2024-2025


senior pastor call process


2024-2025


call PROCESS

The call process at St. Paul’s is a thoughtful and prayerful undertaking to discern our next senior pastor. Guided by member input, committee collaboration, our bylaws, and with valuable guidance from the Missouri District, each step reflects our trust in God’s provision in calling the shepherd He has prepared to lead our congregation.

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Call process & progress


  • How has the Call Committee been progressing in finding a new Senior Pastor?

    read letter


    The call committee's March 2025 update letter is part of our ongoing effort to keep you informed about the progress and steps taken as we prayerfully seek our next senior pastor. The letter outlines:

    1. Introduction to the Call Process
    2. Initial Guidance from Missouri District
    3. Review of Bylaws
    4. Survey Development
    5. Nominations from Members
    6. Candidate List from Missouri District
    7. Candidate Review and Initial Interviews
    8. Selection of Final Candidates
    9. In-Person Visits
    10. Assessment and Next Steps

  • WHO IS SERVING ON THE CALL COMMITTEE?

    view roster


    St. Paul’s senior pastor call committee was recommended by the church council and approved at a congregational voters' meeting on March 3, 2024.


    Desmond Kittelson, call committee chairman  email

  • What is St. Paul’s seeking in a Senior Pastor?

    position description


    The senior pastor at St. Paul’s provides spiritual leadership and administrative oversight to guide the congregation in fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission. The position description outlines this role:

    • Purpose
    • Core Responsibilities
    • School Involvement
    • Leadership and Vision
    • Qualifications
    • Accountability

  • What role do CHURCH bylaws play in the Call process?

    view bylaws


    Reference Article III, titled "Procedure in Calling Pastors, Teachers, and Other Staff Members"


    St. Paul’s bylaws, which outline the procedures and authority for the senior pastor call process, were reviewed and referenced by the call committee early in the process to ensure alignment with proper nomination, committee formation, and voters' meeting protocols. The bylaws outline:

    • Authority of the Voters' Assembly to Make Call Decisions (Section A)
    • Eligibility Requirements for Pastors and Staff (Section B)
    • Sources of Suitable Pastoral Candidates (Section C)
    • Role and Formation of the Call Committee (Section D)
    • Procedures for Candidate Information (Section E)
    • Voting and Decision-Making (Section F)

  • Why was the congregational survey an important step in the Call Process?


    What priorities were identified through the survey?

    Password Access | The survey results below can be accessed using our Member Portal password, which is displayed at the top of each week's "Weekly Word" e-letter. You may also contact our church office at 314-822-0447, and our receptionist will provide the password.


    View survey results with password


    In the spring of 2024, the call committee conducted a congregational survey in conjunction with the LCMS Missouri District. Nearly 400 members responded in preparation for St. Paul's Call of a senior pastor. The scope of the survey included the prioritization of competencies sought in our senior pastor, plus feedback on congregation members' church experiences, suggestions, and involvement norms. 

newsletter updates

The section below provides a recap of news announcements from the Good News and Weekly Word newsletters, as related to the call process.

  • Pastor Thomas' Retirement

    Read Pastor's letter to the congregation | St. Paul's senior pastor, Rev. Dr. Glen D. Thomas, has announced his October 2024 retirement. 

  • Call Committee for Senior Pastor Seeks Congregational Input

    St. Paul’s is forming a Call committee for our next senior pastor, and we would like your input! Watch your email inbox for a member survey being sent next week. Per our bylaws, the church council proposes Call committee members, and St. Paul’s voters approve the Call committee. We are hoping to get suggestions from church members on possible Call committee members. Paper survey forms will also be available at our information center starting next week.

  • Recommend Members to Serve on Call Committee

    We are now gathering recommendations for committee members to serve on the Call committee for our next senior pastor, and we value your input. Submit names online or via paper survey forms at our info center. (Per our bylaws, the church council proposes Call committee members, and St. Paul’s voters approve the Call committee.)

  • Voter's Meeting March 3 • Noon • Sanctuary

    Attend the voters’ meeting to approve the call committee for a senior pastor. Church Council is reviewing congregational suggestions for the committee, with proposed list available on the church website (Member Portal > Rosters & Documents) on Feb. 26. Per our bylaws, the council proposes a call committee, and the voters approve the committee. Please join us and keep this process in your prayers.

  • Pastoral Call Committee Seeks Your Input

    The Senior Pastor Call Committee invites the congregation’s input in two important ways: candidate suggestions and sought competencies. Official Missouri District nomination forms will be available in paper format starting this Sunday at the east lobby information counter. Additionally, an online survey will be launched to gather congregational feedback on the characteristics and skill set sought in our new senior pastor; survey link will be posted on our website’s Member Portal > Rosters and Documents page. Watch for additional details to follow.

  • Submit Names of Pastor Candidates

    The Senior Pastor Call Committee invites the congregation to submit names of pastoral candidates. Nomination forms are available at the east lobby information counter.

  • Congregational Survey on New Pastor • Extended Survey Closes May 19

    An online survey will gather congregational feedback on the characteristics and skill set sought in our new senior pastor. All members age 12 and older are encouraged to respond; responses will be tabulated by the LCMS Missouri District and will inform our search. The survey may also be accessed on our website’s Member Portal; paper surveys are available at our east lobby information counter.

