April 2022 Update

With the departure of Pastors Rhonda and Eric Bostrom we will need to fill two vitally important staff positions. As with any change, this serves as an opportunity to reflect on and create what is both best and currently viable for the ministry.

Last month I reported on the immediate coverages that would be in place in the Scroll and on our website. This month I will focus on the processes involved in growing our staff.

First and foremost, we must approach this process as a new beginning. Any attempt to “replace” someone is flawed. We don’t want to imply that Pastors Rhonda and Eric are replaceable. Nor do we want to imply that the new staff members have to be just like the Bostroms. We are seeking to grow in new directions and leverage the strengths of those God brings to us.

Search begins for a Mission & Outreach Coordinator

As a reminder, there is a clergy shortage that has reached crisis levels. About one-fourth of all full-time calls in ELCA Nebraska congregations remain vacant. At the national level, about ten percent of ELCA full-time calls are vacant. This means that Sheridan will seek only one pastoral candidate. This is the reality given the nature of the shortage, and it is also our effort to be a strong and fair partner with the greater church. One upside of seeking only one pastor is that the hiring process for the second position can begin quickly. Call processes are lengthy and hiring can happen more easily and therefore more quickly.

The hiring process will begin soon. We are seeking a Coordinator for Missions and Outreach. This position will report to Pastor Michelle Oetken. The tasks for the new position will be to administer all current mission and outreach activities while also cultivating more involvement in local partnerships (which have waned because of the pandemic). As a ministry, we seek to foster and sustain lasting relationships that will transform lives – both the lives of the recipients and our lives in faith.

I am very excited about this new position and I anticipate it will be an attractive position for potential candidates.

Call Process for Associate Pastor

The call process will also begin soon for an Associate Pastor who will coordinate Pastoral Care and Adult Faith Formation. A Call Committee has been established and approved by Council in March. The Call Committee will then create a “Ministry Site Profile” which gets uploaded through the Nebraska Synod and then is made available to interested pastoral candidates. We anticipate this will take place in the weeks leading up to Easter.

In mid-May we anticipate beginning conversations with candidates. These candidates will come to us from a variety of places. Some will be referred by others (if you know of a potential candidate, please let me know!), while others will be referred to us by the Bishop’s office of the Nebraska Synod. Still others will investigate and find our profile and will reach out to us.

All candidates will be vetted through multiple interviews, research, etc. The Call Committee will ultimately vote to bring a recommendation to the Council. The Council will vote to take a candidate to the congregation and you, the congregation, will vote to extend a call. With God’s blessing, we hope to have a new pastor at Sheridan by the time school begins.

Thank You

Thank you for your prayers over these processes. Thank you for your patience, as your staff goes “above and beyond” to continue the ministry in an uncompromised way. Thank you for your continued support. We walk by faith and by sight, while also believing that Sheridan is an amazing community that will attract effective, healthy and vibrant leaders. We pray it be so.

Written by Pastor Greg Bouvier