Senior Pastor Call Process

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." - Proverbs 3:5 ESV

A Message from the Call Committee

Dear Mount of Olives Family,

Pastoral transitions are significant moments in the life of any church. They bring excitement, anticipation, questions, and opportunities to seek God's guidance together.

The purpose of this webpage is to provide transparency, answer common questions, and keep the congregation informed throughout the Senior Pastor transition process.

We are grateful for the many members who have participated through prayer, surveys, listening sessions, emails, conversations, and words of encouragement. Your voice has helped shape this process and continues to guide our work.

Above all, our goal is not simply to fill a position. Our goal is to prayerfully discern whom God is calling to become the next Senior Pastor of Mount of Olives Church, and to help position our congregation for faithful ministry in the years ahead.

Over the course of this journey, the Call Committee has gained a deeper understanding of our church, our history, our ministries, and the unique opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We have also gained a profound appreciation for the responsibility entrusted to us by the congregation and Church Council. This document reflects the information we have gathered, the work completed to this point, and the thoughtful process being used as we seek God's direction for the future of Mount of Olives.

We approach this work with humility, grace, sincere love for our church, and a dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Each conversation, decision, and step forward is being taken with prayerful care and a deep sense of responsibility.

We ask that you continue to pray for Pastor Steward and Pastor Jim as they navigate this season of transition. Please pray for the future Senior Pastor and family whom God is preparing for this call. Pray for the Call Committee and our families, who have generously sacrificed time and energy to support this important work. Pray for our staff, ministry leaders, congregation, and community as we continue to walk together in faith.

Most importantly, pray that we remain steadfast in our love for one another, united in Christ, and faithful to the mission God has entrusted to Mount of Olives: to Know Christ and Make Him Known.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, patience, and trust as we seek God's direction together.

- Your Mount of Olives Call Committee

Timeline of Call Process for Senior Pastor

October 13, 2025 - Pastor John Steward announces transition
October 30, 2025 - Church Council approves Call Committee
November 2025 - Call Committee begins meeting
January 2026 - Cascade Consulting engaged
February - March 2026 - Congregational, staff, and leadership surveys conducted
March-April 2026 - Survey review and pastoral profile development
May 2026 - Vanderbloemen Search Firm engaged
July 1, 2026 - Search Opens - View Job Listing
July - September 2026 - Candidate recruitment and evaluation

Future Steps - Timing Tentative
Interview Process
Candidate Presentation
Congregational Vote

(updated August 2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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.

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.

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.

Frequently Used Terms & Definitions

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.

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.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach…” - 1 Timothy 3:1-2

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” - Matthew 5: 16

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.” - Colossians 3:14

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