Friends in Christ,

These have been busy days at St James with start up of fall activities, Sunday school, choirs, confirmation and celebrating the 83rd Birthday of St James. These are great days filled with excitement and anticipation of St James future ministry opportunities!

Last evening the council received the recommendation of the interim pastor Pastor Lamont Koerner. He will begin his ministry at St James on October 11th.

Here is the bio that Pastor Koerner has provided that we might know a bit more about him.

Pastor Lamont began serving in the role of Interim Pastor on behalf of the Saint Paul Area Synod in 2010. He has served eight congregations in that capacity as well as two long term calls in congregations prior to that all within the St. Paul-Minneapolis Metro Area ranging from rural exurban settings to the heart of the city, as an associate, lead, or interim pastor.

He was campus pastor at the U of M–Twin Cities for 14 years and has been a teacher, preacher, and fundraiser working in Tanzania and in Minnesota on behalf of the Saint Paul Area Synod’s companion synod relationship with the Iringa Diocese since 1999. Lamont also worked as a major gift officer for Macalester College, a fundraiser for Global Health Ministries, and worked with stewardship during his time as an Assistant to the Bishop for the Saint Paul Area Synod.

Lamont is a runner- 11 marathons in the last 10 years, a reader – never enough time for this, and loves to travel.

Thank you for the privilege of serving among you. I look forward to getting to know you.

We thank the Executive Council for their work with the St. Paul Synod office in finding an Interim pastor and we look forward to welcoming Pastor Lamont to the St James community!

God’s blessings to you all as we enjoy these crisp fall days!

Pastor Nancy