The Church Council approved the Call Committee on October 30, 2025. 

• Dr. Tracy Denk - Former Finance Chair, Foundation member of Mount of Olives, and Business Owner
• Ted Esau - Former Finance Chair, Senior Caregiver Ministry Leader, Experienced Corporate Executive, & Member of Mount of Olives for over 30 years
• Rev. Sheryl Faulk - LCMC Pastor, Longest Member of Mount of Olives Church on the Committee, & Executive Director of Spiritual Care for MemorialCare Health System
• Jamie Goodwyn - Church Council Member, School Principal, Experienced Administrator, & Parent of Young Children at Mount of Olives
• Chris Jensen - Church Council Member, Business Owner & Organizational Leader

Yes. The Call Committee and Church Council have reviewed the governing documents throughout this process.  The Constitution outlines the process for calling a Senior Pastor including:

• Formation of a five-member Call Committee
• Recommendation of a candidate by the Call Committee
• Review by Church Council
• Congregational approval through a vote

The committee remains committed to operating within these guidelines.

The Call Committee has intentionally established boundaries to ensure that the responsibility for evaluating candidates and making recommendations remains with the committee.

As candidates advance through the interview process, there may be opportunities for the current Senior Pastor, Pastor John Steward, to meet and interact with individuals being considered for the Senior Pastor position. Given his more than 30 years of leadership at Mount of Olives, his observations may provide helpful perspective regarding the unique culture, ministries, and leadership responsibilities of our congregation.

Any input provided by Pastor Steward will be advisory in nature and intended to offer context based on his experience and knowledge of Mount of Olives. He will not participate in candidate rankings, committee deliberations, voting, or the selection of the candidate ultimately recommended to Church Council.

The responsibility for evaluating candidates and determining which name is presented to Church Council remains solely with the Call Committee. The committee is committed to conducting the process fairly, independently, and prayerfully while also valuing the institutional knowledge that Pastor Steward has gained through decades of service to our church.

The committee welcomes questions, concerns, and feedback related to the future needs of Mount of Olives. However, the committee has agreed that personal comments, criticisms, or concerns regarding current pastors are not shared with Pastor Steward or Pastor Jim. Our role is to remain neutral, focused on the future of Mount of Olives, and committed to the integrity of the process.

As part of our pastoral transition process, Mount of Olives Lutheran Church conducted a congregation-wide survey to better understand the hopes, priorities, and aspirations of our church family as we seek God's direction for our next Senior Pastor.

More than 300 congregation members participated in the survey, making it one of the most comprehensive listening efforts in our church's history. We are grateful for the thoughtful feedback that was shared and encouraged by the remarkable consistency of the responses.

One of the most encouraging outcomes of the survey process was hearing how members describe our church. Several strengths emerged consistently:

• Strong Biblical teaching
• A welcoming church family
• Meaningful worship experiences
• Commitment to missions and outreach
• Strong children's and youth ministries
• Opportunities for discipleship and spiritual growth
• Dedicated volunteers and ministry leaders
• Multi-generational relationships
• A deep sense of community and belonging

The committee views this process not simply as finding the next Senior Pastor, but identifying a leader who can build upon the strong foundation God has already established.

The congregation's feedback, combined with church history and consultant guidance, points to six major leadership areas:

• Biblical Preaching
• Visionary Leadership
• Evangelism and Outreach
• Pastoral Care
• Discipleship Development
• Teaching and Leadership Development

These areas form the foundation of the candidate evaluation process.

One of the most common questions we have received is regarding the decision to partner with Vanderbloemen, a nationally recognized pastoral search firm, and the cost associated with that decision.

First, it is important to address misinformation that has circulated within the congregation. The Call Committee has not spent $250,000 on the search process. The Church Council approved a budget of $75,000 for the search firm, with authorization not to exceed $100,000 for the entire process if additional services become necessary.

This decision was not made lightly. In fact, Church Council has been intentionally setting aside funds for several years in anticipation of Pastor Steward's eventual retirement and the pastoral transition that would follow.

The selection of a Senior Pastor is one of the most significant decisions in the life of a church. Mount of Olives has been blessed with stable pastoral leadership for more than three decades. Because this transition has not occurred in over 30 years, Council and the Call Committee believed it was prudent to seek experienced professional guidance to help identify, evaluate, and recruit qualified candidates from across the country.

Mount of Olives is a complex organization with an annual operating budget of approximately $2.5 million, multiple ministry departments, a preschool, extensive community outreach programs, and a staff of nearly sixty employees. The next Senior Pastor will be called not only to shepherd the congregation spiritually, but also to lead a large and growing ministry organization.

While no search process can guarantee a perfect outcome, partnering with experienced professionals significantly increases the likelihood of identifying highly qualified candidates who align with our mission, values, theology, and vision for the future.

