Call List & Next Steps

Background

In preparation for Pastor Bongard’s retirement in December of 2027, the Call Committee has been working since January with the Missouri District-LCMS on the steps in the process of calling a new Senior Pastor. 

The first step in that process was a congregational survey, the results of which were used to help develop a Position Description that accurately reflects our congregation’s needs and the desired characteristics and qualifications for Concordia’s next Senior Pastor.

Using the Position Description as a guide, the Call Committee then accepted nominations from the congregation for pastors who would be a good fit to serve our congregation. The Call Committee reviewed all nominations received and shared the full list of names with the Missouri District of our Synod.

Call List

Over the course of the last two months, the Missouri District President has worked to review our congregation’s nomination list, nominate additional pastors, and determine which pastors on the list are able to consider a call. This process has resulted in a Call List that Missouri District recently delivered to our Call Committee. The list contains names of pastors, as well as information regarding their personal and pastoral skills.

There are 31 candidates on the Call List. The names of those pastors will not be shared outside the Call Committee, so as not to hinder the present ministries of the men on the list.

At this time and through the next several weeks, the Call Committee will review the information provided by Missouri District for each pastor on the Call List.  We will prayerfully, seeking God’s guidance and the work of the Holy Spirit, review and deliberate each candidate using our Position Description as a guide - to determine the candidates who align with our congregation’s needs and the desired characteristics and qualifications for Concordia’s next Senior Pastor.

Next Steps

The next step in the process will be to narrow the list of names to identify candidates whom we wish to interview, and to contact those candidates to determine their availability and interest in continuing in our call process. We anticipate that we will begin interviewing candidates in late summer or early fall, and we will keep the congregation informed of next steps.

We remain thankful for Pastor Bongard’s leadership of our congregation and advance planning to allow ample time for the call process to determine our next Senior Pastor. We also remain thankful that, while we are in a time of waiting and discernment for Concordia’s next senior leader, God is at work through our church staff, volunteers, and members in many wonderful ways. It is an exciting time at Concordia, and we look forward to seeing God’s plans for our future continue to unfold.

Questions

If you have any questions regarding the survey results, you may contact the Call Committee at this link.  Thank you for your prayerful support of the Senior Pastor Call process!