“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 

Following  recommendations by the Board of Elders and Governing Board, the Voter’s Assembly will be ask to issue a call to Deaconess Candidate Michele Doel of Portage, Indiana. After meeting Michele in early May, Pastor Albers worked with Michele and congregational leaders to explore the possibility of Michele serving part-time (a bit less than 75% of full time), for a period of one year.

A DEACONESS FOR ST. JOHN’S?

For several months our congregational leadership have been speaking about the desire to call our next Associate Pastor. While we haven’t been in a rush to do so, leaders recognize that with only one pastor, we are hitting a capacity. We are missing ministry “opportunities” and Pastor Albers’ time is stretched thin.

In early May Pastor Albers participated in the installation of Rev. Brian Doel as the new pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Portage, and met his spouse, Michele, and discovered she is a Deaconess Candidate seeking a place to be in ministry! Within a couple of weeks Pastor visited with Brian and Michele and explored the possibilities for ministry even as St. John’s is preparing to call a new Associate Pastor.

At its June meeting the Board of Elders received information from Pastor Albers and approved a recommendation for consideration by the Governing Board.  By the end of June several elders and members of the Governing Board had visited with Deaconess Doel. Each of these had glowing recommendations and were eager to encourage the Governing Board to pass along this recommendation to the Voters’ Assembly.    

FAQs

1. What work will Deaconess Michele be doing at St. John’s?

Michele will help expand our efforts in four critical areas: education, visitation, communication and integration. Her goal will be to be ready for a “hand off” to a new Associate Pastor in July, 2025. Take a look at a draft of her Position Description for more information, but here’s a summary:

• Education … helping to coordinate existing adult studies, possibly adding a midweek, midday study, and assisting those who are interested in children’s education ministry on Sunday mornings.  Deaconess Doel absolutely LOVES the study of God’s word and teaching others!
• Visitation … coordinate and expand the existing efforts of Pastor Albers and members of the Board of Elders, especially with homebound members. Michele was the first to suggest to Pastor Albers that she enjoys time spent with homebound and other older members of the congregation.
• Communication … serve as “managing editor” of both the online and print newsletters and assisting with all areas of communication in church and school. Michele’s undergraduate degree is in the field of communication!
• Integration … working to find ways to better integrate newcomers into the life and ministry of the congregation, especially unchurch school families. Deaconess Doel complete her master’s thesis on the topic of integration and especially how it is different from the idea of “assimilation.

2. Why only part-time?

For St. John’s: The cost of a part-time position “fits” in our current spending plan and is less than the amount budgeted for “Associate Pastor.”  For Deaconess Michele and Rev. Brian Doel: This will be the first opportunity for this relatively young couple to explore what it will be like to both serve according to their vocations but in DIFFERENT parishes.

3. Why only for one year?

As you will hear at the Voters’ Assembly on July 21, our leadership is committed to calling an associate pastor in the coming year, but the needs of ministry are right now. A “termed call” enables us to expand ministry opportunities while still moving forward with the plans to call a second pastor.

4. What’s next in the process?

Now that the Board of Elders and Governing Board have both endorsed the current plan

• On July 21 the Voter’s Assembly will vote to call Deaconess Candidate Doel.
• The next day Pastor Albers will forward signed copies of the Call Documents to the Indiana District Office.
• August 1st Deaconess Candidate Doel will begin her work at St. John’s.
• Our District President, the Rev. Dr. Richard Stuckwisch will sign the papers and forward them to the Placement Office at the Seminary in St. Louis.
• At its faculty meeting on August 16, the Seminary Faculty will formalize the certification of Deaconess Doel for ministry.
• Dr. Glenn Nielsen, Placement Director, will forward the appropriate paperwork to another District President who is responsible for placement of called workers for our Council of Presidents.
• If everything is going according to plan, we will formally install Deaconess Doel at our Family Reunion Sunday Service on August 25.