Update on Pastoral Call Process and Ministry Work

Letter from St. Paul's Congregational President and Chairman of the Board of Elders

March 18, 2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We are writing this letter to update you on the state of the two called pastor vacancies. St. Paul’s is a blessed confessional congregation with a history of outstanding pastors and staff and many active and supportive members. St. Paul’s is completing our third building project in the past 12 years with the mission to “Strengthen the Saved; Save the Lost.”

As most of you know, the prior call committee worked diligently for nearly two years without God leading a senior pastor to our congregation. The current call committee that the voters approved in February has worked through the names of 60-plus pastors and is in the process of scheduling video conferences. God willing, the voters will be asked to issue a call for a new senior pastor in early fall.

On Sunday, March 8, we said farewell to Pastor Thompson and his family after three and a half years of service to St. Paul’s. The Thompsons were a blessing to St. Paul’s and will now be a blessing to Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, MO.

Pastor Schudde has done an outstanding job as vacancy senior pastor for over one and a half years. His current contract expires at the end of May 2026, and he has agreed to continue to serve at St. Paul’s for another six months (or less if we receive a new senior pastor). He was not expecting to be here this long, and we are grateful for his service and dedication.

St. Paul’s ministry has not paused. The Board of Elders, church leadership, pastors, and church and school staff are all working diligently to maintain the quality of spiritual guidance and leadership, preaching, education, and pastoral care that we have been blessed to receive previously. Please continue to reach out to any of us with your concerns or ideas about the transition going forward. The completion of the building project as part of the ministry expansion campaign will be exciting over the summer months. We encourage and pray that everyone take part in the opening and dedication ceremonies as the ministry at St. Paul’s expands well beyond the walls of our church.

Listed below, we provide answers to frequent questions we have received from members of the congregation.

Tim Unger,

Chairman, Board of Elders

John Krause,

President of Congregation

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why don't we call a candidate from Spring Placement at the seminary to fill the assistant pastor role?

• Answer: The timing of our need was late. The filing deadline had passed; most of the candidates had already completed interviews and were in the process of being assigned to congregations.

2. What will be the focus of the Call Committee, and will we need a second Call Committee? 

• Answer: The Call Committee will remain focused on calling a senior pastor at this time. Currently we plan to form a new call committee to call an assistant pastor once a senior pastor is in place. It is difficult to get a pastor from the field (another congregation) to accept a call when we do not have a senior pastor in place. We also want the senior pastor to have the opportunity to shape his ministry.

3. Will we be getting another vacancy pastor to assist?

• Answer: No. We have many pastors within the congregation who are willing to step up and serve in the short term with Sunday preaching, liturgy, and Bible class. We will also use our resident field workers assigned to us by our seminary to assist with confirmation instruction.

4. What about Pastor Schudde? Doesn't his contract with St. Paul's end on May 31?

• Answer: Pastor Schudde has been kind enough to agree to stay for another six months as we go through the call process again. While we did not expect to need a vacancy pastor for this long, Pastor Schudde is filling a vital leadership role in our congregation, and we appreciate his willingness to stay and assist our congregation.

5. Who will make at-home visits?

• Answer: Pastor Prange continues to serve as the lead in providing care to our homebound. Other pastors, both past and present, have also stepped in to assist.

6. Will a pastor be making hospital calls?

• Answer: Yes, these continue to be made by our pastors. We are also in the process of equipping our elders to make “care visits” in some cases.

St. Paul's Vision Statement

"To be devoted followers of Jesus Christ, passionate about sharing the Gospel in word and deed."