On behalf of the Senior Pastor Call Committee and the 2022 Church Council, Call Committee Chair Eric Mattson and I would like to inform the Congregation of the Call Committee’s recommendation. After working through the Transition Committee process, creating a Ministry Site Profile to help define Zion’s current and future needs, and meeting with our Minneapolis Area Synod representative, the Committee chose to interview an internal candidate on the recommendation of the Synod.
The Call Committee invited Pastor Kari Bahe to interview for the Senior Pastor position. After a fairly lengthy interview, the Committee felt Pastor Bahe’s strong leadership skills and effective work over the past year fit with Zion’s needs for a Senior Pastor both now, and in the future.
Because the selection of an interim pastor for a settled call is not the usual approach, we felt it was important to inform the Congregation now instead of waiting for the day of the Congregational Call meeting on December 4. The Council approved the recommendation at our November 16 Council meeting and agreed this should be shared with everyone as soon as possible.
The next step will be the Congregational Call meeting which will follow right after the Annual Congregational meeting on December 4. When Jameson adjourns that meeting, he will immediately gavel in the Call meeting. Of course, Eric and Jameson are available for any questions.
Jameson would like to close with a word of thanks to the Call Committee and their work in this endeavor. Call Committee members are Eric Mattson (chair), Jennifer Gustafson, Phyllis Bengtson, Josie LaFave, Taryn Bullert, Dominic DesMarais, Andy Kohls, Joan Halderson (alternate), Paula Herda (alternate), and Hannah & Tyler Peterson (alternate).
