Transition

Trinity in Owatonna

Life has been pretty much a whirlwind in the last few weeks.  As has been noted on the Network’s Facebook page, Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna, Minnesota has extended a call for me to come and serve as a pastor.  After a lot of conversations, thought and prayer, I have decided to accept this call.  My final day at Lord of Life Lutheran Church will be July 14.  I will begin at Trinity on August 4.

The decision to accept a new call, to move our family, to sell a home, buy a home and start something totally new was a big decision.  But we believe that this is the right thing for our family, and that the Holy Spirit put this opportunity directly in my path.  It’s hard to ignore the Holy Spirit sometimes.

So we’re excited…sad…nervous and full of anticipation, all at the same time.

One of the questions I’ve been asked quite a bit was “what does this mean for your work with the Network?”  Good question.

At the beginning of the process, I had to spend time explaining to the call committee what the Network was, what my role within it is, and what we do together.  I explained that while I’m sensing a call to something new, I don’t necessarily feel called out of my Network role yet.

Later in the call process, one of the committee members explained that “as we spoke with your references, and they explained the Network and its impact, we began to realize what an important role it plays in the life of the church.  People told us that the Network is on the front end of change in the church.  We want to be a part of that.  We’ve always supported the broader church…so we think that it’s important for you to maintain this role.  We’d like to write it into your call papers.”

I was floored.  And I’m reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to be a part of congregations who understand what it is to be church together.  And so the short answer to the question is: I will continue in my role.  My work with the Network has been in a constant state of evolution; every year the nature of my role with the Network has changed, as my role has changed, my family grown, as technology has shifted and as the Network has grown.  So I anticipate that this will continue.  As my congregation and role changes, the way the work happens will shift, we’ll rely more on our incredible volunteers, and the Network will continue to evolve.  And that is a good thing.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask!  And please pray for me and my family in the transition.

Networked in Christ,
Todd

Published by tbuegler

Husband, father, reader, guitar player, pastor, a person who is really banking on that whole grace thing! View all posts by tbuegler