St. Paul Pastoral Profile Survey – Executive Summary

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Wallis, Texas

Pastoral Profile Survey

Executive Summary

December 6, 2017

 

The Pastoral Profile Survey was administered and available to members of St. Paul Lutheran Church from approximately October 12, 2017 until November 14, 2017. Seventeen individuals responded to the survey.

 

With respect to the skills and characteristics of St. Paul’s next pastor, respondents:

  1. Expressed a relative preference for a pastor who prioritizes assisting the congregation in outreach, leading worship, and exerting skill and energy in preaching;
  2. Expressed a relative preference for a pastor who develops leaders, while expressed a relative lack of preference for a pastor who is an innovator;
  3. Expressed a relative preference for a pastor who preaches sermons that relate to current issues or matters of life and include metaphors or stories, while expressing a relative lack of preference for a pastor who preaches sermons that call for action;
  4. Expressed a relative preference for a pastor who teaches youth confirmation classes and who provides spiritual formation for individual Christians;
  5. Expressed a relative preference for a pastor who is skilled in visitation of the elderly and a modest preference for a pastor who is skilled in youth ministry.

 

With respect to the characteristics of St. Paul congregation, respondents:

  1. Expressed a relative preference for a traditional and/or blended style of worship;
  2. Expressed a relative preference for a communion policy that administers the sacrament to those who have been educated in what Scripture teaches about the sacrament;
  3. See a wide variety of ministries as available to men in the church;
  4. See a smaller, but significant, variety of ministries as available to women in the church;
  5. Expressed a strong interest in moving out into the community with a ministry led by the congregation.

 

The call committee is strongly advised to take into account the results of this survey when considering a list of candidates for the position, and the congregation is strongly advised to consider the results of the survey when issuing a call. It will be important to ascertain potential pastors’ skills and characteristics in regard to the items in the second paragraph above and his preferences in regard to the items in the paragraph immediately above.

Call Committee Update

Updated August 24, 2017


In case you don’t know, the Call Committee consists of:

Jan Johnson            Congregational President

Steve Trojacek         Trustee

Caroline Osborne    Board of Christian Education Member

Larry Foltz                Elder and Financial Secretary

Mark Woolley          Elder

Steve Grissom          Elder and Congressional Vice President


Highlight of Actions: Proposed Agenda for the Call Committee was presented and discussed:

  • Jan is chairing the Call Committee
  • Mark is the Recording Secretary
  • All members will participate as we step through the procedure to develop call recommendations that we will place in front of the congregation for discussion and a vote.
  • Steve G developed a contact document with questions we will ask the supply pastors for consistency in what we ask them.
  • Jan and Steve G developed a scheduling spreadsheet to assist in keeping track of pastors who have committed to provide Pulpit Supply.

There is a lot of competition for Supply Pastors. So far we have only been able to get 4 or 5 to commit. Many are already committed as vacancy pastors at other churches. We are hopeful that as vacation season winds down, there may be more available to St. Paul.

We have met with the circuit visitor (formerly known as “district counselor”) and the MMF (Mission and Ministry Facilitator) in early August to discuss the call process as it relates to the St. Paul congregation.

There were several options discussed for filling our vacancy. Each of these have their challenges:

  • Full Time Pastor (would increase the budget by over $50, 000/Yr. minimum. This option would require a significant increase in giving from each member but is the favored solution to the vacancy.)
  • Shared Parish (requires another parish in vacancy to agree, requires changes in church operation – worship schedule for one or both churches.)
  • Seminary Graduate (Not enough available – 150 requests for 100 graduates)
  • Vicar (One year or less commitment to St. Paul.)
  • Retired Pastor looking for a smaller church to serve.
  • Lay (colloquy) Pastor (Needs a willing member that is called to serve as pastor and would be willing to train.)

We are currently waiting for the Circuit Visitor to provide feedback to the Call Committee on the status of his discussions with other vacant parishes in the circuit. If non are willing to share then that option is off of the table for St. Paul.

Blessings,

Elder Steve – webmaster

Sermon Archive

If you would like to re-read past sermons, they are archived under the “sermons” tab at the top of the home page. They extend from July 2, 2017 all the way back to August 19, 2012.

A shortcut way to access them is to click a month/year link under “Archives” on the right side of the home page where you will notice monthly archive links. Under those you can find the sermons posted for that particular month. If you click on the header that contains the “Sermon for” and a date, it will display the sermon that was posted for that date.

Blessings,

Elder Steve – webmaster

Note to those that Visit the St. Paul Website

Pastor Raymond Spitzenburger elected to retire effective after the July 2nd service. Pastor Ray has faithfully served St. Paul for 28 years and will be greatly missed. He plans to continue his many projects in writing, painting and other pursuits including writing a book as he enters his retirement.

St. Paul will be working with the Texas District of the LCMS to find a new Pastor for St. Paul. We all want to offer our prayers for Pastor Ray as he transitions into being a retiree and author. We were blessed in having him as our Pastor and will miss him.

Refurbished Steeple Installed

The six brave men who hoisted the refurbished church steeple onto the roof on May 31, 2017, are (left to right) Jan Johnson, Steve Grissom, Seth Green, Gary Davis, Mark Woolley, and Steve Trojacek. Larry Foltz (not present) was instrumental in getting the steeple refinished.

