Your Transition Task Force (Judy Jensen, Jim Soleim, Miriam Ring, Jim Collins) appointed by the church council, has been hard at work since January gathering information to complete a document called the Ministry Site Profile (MSP). This MSP will act as a guiding document to support the Call Committee through their process. It provides:

· Information about the congregation and a description of the leadership needs which will guide their work. Information gathered from your months long strategic planning process in 2019 and results from the recent survey of the congregation in which 114 people participated.

· Direction for the synod staff in recommending candidates for consideration by the call committee.

· A picture of the congregation to prospective candidates as they consider serving the congregation.

The Ministry Site Profile (MSP) for St James is now ready for the congregation to review. It will be available in print copies at the church starting Sunday, April 30th. The MSP will also be posted on our website for those who wish to access it digitally.

We will hold a congregational Town Hall Meeting on Sunday, May 14th, at 10:30 a.m. (immediately following the 9:30 a.m. worship service).

At the town hall meeting the Transition Task Force will briefly present the MSP for your review. Our call committee will be at this meeting and Deacon Krista Lind, who is the Saint Paul Area Synod staff person who will be working with the call committee will also be present. The meeting ends with an affirmation of the MSP and description of the needed skills and abilities that it describes.

The purpose of this meeting is to gain clear congregational buy-in, and ensure a common ground of understanding between congregation, synod, and call committee.

Read and familiarize yourself with the MSP document and make every effort to be present for our Town Hall Meeting on May 14th at 10:30a.m. These are important and exciting times as we begin the search for our new lead pastor.

Grace & Peace, Pastor Lamont