We are in the process of finalizing our interview questions in preparation for upcoming mock interviews. These will take place in the next few weeks.

Hope’s Mission Site Profile (MSP) Entry 2

Below are results of the surveys YOU provided to the Transition Team during our in-person, Zoom and online forums. The Call Committee is focusing our first-round questions on these topics that YOU have selected.

The five most critical tasks required in this position (in no particular order):

- Evangelism/Mission

- Innovation/Creativity

-Inter-personal Climate

- Building a sense of community

- Preaching/Worship

Gifts for Ministry: Top Priority

- Help people develop their spiritual life

- Build a sense of community among the people

- Be an effective communicator

- Be an effective teacher

- Be creative and innovative about his or her tasks

Gifts for Ministry: Very Helpful

- Provide care and nurture

- Skilled at planning and leading programs

- Deal effectively with conflict

- Be able to share leadership and work in a team

- Bring joy and good humor to relationships

The Call Committee has met each week since June 25, 2025. Our initial work includes organizing the interview process, including developing interview questions and meeting with Pr. Jen Kiefer, our liaison from the Synod Office. Pr. Keifer's roll is to provide coaching and candidates for us to interview. In the next few weeks, we look forward to feedback from two mock interviews in preparation for the first round of interviews.

Here is what you can do:

1) Pray for the Holy Spirit's presence with the Call Committee and all candidates as we move through the interview process

2) Nominate candidates: Yes, Synod office will be providing candidates, but each of you, as members who travel and have served in other congregations, are also able to lift up names.

The process to nominate candidates is as follows:

- Open, print, and complete the Pastoral Candidate Nomination Form (he link is in blue)

- Turn the form into one of the pastors or any member of the Call Committee

- The candidate will then be lifted up to the Synod Office as the process to communicate with candidates outside our synod is Bishop to Bishop

Each week, we will provide pieces of our Ministry Site Profile (MSP) document, which is the print representation of Hope, to our candidates. From this document, all questions for interviews will be developed and the synod office will match candidates whose gifts match the priorities that you provided in our Transition Team Forums (thank you!). Two printed copies of this document are posted on the bulletin board in the Welcome Center for all to read.

Hope’s MSP Entry 1:

MSP Summary Statement: Our mission is to seek, make, and be disciples of Jesus Christ in God's church, community, and world. We are seeking a Senior Pastor with creative vision to lead our mission of outreach, social ministry, discipleship, and growth. We are an inclusive and affirming community, offering diverse worship, welcoming all backgrounds and life experiences that embraces the variety and energy of our region, loving others and God in the way of Jesus.