Letter to Good Shepherd re: departure and plans for a new pastor

This letter, slightly redacted, was sent to the members of Good Shepherd to alert everyone of a change in ministry at Good Shepherd and the plans as the congregation says "Goodbye" to one pastor and makes plans to welcome another.

Dear Members of Good Shepherd,

            On March 10, St. John’s Lutheran Church of Lake City, Minnesota issued a Divine Call to me to serve as their pastor.  On Sunday, April 19, I announced that I have accepted that call.

            Lake City is a city of about 5,000 on the Mississippi River.  St. John’s is a congregation of about 550 baptized members.  They have a Lutheran elementary school of about 70 with a preschool of about 30 children.  They have been without a pastor for almost two years.  The school has been working for the past three school years with a principal who had planned retirement but held on while they waited for the principal Call to be filled.  As of this writing, they are still waiting, and the current acting principal is retiring for good.  My installation at St. John’s will be Sunday, July 12.

            St. John’s had also called Laura to be a 4^th-5^th grade teacher.  For various reasons, especially that she feels this grade level is outside of her area of ability and interest, she has declined her Call to serve as teacher.

            So, what comes next for Good Shepherd?

            While plans continue to be addressed and updated, there are a few plans in place.  My final Sunday at Good Shepherd will be on June 14.  I anticipate that we will be moved out of the parsonage just a few days after that.  A definite date for the move is still to be determined.

            Good Shepherd will have an open house farewell on Sunday, June 7.  More details will come soon.

            Ken R., the church council president, has contacted  the president of the Michigan District of WELS to arrange a pre-call meeting.  This meeting will advise the District President about what particular strengths Good Shepherd hopes to find in their next pastor.  It will help him to draft a list of candidates from which Good Shepherd will extend a Divine Call.  Further inquiries about this meeting and any other input you might have can be addressed to Ken or to one of our elders, Tom B., Mark C., or Ron R.  The date for the pre-call meeting will be announced when it is set.  The meeting for actually issuing a Call will likely not take place until July. 

            While we are looking forward to our move to Lake City and the opportunities at St. John’s, we will be forever grateful for the friendships, encouragement, support, and the love that we have received from Good Shepherd over the past thirty years.

            We will continue to keep the members and acquaintances of Good Shepherd in our prayers as you make plans to receive your next pastor according to our Lord’s timing and mercy.

            God bless and keep you.

 In Christ,

Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Divine Call to St. John's Lutheran Church of Lake City, MN -- Letter of Acceptance

Here is a letter I read in church after the service on Sunday, April 19.  Commentary on the decision process, etc.... may be featured in a future blogpost.

 

April 19, 2026

St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
520 W. Chestnut Street
Lake City, Minnesota 55041-1515

Dear members of St. John’s,

            On March 10, you had called me to serve as the pastor of your congregation.  After a month of conversations with members of both St. John’s and Good Shepherd in Novi and prayerful deliberation, I have decided to accept this Divine Call to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lake City.

            In conjunction with the call to me, you have also called my wife, Laura, to teach 4^th and 5^th grades in your elementary school.  For various reasons, especially that she feels this grade level is outside of her area of ability and interest, she is declining her Call to serve as teacher.

            We are looking forward to our move to Lake City and to meet the saints who are at St. John’s.  I pray that I will be able to serve you faithfully and ask for your continued prayers to aid me in doing that.  We will be in contact with you regarding a timeline for moving and other matters.

            Please keep Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Novi in your prayers as they will make plans to receive their next pastor according to our Lord’s timing and mercy.

            God bless and keep you. 

In Christ,

Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Divine Call to St. John's Lutheran Church in Lake City, MN -- What does it mean?

NOTE: This letter will be mailed out via snail mail to all members of Good Shepherd, recognizing that not everyone will find this on my blog.

Greetings in the name of our Savior!

Dear Members of Good Shepherd,

            I announced to the congregation after the services on Wednesday, March 11 and Sunday, March 15 that I have received a Divine Call on March 10 to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lake City, Minnesota.  In addition, my wife, Laura, received a Divine Call to serve as the 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in St. John’s elementary school. 

            St. John’s has been vacant for almost two years.  It is a congregation of about 550 and has an elementary school (K-8) of almost 80 children, with an additional 26 in their pre-K program.  Lake City is a city of just over 5,000, located on the shore of the Mississippi River.

