Lead (Senior) Pastor Call Committee
  
   
   
  July 1st, 2008 Update:

The Call Committee has updated the detailed CONGREGATIONAL PROFILE (PDF) about our history, mission and values.
   
   
 

March 13th, 2008 Update:

With the completion of the church profile, we are excited that the transition phase of the call process is complete. We have been contacted by a number of pastors hearing God’s call to move to a new ministry and our synod has also provided us with excellent candidates that have expressed an interest in being part of Grace’s call process. We have interviewed a number of candidates with more interviews to be arranged. So far all of the candidates have talents and gifts that would serve Grace in wonderful ways. The committee soon will have the difficult task of determining which candidate God has already chosen for us.

It is our desire for the process to be as open as possible, while still protecting the privacy of the candidates. If you have any questions regarding our progress you are invited to contact anyone on the call committee. We will do our best to answer your questions.

The members of the call committee believe prayer is fundamental in determining the will of our Lord in this process. We spend a significant amount of our time together and individually in prayer for guidance with our important task. We sincerely request you keep both the call committee and our new pastor in your prayers, and we thank you for the many prayers we know have already been raised.
   
   
  February 28th, 2008 Update:

With the completion of Grace's congregational profile, we are excited that the transition phase of the call process is complete. We are beginning to interview candidates and complete the search for the pastor God has chosen for us. We have been contacted by a number of pastors hearing God’s call to move to a new ministry and our synod has also provided us with candidates that have expressed an interest in being part of Grace’s call process.

It is our desire for the process to be as open as possible, while still protecting the privacy of the candidates. If you have any questions regarding our progress you are invited to contact anyone on the call committee. We will do our best to answer your questions.

All the members of the call committee ask that you keep us and our new pastor in your prayers, and thank you for the prayers that have already been raised.

Are you a pastor searching for the place that the Lord is calling you?
 One of the recurring sayings at Grace is “ Welcome, we believe the Lord has led you here”. Everyone on the call committee knows that God has chosen our new pastor. By coming to this page, we believe the Lord has led you here. We ask you to pray about the call that Grace has for a new lead pastor. If the Lord continues to lead you to Grace Lutheran Church, please email Carole Ryan or David Williams, the call committees co-chair persons, to become part of our call process.

Praying for all of God’s blessing to be yours.
The Call Committee
   
   
  February 27th, 2008 Update:

The Call Committee has prepared a SENIOR PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION for prospective candidates.
   
   
   
 

February 10th, 2008 Update:

The Call Committee has identified four key gifts desired in our new leader as identified by the feedback from
January's Congregational Assessment.

These desired gifts are:
1) Strong Preachers
2) Shepherd
3) Administration & Team Building
4) Evangelism & Outreach
   
 

January 5th, 2008 Update:

Currently, the Call Committee is gathering information that will be used to create a profile of the church. Information is being gathered through various methods such as discussions with existing Pastors, both current and retired, research with staff and executive committees, and questionnaires. All of the information will be summarized into a document that will be presented as the Grace Church profile. The profile will be shared with potential candidates for the Lead Pastor position. It will provide information regarding membership of our church, the theological view of the congregation, and our expectations for the new Pastor, and the broader community in which we worship.

Please download and print this CONGREGATIONAL ASSESSMENT (PDF) and return it to the church by January 20th.

Know of somebody that would make a great Senior Pastor? Use our Nomination Form to recommend them!

   
  October 21, 2007 Update:

Our congregational meeting approved and commissioned the following members as the official Call Committee for our new Senior Pastor. This group brings a balanced representation of who we are as a church.
 
   
   
LINUS BUSS
Grace is important because it is where I worship and receive the sacraments. I believe it teaches and preaches the work and word of God and has a proper purpose statement. I have been married for 49 years to Arlene and we attend the GLORY (8:45am) worship gathering. I sing in the choir and am the volunteer HR representative. I have served as the treasurer and on the administrative team. I came to faith as a child and have been at Grace since 1985.

 
     
   
BOB EGGINK
My wife Patty and I started coming to Grace in 2000. God answered our prayers when we asked for personal friendships, in a church environment. I have been aware of God’s power through the Holy Spirit since I was 20. He showed and proved to me that He was real, and years later I surrendered myself to Jesus at the communion rail at Grace. He brought mercy to my broken heart and let me know I was in his hands. We have adult children and grandchildren that live in Downey. We attend the GLORY (8:45am) worship gathering. I have been involved in ushering, Café Grace, Men Of Grace, Life Groups, Wild at Heart, the men’s retreat, and have helped with SHIP.

 
     
   
JOHN KNOX
My wife Geneva and I attend the GLORY (8:45am) worship gathering and Ray Anderson’s class afterwards. We love the Wednesday night Word and Power and feel that Grace is just a good place to be. Grace is like my second home/family. I was raised Baptist and had very active parents in the church. I married Geneva, a long time Lutheran and attended church with her. We have adult children and grandchildren. In 1989 we had a family crisis and my daughter in law, Debbie, called one of the Grace pastors to help us. Pastor Mel came over and helped us through a tough time. We started attending Grace as a result of his ministry to us and became members in 1990. I attended Alpha when it first started. Later, I went to Cursillo – God lit me up there! I help with the coffee service and ushering, served on the finance committee, was on a committee with the interim pastor after Pastor John left, have been an Alpha table leader, and am in a life group with Pastor Joe on Wednesday mornings. I can’t imagine not going to Grace!

