGregor lakes area of Minnesota.  McGregor is located half way between Duluth and Brainerd and 150 miles north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Minnesota.  Grace is seven miles north of McGregor in Shamrock Township, which has a full time population of 1215 residents and up to 3,000 seasonal residents.  With a recent 93.4% vote in favor of leaving the ELCA and joining the LCMC and NALC we seek to return to a traditional bible-centered church and want to call a pastor who will lead our congregation with the Word and grow with our Christian family.  Our mission statement is Through Grace we Grow, Spread, and Share God’s Love.  The vision development for our mission is an opportunity for our next pastor.  This congregation clearly wants to provide a faith-based Lutheran church for this community.  It should be noted that we have been growing since our vote to disassociate from the ELCA and join LCMC & NALC, even though we have not had a called pastor for over 2-1/2 years. 

Pastoral Job Responsibilities:

• Preach the Word;
• Administer the sacraments;
• Conduct public worship;
• Provide pastoral care;
• serve as the chief evangelist in his or her ministry, and
• Proclaim God’s love to the world.
• Offer instruction, confirm, marry, visit the sick and distressed, and bury the dead;
• Supervise school and organizations of this congregation;
• Install regularly elected members of the council; and
• With the council, administer discipline.
• Perform job responsibilities within the established policies of the Constitutions for Grace, LCMC, and NALC.

Primary goals of our congregation

-Rekindle the growth of our congregation and church into, again, becoming a Lutheran Community church that increasingly serves the faith journey needs of area residents and outreach with a bible-centered message and involvement in preaching God’s Word.

-Our old log church has been utilized more in the past year and this will factor into future ministerial goals.  Smaller services during the week and/or Saturday nights, and small weddings are potentially great opportunities to use this resource.

-The area, formerly housing the partitioned Sunday School, has been developed into a new meeting area that is available for multiple use to meet mission goals.  We call it Reformation Hall.

-Increase musical presence with organist/pianist, choirs, and other instruments to enhance and celebrate our ministry.

-A Technology Team is needed to develop, plan, and carry out proposals to increase the use of technology to enhance and expand our ministry.  This is an opportunity for the next called minister to provide guidance in this endeavor.

-Collaborate with other area churches and organizations for outreach ministry and community cohesiveness.

Top Five Things our congregation hopes for in its next Pastor

1. A bible-centered Pastor that wants to be at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Big Sandy and become a member of our community.
2. Good communicator (able to speak in common terms, as well as a good listener) Ability to identify with and minister to all age groups in the congregation. Conduct visitations with current and potential members including shut-ins.
3. Be a great “supporter” and encourager. Someone who is humble and willing to empower the congregation to find new ways to explore their sense of self and purpose.
4. Our Pastor should be community minded.  ie: Attend community functions, develop relationships with other churches, help create ways for our youth, men and women, and children to be devoted to a Christian way of life.  Enhance and expand the positives at Grace
5. Hold Bible studies and church services at different times if needed/desired.

*More information on our congregation and quest for our next called pastor may be found at the LCMC website where we have posted this position.  Additionally, a YouTube video of our church and community can be accessed with the following link:  https://youtu.be/5ORKV3LBIIE

*All inquiries should be addressed to Dick Rohde, Call Chair at Grace Ev. Luth. Church of Big Sandy via his email:  [email protected]  or by calling his cell at 218.429.1505 

*Applications should include a letter of introduction that addresses our job posting and a resume appropriate to the position.

We are located at: 48115 Lake Avenue, McGregor, MN 55760

Our website is found at:  www://logchurch.org   [Note: the website is undergoing a revamp and may not be accurate or complete when viewed at this time]