            Over the next few weeks, I will be contacting leaders at St. John’s to ask questions about their ministry, its challenges, and its potential.  I welcome members of Good Shepherd to share their concerns with me, as well as considering the challenges and potential of the congregation here.  I will not be making any decisions about this Divine Call until after Easter, and I will likely set deliberations aside during Holy Week.  I have not, however, set any deadline for myself.

            Since not everyone at Good Shepherd is familiar with our synod’s call system, I will address it here.  What does this Divine Call mean, and how does it work?

            There are currently about 160 pastoral vacancies in our synod.  When a congregation’s pastor vacates his position for any reason (accepts a new call, retires, dies, etc.), the vacant congregation arranges a local pastor to help cover the most essential duties for that congregation such as leading worship and attending Church Council meetings.  The congregation asks their district president for a list of pastors who are from our synod to ensure consistency in the doctrine that is taught and preached.  A list of three names is usually given.  The congregation has a brief description of the pastor, his family, his strengths, and his preferences, and selects from one of the three.  Then they extend a call to the pastor they have chosen.  In this way, the Holy Spirit works through the Church to call pastors to serve in a particular place.

            Once that call has been extended, the pastor has two calls—one to the congregation he had been serving, and one to the new place hoping to fill their vacancy.  The pastor, then, prayerfully deliberates where he may serve the Lord best in his Church.

            Laura has been called to be the 4-5 grade teacher in their elementary school.  The call system for teachers works similarly to that of pastors.  She has been told that she could decline her call and it would not prohibit me from accepting the call as pastor to St. John’s.

            The pastor’s decision is not based on where he will receive the best income and benefits.  The pastor’s decision is not based on which place has the prettier church or scenic views.  The pastor’s decision is not based on which congregation is bigger or deemed more glorious.  The decision is focused on where he may best serve the Lord in his Church.

            There are circumstances which must be taken into consideration.  In my case, does my continued care for cancer (although I am in remission) make a difference in where I live?  Do I have the energy to serve a congregation of that size with 45 shut-ins?  Do I have the temperament to deal with the challenges that lie ahead or the skill set to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves?  Can a pastor outlast his stay at one congregation?  Would having a new pastor give a congregation a shot of adrenaline?  These are issues I am sifting through in regard to both places.

Laura and I will be praying for St. John’s, for Good Shepherd, and for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Livonia as we assess where we can serve the Lord best in his Church.  We thank you in advance for your prayers for us.

            God bless and keep you. 

In Christ,

Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Divine Call received to St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lake City, Minnesota

On March 10, I received a Divine Call to serve as the pastor of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church  of Lake City, Minnesota.  I will be deliberating where I can best serve the Lord in his Church -- whether continuing at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan or moving to St. John's in Lake City.  A decision will not be rendered until after Easter, but I welcome any insights or words of encouragement during this time of deliberation.  Prayers are always welcome.

Below is the letter of acknowledgement which was read this past Sunday.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

March 12, 2026

St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
520 W. Chestnut Street
Lake City, Minnesota 55041-1515

Dear members of St. John’s,

            I am writing to you to acknowledge the Divine Call you have extended to me on March 10 to serve as your pastor, as well as the Divine Call you extended to my wife, Laura, to serve as the 4^th and 5^th grade teacher in your elementary school.  We are both humbled that you have extended these calls to us, and we will give prayerful deliberation to them. 

            I have received your email with the attachments and am gaining some information about the ministry at St. John’s.  I am looking forward to conversations with your leaders, as I will also be consulting with members of my current call at Good Shepherd in Novi, Michigan.  Feel free to contact me with any information you feel would help in this time of deliberation. 

My wife and I will be praying for you, for Good Shepherd, and for St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Livonia as we assess where we can serve the Lord best in his Church.  We thank you in advance for your prayers for us.

            God bless and keep you.

In Christ,
Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Divine Call Returned

This letter was read to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church this morning and, presumably, was read at Peace Lutheran Church of Wautoma, Wisconsin as well.  

Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church
335 W. Prairie Street
Wautoma, Wisconsin 54982-8447

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

After prayerful deliberation and numerous conversations, I have decided to return the Divine Call to Peace Lutheran Church and to continue serving at Good Shepherd in Novi.

I am grateful for your confidence in extending the call to me and allowing me to assess how I am serving in our Lord’s church.  I have heard nothing but good things about Peace, so there is nothing that I found which is undesirable about this call.  At the same time, there are many good things about serving where I am.  The decision was a matter of good versus good.

