FROM THE PASTOR
Strategic Plan
Some of you have reached out asking for more details on Pastor Sally’s leave. Here is what I can tell you.
+The decision and oversight of Pastor Sally’s Administrative leave appropriately reside in the Office of Synod Bishop.
+This leave is for three months.
+The reason for the leave is solely based on health considerations.
+The office of the bishop will monitor Pastor Sally’s process in consultation with Sally and her doctors and appropriately update us.
+Our role is to pray without ceasing for Pastor Sally, her family, and St. Luke’s and its leadership and boldly pursue the mission to which God has called us.
I also want to update you on the work of the Vision Team.
At a joint in-person meeting with the Church Council and Vision Team a draft of a Strategic Plan was presented with much mutual discussion. What followed was a two-week window for Church Council to share questions, edits, feedback to the Vision Team. Next, the Vision Team will meet tonight (July 5) to produce a final draft of the Plan, Implementation Recommendations, and suggestions for an Implementation Team to lead this process. The Vision Team will make appropriate recommendations on where to assign each Strategic Plan Recommendation: either to staff, appropriate cabinet, congregation council, pastoral staff, or create a task force.
At the next Church Council Meeting a major item on the agenda will be receiving, discussing and adopting a final draft of the Strategic Plan, Implementation Process, and Implementation Team. We will then share this plan and implementation process with the entire congregation in a variety of communication platforms and opportunities for in-person and zoom discussion. This Strategic Plan for the Mission of our church will then flow into the preparation of the Ministry Site Profile (which is part of the Call Process) and the formation of a Call Committee. This Strategic Plan stands on a firm foundation. It is shaped by over one hundred interviews with our members and community and ecumenical leaders. The Vision Team proceeded with the rock-solid belief that the Holy Spirit animates this mission plan and will move it into being.
I am scheduled to lead worship at Saint Luke in Chicago this coming Sunday, but have have arranged for a supply pastor to lead worship there so that I can lead worship and be with you on Sunday. I also look forward to answering any questions you might have. Let us remember the second lesson from last Sunday: “let us bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
In Christ’s love,
Pastor Stephen Bouman