The six brave men who hoisted the refurbished church steeple onto the roof on May 31, 2017, are (left to right) Jan Johnson, Steve Grissom, Seth Green, Gary Davis, Mark Woolley, and Steve Trojacek. Larry Foltz (not present) was instrumental in getting the steeple refinished.

Gary Davis pictured putting the final touches on the steeple installation

Gary Davis pictured putting the final touches on the steeple installation

Pictures from Recent St. Paul Events

Peggy Spitzenberger, at one end of the table, and Caroline Osborne, at the other end, service tea to the ladies attending the LWML Ladies' Tea.

Peggy Spitzenberger, at one end of the table, and Caroline Osborne, at the other end, service tea to the ladies attending the LWML Ladies’ Tea.

Rev. Reinke has John Geiger portray a deaf man during his  Mission Festival sermon.

Rev. Reinke has John Geiger portray a deaf man during his
Mission Festival sermon.

Pastor Reinke of Lutheran World Deaf Ministry delivering the sermon on Mission Festival.

Pastor Reinke of Lutheran World Deaf Ministry delivering the sermon on Mission Festival.

Rev. John Reinke demonstrates on Pastor Ray the proper attire for older men in some parts of Africa.

Rev. John Reinke demonstrates on Pastor Ray the proper attire for older men in some parts of Africa.

Pictures from the Christmas Program

Left to Right, Back Row, Becky Jungklaus, Cassidy Brzozowski, Jan Johnson, and Joanie Murdoch; Sitting are Brooklyn, Dylan, and London.

Left to Right, Back Row, Becky Jungklaus, Cassidy Brzozowski, Jan Johnson, and Joanie Murdoch; Sitting are Brooklyn, Dylan, and London.

Mark Woolley playing and singing "Christmas Hallelujah" for the Christmas Day service.

Mark Woolley playing and singing “Christmas Hallelujah” for the Christmas Day service.

December 4th – St. Paul Historical Marker Dedication

Jan Johnson, Congregational President, as Master of Ceremonies introducing the speakers for St. Paul's Historical Marker Program on Dec. 4.

Jan Johnson, Congregational President, as Master of Ceremonies introducing the speakers for St. Paul’s Historical Marker Program on Dec. 4.

Robert Osborne is shown unveiling the St. Paul Historical Marker at the site after the Dedication Program.

Robert Osborne is shown unveiling the St. Paul Historical Marker at the site after the Dedication Program.

Peggy Spitzenberger getting ready to cut the special Marker Dedication celebration cake during the brunch held after the program.  A replica of the old church built in 1901 rests on top of the cake.

Peggy Spitzenberger getting ready to cut the special Marker Dedication celebration cake during the brunch held after the program. A replica of the old church built in 1901 rests on top of the cake.

Cheryl Davis, Chairperson of the Maker Dedication Committee, shown speaking with Robert Osborne and Rev. Scott Stallings after the unveiling.

Cheryl Davis, Chairperson of the Maker Dedication Committee, shown speaking with Robert Osborne and Rev. Scott Stallings after the unveiling.

Left to right, Rev. Ray Spitzenberger, Carole Foltz, a City-of-Wallis Alderman, Maxine Cates, and Judy Stallings at the Brunch after the Marker Dedication.

Left to right, Rev. Ray Spitzenberger, Carole Foltz, a City-of-Wallis Alderman, Maxine Cates, and Judy Stallings at the Brunch after the Marker Dedication.

Annie Mae Korenek, a lifetime member of St. Paul's reads the church history embossed on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Historical Marker.

Annie Mae Korenek, a lifetime member of St. Paul’s reads the church history embossed on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Historical Marker.

LWML Food Booth Pictures

Cheryl Davis making kolaches for the Food Booth the day before the citywide event.

Cheryl Davis making kolaches for the Food Booth the day before the citywide event.

Maxine Cates busy preparing kolaches for the LWML Food Booth.

Maxine Cates busy preparing kolaches for the LWML Food Booth.

The St. Paul LWML had an assembly line going on Nov. 11 to make kolaches for their Food Booth at the Wallis Citywide Garage Sale on Nov. 12.

The St. Paul LWML had an assembly line going on Nov. 11 to make kolaches for their Food Booth at the Wallis Citywide Garage Sale on Nov. 12.

Peggy Spitzenberger is bagging  up cookies to be sold at the LWML Food Booth.

Peggy Spitzenberger is bagging up cookies to be sold at the LWML Food Booth.

Cheryl Davis and Maxine Cates busy making kolaches for the LWML Food Booth on Nov. 12.

Cheryl Davis and Maxine Cates busy making kolaches for the LWML Food Booth on Nov. 12.

Maxine Cates, Judy Stallings, Caroline Osborne, Annie Mae  Korenek, and Pauline Koening waiting for customers to arrive at the LWML Food Booth on Saturday, November 12, 2016.

Maxine Cates, Judy Stallings, Caroline Osborne, Annie Mae
Korenek, and Pauline Koening waiting for customers to arrive at the LWML Food Booth on Saturday, November 12, 2016.

The men came to watch the ladies work at the LWML Food Booth, left to right, Gary Davis, Pastor Ray, and Robert Osborne.

The men came to watch the ladies work at the LWML Food Booth, left to right, Gary Davis, Pastor Ray, and Robert Osborne.