Our Lord loves his church, and he will continue to watch over you, bless you, and preserve you.  According to the Lord’s own timing, you can be sure that the Holy Spirit will provide the pastor he has in mind for you.  I will keep you in my prayers that your call will be answered quickly.

God bless and keep you.

                                                                                                In Christ,

                                                                                                Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

Divine Call received

On Sunday, November 19, I received a Divine Call to serve at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wautoma, Wisconsin.  Below are letters I composed.  The first is a letter of acknowledgement which was sent to Peace in Wautoma and was read at Good Shepherd on Sunday, November 26.  Below that is a letter sent to the members of Good Shepherd to explain what receiving a Divine Call means and what it does not.  

Comments, words of insight, and prayers are welcome. 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Greetings in the name of our Savior.

Dear members of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church,

I am writing to acknowledge that on Sunday, November 19, I received a Divine Call to serve as your pastor.  I thank you that you have considered me for this high privilege.

For the past 27 years, I have had the privilege of serving at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Novi, Michigan (metro Detroit).  Over the next few weeks, I will be considering the challenges and possibilities of each congregation, as well as my own strengths and weaknesses, so that I may determine, to the best of my ability, where I may serve the Lord’s kingdom best.

My wife, Laura, our family, and I welcome your prayers and your insights.

My contact information is:
Cell phone (call or text)       (248) 719-5218

Email                                      welsnovi@aol.com

Mailing address:                  41441 W. 9 Mile Road
                                                Novi, Michigan 48375-4306

God bless and keep you.

In Christ,

Pastor Thomas E. Schroeder

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Greetings in the name of our Savior.

On Sunday, November 19, I received a Divine Call to serve at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Wautoma, Wisconsin (about 90 miles north of Madison). 

The last time I held a call to another congregation was back in 2008.  Since it has been over 15 years since Good Shepherd has experienced its pastor deliberating a call to another congregation, I thought it would be worthwhile to alert you to the calling process, what it means, and what it does not mean.

The calling process:  In our synod, district presidents (similar to bishops) will assemble a list of candidates at the request of a congregation who is seeking a pastor, perhaps because the pastor from that congregation retired, died, resigned, or accepted a call elsewhere.  He presents the vacant congregation with a list of pastors who are eligible to receive and consider a call to that congregation.  The congregation does not go hunting for their own pastor or put out feelers for applicants.  We draw from within our own synod so that the doctrine and practice remain confessionally Lutheran.  Of the people on the list of potential pastors, Peace Lutheran Church in Wautoma selected me.

When a call is extended, the Holy Spirit works through a congregation to find a man who will serve them.  The call that Good Shepherd has extended to me has not been terminated; the call to Peace has been added.  Therefore, I am currently holding calls to two places where I may serve as a pastor—Good Shepherd in Novi and Peace in Wautoma.  The Holy Spirit is allowing me to decide where I can serve his church.  While neither decision would be sinful, I pray that the Lord makes it clear which decision serves his kingdom best.

What it does not mean: It does not mean that I have to move.  These are not marching orders.  It does not mean that I am looking for reasons to leave or that I am unhappy serving where I am.  I did not submit my name to be considered for the call list for Peace Lutheran Church or for any other list.  For all I know, my name has been on several lists over the past few years but was never selected.  There are currently about 190 pastoral vacancies across our synod, so the fact that a congregation called me was practically inevitable.  For what it is worth, Peace Lutheran Church in Wautoma has been without a pastor for just over a year, and a retired pastor is covering the services there.

What it does mean: Over the next few weeks, I will be communicating with people from Wautoma as well as from our congregation and others in the area to determine where I might best serve in God’s kingdom.  I welcome your prayers and your thoughts.  If you have questions about the calling process, I will gladly answer them for you.  

I don’t have a deadline right now for when I would announce a decision.  Usually, decisions are formed in about a month’s time (enabling me to assess challenges and possibilities in both locations, as well as how my own strengths and weaknesses come into play), but that puts us right up to Christmas which might affect that timing.  I will not let any announcement detract from the Christmas celebration.  Our focus should be on the Christ child, not on me.

I should also note that, as I deliberate, I will be making comments which may sound like I am staying or that I am going.  Please don’t draw any conclusions by those comments.  It is just part of how I deliberate as I consider plans as if I were going and as if I were staying. 

Once again, I welcome your insights and your prayers.

God bless and keep you.

In Christ,

Pastor Schroeder