 
     
   
CHRISTINE MCGRAW
I am a new addition to Grace and came in 2006. My husband, Duncan, and I feel called to this congregation and worship at the JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gathering. This is the congregation we are committed to, not only for our own spiritual growth, but for that of our children as well. I was raised Lutheran and being part of a Lutheran congregation is important to us. I accepted Christ as my Savior at a Lutheran summer camp at age 12 and experienced an adult “born again” experience at a Cursillo weekend 11 years ago. My 3 year old daughter Amy attends Grace’s preschool and Maia (age 1) will also attend when she is old enough. Our plan is to send our daughters to the elementary school as well. I am part of the JOURNEY worship team and am the primary lay person involved with the Experiential Worship team that started in January. I am in the Monday morning women’s Bible study and have attended Alpha.

 
     
   
CAROLE RYAN
Grace Lutheran is important to me because it is the ONLY Lutheran church I could find that had sound Bible teaching and was open to the working of the Holy Spirit. Grace is my extended family and I have been a member since 1992. I was raised Lutheran as my parents were involved in planting a mission church in the Naples area of Long Beach. I attend the Saturday night worship gathering because it’s easier for my parents to attend that service, but I also enjoy the GLORY (8:45am) worship gathering. I am an Alpha table leader, serve on the Women Of Grace Leadership Board, Disciple Bible Study, Prayer Ministry Team, four previous Call Committees, Church Council, and that’s just a sampling of the teams I have worked with. 		 
     
   
SCOTT SCHUSTER
I have been married to my wife, Jennie, for over 16 years and have a son, Isaac. We became Grace church members in 2005. We regularly attend the JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gathering. I am involved in Alpha, Op-Con, leadership at JOURNEY, and participated in Cleansing Stream. I also served on the search team for Leah Niesl, our new Director of Children’s Ministry.		  
     
   
JOHN VELIQUETTE
Grace Lutheran has a significant impact in the spiritual growth of my family and my personal walk with God. My wife Andrea and I were married at Grace and are both active in our membership. We have 3 adult children. Two of my children are local and went through confirmation and are currently members of Grace. We believe and strongly support the ELCA values, guidelines and practices. We are blessed to follow and support the long-standing Lutheran heritage that is maintained and practiced at Grace. My parents were active in the Southern Baptist Church and had great influence on my early spiritual growth. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal savior at age 12 and was baptized at age 13. I attend the JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gathering, but occasionally attend the Saturday Night worship too. I am involved in the Men Of Grace, Celebrate Recovery, Potter’s Wheel, Alpha, Cursillo, Coffee and Ushering. I just completed my certification as a Christian Counselor and have a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. 		 
     
   
MARK WARDLE
Going to church is part of what my wife, Betty, and I do because it’s who we are. We previously attended Pastor Dale’s former church and I served on a transition team at that church when Dale left. We are relatively new to Grace (since 2006), but have been believers for awhile. I came to faith because Betty made me (I am a slow cooker!). She wanted to raise the kids (now 20 and 17) in the church, and I promised for one month I would go. After the month was up, I wanted to keep going, so I belonged before I believed. We attend the JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gathering and occasionally the Saturday night worship. I have attended Wild at Heart and help run the sound board when Mark Ahrens needs me. 		 
     
   
BOBBY WIEGMAN
My super wife Valerie and I, along with my two sons (Dylan age 10 and Jeremy age 7) came to Grace in 2004. We came to faith at Grace and it is foundational to our family. We attend the JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gathering. I have been involved in the search team process for our Executive Pastor, Ben Unseth, and our Director of Children’s Ministry, Leah Niesl. I believe the Senior Pastor qualities we need will be with whomever the Lord brings us…He’s already provided us with the best in the past and I know He’ll do it again!		  
     
   
SUSIE WEBB
My husband Alan and I have been at Grace since 1976 and feel it is our home. Alan and I were married here, my daughter and son were confirmed and married here, and some of my grandchildren were baptized here. I was baptized at 6 months and have been a believer and part of a church all my life. I am the Mentor Mom for the MOPS group (preschool moms that meet at Grace), send out the email Prayer Chain Requests, have taught at the preschool for 18 years, and served on various boards (Stewardship, Congregational Life, and Community Services), and have served on the Call Committee for Pastor John. 		 
     
   
JUNE WELTON
I am a “Cradle Lutheran” and have been active in the church all of my life. I have had a number of profound spiritual experiences in my lifetime, and God has always been the center of my life. Paul and I have been members of Grace for 25 years, and we have a deep love for this church. I have served in numerous volunteer capacities in the church and Synod, and I was a member of the Grace staff as Director of Parish Education for more than 20 years. I consider it an honor as well as an awesome responsibility to be part of the Call Committee as we look forward to beginning the next chapter in the life of the church with new pastoral leadership. 		 
     
   
DAVID WILLIAMS
Grace is my home family church since 1994. I married my wife Terri here, and my children were baptized here. My in-laws (Dave and Peggy Frostad) also attend, so we are a multi-generational family. I was raised Christian and re-affirmed my faith after college and am continuing to grow my faith. My family attends both the GLORY (8:45am) and JOURNEY (10:30am) worship gatherings, but we really miss the old 9:30am gathering format from years ago. I am an Op-Con leader and worked on the search team to find Leah Niesl for the Director of Children’s Ministry position. 		 
     

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