Most importantly, we view this investment as part of our commitment to faithfully steward the ministry God has entrusted to Mount of Olives. We believe this process is about seeking God's guidance, exercising wisdom, and doing everything reasonably possible to ensure that the next generation of leadership is positioned to help our church continue to fulfill its mission: To Know Christ and Make Him Known.

The Call Committee and Church Council remain committed to transparency throughout the process and will continue to provide updates as milestones are reached.

Candidates go through a comprehensive evaluation process that includes:

• Evaluation and assessment by Vanderbloemen
• Vanderbloemen submits best 3-5 candidates to Call Committee
• Call Committee interviews the candidates
• Call Committee makes recommendation to Church Council
• The candidate is invited to the church for a congregational meet and greet
• A vote is called to approve the recommended candidate by voting members

The responsibility for evaluating candidates provided by Vanderbloemen and determining which name is presented to Church Council remains solely with the Call Committee. 

The committee is committed to conducting the process fairly, independently, and prayerfully, while also valuing the institutional knowledge that the current Senior Pastor has gained through decades of service to our church.

The church's current Associate Pastor, Pastor Jim Reynen, has expressed interest in being considered for the Senior Pastor position, and the Call Committee has communicated with him regarding that interest.

He will participate in the same search and evaluation process as all other candidates. 

He has been supportive of this approach and has expressed his desire to honor the process as the congregation seeks God's guidance for the future of Mount of Olives. He understands that the ultimate goal is not simply to fill a position, but to prayerfully discern whom God is calling to serve as the next Senior Pastor.

The congregation retains final authority through the call vote. If a candidate is not approved, the search process would continue until another qualified candidate is identified and presented.

Members of the congregation can participate by:

• Praying for every step of the process
• Reading updates provided by the Call Committee
• Encouraging unity within the congregation
• Remaining regular in worship on Sundays, and continuing to grow in relationship with Jesus
• Asking thoughtful questions (submit questions to Call Committee on Communication Cards or via email to info@moochurch.org)
• Supporting the ministry of Mount of Olives during this transition

To be a voting member of Mount of Olives Church you must fulfill ALL of the following requirements*. 

1. Be a confirmed member with paperwork on file.

   a. By being baptized and confirmed at Mount of Olives; or
   b. Received by Adult Baptism at Mount of Olives; or

   c. Transfer as a Confirmed Member of another Lutheran Church; or

   d. Baptized through affirmation of faith

2. Worshipped and documented your attendance in the current or prior calendar year. Attendance is recorded on each individuals profile. 

3. Made a documented donation to Mount of Olives in the current or prior calendar year. Giving can be any financial amount and directed toward any fund supporting Mount of Olives (such as general giving, mortgage, ROCK, Worship or Kid City). Giving can also be grouped with family members. 

*Confirmation of voting member status will be confirmed at time of the vote for eligibility.

In Lutheran tradition, a "call" is more than a job offer. A call is the process by which a congregation prayerfully discerns and invites a pastor to serve in ministry. Seeking God's guidance in identifying the person called to lead and serve the church.

The Call Committee is the five-member committee appointed by Church Council to identify, evaluate, and recommend a candidate for Senior Pastor.

According to the Mount of Olives Constitution, the Call Committee recommends a candidate to Church Council. Upon Council approval, the candidate is presented to the congregation for a vote.

The Call Committee does not independently hire or call the Senior Pastor.

The elected governing body of Mount of Olives Church. Church Council provides governance oversight, approves major expenditures, appoints the Call Committee, reviews the committee's recommendation, and determines whether a candidate will be presented to the congregation for a vote.

The final step in the call process. The Mount of Olives Constitution requires a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of voting members present at a duly called meeting in order to extend a call to a Senior Pastor.

LCMC stands for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.

Mount of Olives is affiliated with LCMC, a movement of congregations committed to Biblical authority, Lutheran theology, and congregational governance.

A governance and ministry model in which the Senior Pastor and staff are responsible for leading the day-to-day ministry operations of the church while Church Council provides governance oversight. This model differs from churches that operate primarily through committee-driven ministry structures.

A member of Mount of Olives Church who meets the qualifications established by the Constitution and Bylaws and is eligible to vote at congregational meetings. Only voting members may participate in the final congregational vote to extend a call to a Senior Pastor.

To be a voting member of Mount of Olives Church you must fulfill ALL of the following requirements*. 

1. Be a confirmed member with paperwork on file.

   a. By being baptized and confirmed at Mount of Olives; or
   b. Received by Adult Baptism at Mount of Olives; or

   c. Transfer as a Confirmed Member of another Lutheran Church; or

   d. Baptized through affirmation of faith

2. Worshipped and documented your attendance in the current or prior calendar year. Attendance is recorded on each individuals profile. 

3. Made a documented donation to Mount of Olives in the current or prior calendar year. Giving can be any financial amount and directed toward any fund supporting Mount of Olives (such as general giving, mortgage, ROCK, Worship or Kid City). Giving can also be grouped with family members. 

*Confirmation of voting member status will be confirmed at time of the vote for eligibility.