  • Presentation of Survey Results • Sun., June 16 • 9:30am • FH
    All are invited for an informative session with our Call Committee, who will unpack insights from congregational surveys completed by over 380 St. Paul's members. The scope of the survey included senior pastor competencies, plus congregational experience and involvement.

    EXTENDED: Submit Names of Pastor Candidates Through June 9
    The Senior Pastor Call Committee invites the congregation to submit names of pastoral candidates. Nomination forms are available at the east lobby information counter.

  • Call Committee • Senior Pastor Search Update

    President Hagan has provided our Call committee with 38 potential candidate names, along with their Pastor’s Information Forms (PIFs) and Self-Evaluation Tools (SETs). Of these, 12 names were recommended by Rev. Dr. Hagan, and 26 by St. Paul’s members. Our committee meets weekly, reviewing each candidate’s PIFs and SETs, with the goal of narrowing the list to 7-10 pastors for Zoom interviews, then finally, inviting two pastors to St. Louis for in-person interviews. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

  • Voters’ Meeting: Vacancy Pastor • Sept. 29 • noon

    With Pastor Thomas retiring in late October, as the senior pastor Call committee continues its work, St. Paul’s is considering having a vacancy senior pastor in place for a period of time, beginning in early November 2024 and running through May 2025.

     

    Missouri District President Hagan recommended Rev. Mark Schudde as a possible candidate for this role. The elders met with Pastor Schudde a few weeks ago, and the meeting went very well. The Board of Elders and the Church Council have both approved Pastor Schudde as Vacancy Senior Pastor, pending St. Paul’s voter approval. 

     

    This Vacancy Senior Pastor would support and manage our existing pastors and staff; lead meetings and administrative matters; and preach and lead worship. He would not be in place to make changes to our ministry, but rather would provide stability. The Missouri District recommended this as a contracted rather than a called position. If we call a senior pastor prior to May 2025, Pastor Schudde would move out of this role at that time.

     

    Please join us for this meeting to consider this matter and keep Pastor Schudde and St. Paul’s in your prayers. This is an exciting time for our congregation as we look to the future, knowing God will provide for His people. Please review the meeting agenda and Pastor Schudde’s bio on our website.

  • Pastoral Candidate Visits

    The Call Committee is continuing its work to seek who God has in mind to be St. Paul’s next senior pastor. The committee interviewed a number of pastors in October and November by video and identified three men who we believe God has gifted for this position. These three pastors will be visiting St. Paul’s in the next few weeks, meeting with our call committee, pastors, staff, and church leaders. Please keep this process in your prayers. Feel free to direct questions or feedback to committee chair Desmond Kittelson or one of our pastors. We know that God has plans for St. Paul’s and look forward to seeing His plans unfold.

  • Tentative Voters' Meeting • Sun., March 9

    Three pastors have recently visited St. Paul’s in person, meeting with our call committee, pastors, staff, and church leaders. The committee has identified these pastors as ones we believe God has gifted for the senior pastor position, and we are hopeful to select finalists to recommend at a voters' meeting. Please keep the Call process in your prayers and feel free to direct questions or feedback to committee chair Desmond Kittelson or one of our pastors.

  • view video


    Des Kittleson, Call Committee Chairman

  • Congregational Email


    Members and friends of St. Paul's,


    On Sunday, we heard the news from the Call committee. Thus far, and at this time, God has not clearly raised up a candidate to place before the congregation voters to serve as St. Paul's next senior pastor.


    In addition, the committee requested that we join in prayer, so we are announcing:


    A Congregation Prayer Service

    Thursday, February 27 at 6:15 p.m.

    St. Paul's Sanctuary


    All are invited and encouraged to attend this service, which should last approximately 45 minutes.


    If you are unable to attend in person, we ask that you spend time in personal prayer for:

    • Our congregation
    • Our Call committee
    • The Holy Spirit's guidance
    • The pastor whom God will reveal

    In Christ,

    The pastors and ministry leaders of St. Paul's


    _________________


    Newsletter Announcement

    Service of Prayer • Thurs., Feb. 27 • 6:15pm

    Join us tonight for a congregational prayer service this Thursday. The specially-scheduled evening worship will include versicles, hymns, petitions, and time for silent prayer. During the service, which is expected to last approximately 45 minutes, we will collectively pray for our congregation, the Holy Spirit's guidance, our Call committee, and the future pastor whom God will reveal. We look forward to coming together in prayer and community.

  • Submit Names of Pastor Candidates by March 23

    As our senior pastor Call committee continues its search for our next senior pastor, we once again invite the congregation to submit names of candidates. Nomination forms are available at the east lobby information counter. 


    • President Hagan emailed the committee verifying he received our new list of names. He alerted us that the process to vet them will take some time to complete. Two issues slowing him down are the various LCMS District Conventions and the Lenten season.

    • While some in the congregation might feel that the committee did something "wrong" by starting over, please be assured that this is part of the process, and many churches also go through a restart/reassessment. 

    • As a previous district president in the Iowa West District, Pastor Sieveking (St. Paul's congregation member) thought it would be a great time to go through a devotion he presented to every call committee going through a call in Iowa West. 

    • Our committee thoroughly enjoyed the devotion and thought the members of St. Paul’s would also benefit from hearing it. As a result, we have asked Pastor Sieveking to share it in the Foundations Bible Study on June 1.