"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

As he had announced Sunday, January 4, 2009, Pastor Paul retired on May 31, 2009 and has now moved to Chandler, Texas.  This page is designed to help members be aware of Divine Call procedures and our progress toward calling a new Pastor for Christ Lutheran Church.

UPDATE OF OCTOBER 31, 2010

Pastor Grunklee and his family plan to arrive in Lubbock in mid-November.  Installation will be held as soon as Texas District personnel's schedules permit.

UPDATE OF OCTOBER 3, 2010

UPDATE OF SEPTEMBER 26, 2010

During the special Call meeting Sunday, September 12, 2010, the congregation voted to extend a call to the Rev. Corey Grunklee, Associate Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bay City MI.  We anxiously await his decision. 

His bio is available here.

UPDATE OF MARCH 21, 2010

Jim McDonald, Call Committee Chairman, announced this morning that Pastor Sedlmayr has declined our call.  The Call Committee will reconvene and consider other candidates.

UPDATE OF FEBRUARY 14, 2010

Click here for a copy of Pastor Sedlmayr's letter of acknowledgement.  Continue to pray for God's will to be done.

UPDATE OF FEBRUARY 9, 2010

In a specially-called congregational meeting on Sunday, February 7, 2010, a unanimous decision was reached to extend a Call to Pastor Roger Sedlmayr, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fargo ND.  Ask God to bless his deliberations as he considers where God chooses him to serve.

UPDATE OF NOVEMBER 15, 2009

The Call Committee has interviewed Pastor Roger Sedlmayr, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fargo ND, on two different occasions.  Because he has shown interest in serving our congregation, we have extended an invitation to him and his wife to come to Lubbock for a visit.  The tentative schedule is January 28 - 30, 2010.  Pastor Sedlmayr is 51 years old and he has four children, but only one (a boy in the 7th grade) is still at home.  Pastor Sedlmayr has indicated to us that he is willing to move if the Lord guides him to do so.

UPDATE OF NOVEMBER 1, 2009

Word was received that Pastor Lentz has declined the Call.  Ask for God's blessings as the congregation considers who will receive the next Call.

UPDATE OF OCTOBER 11, 2009

In a specially-called congregational meeting attended by approximately 50 voting members, a decision was made to extend a Call to Rev. Kevin Lentz.  Ask for God's blessings on Pastor Lentz's deliberation.

UPDATE OF OCTOBER 4, 2009

The Call committee has reached a unanimous decision to recommend that the congregation extend a Call to Rev. Kevin Lentz.  Pastor Lentz is currently serving Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas, as an Associate Pastor.  A special congregational meeting will be held Sunday, October 11th, after the morning service.  A vote to call Pastor Lentz will be held at that time.  All voting members (communicant members age 18 or over) are encouraged to attend.

UPDATE OF AUGUST 25, 2009

The Call list was received last week and contains the following names:

Nominated by Christ Lutheran Church and placed on the list:
Rev. Andrew T. Fields, Grace Lutheran Church, Atlanta GA
Rev. Eric D. Hiner, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Denton TX
Rev. David E. Schatte, Trinity Lutheran Church, Amarillo TX

Rev. Donal Widger, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs CO, was deemed ineligible as he had been in his present position less than three years.

Others nominated by the Texas District President:
Rev. Michael Damery, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Decatur IL
Rev. Brian W. Handrich, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Flemington NJ
Rev. Edwin T. Harkey, Lutheran Church of the Way, Raynham MA
Rev. Chris E. Johnson, Grace Lutheran Church, Victoria TX
Rev. Dr. Alan W. Korinek, Lubbock TX (no current assignment)
Rev. Kevin D. Lentz, Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin TX
Rev. Noel Sean Parker, Humble TX (no current assignment)
Rev. Roger M. Sedlmayr, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fargo ND
Rev. Phillip W. Talley, Melissa TX (no current assignment)
Rev. Richard T. Turner, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Groves TX
Rev. Andrew Doenges Whaley, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Plano TX
 

UPDATE OF JUNE 14, 2009

The Call documents have been forwarded to Texas District President Hennings, and we now await a Call list.  The following Pastors were nominated for consideration by President Hennings:

Rev. Andrew Fields, Grace Lutheran Church, Atlanta GA
Rev. Eric Hiner, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Denton TX
Rev. David Schatte, Trinity Lutheran Church, Amarillo TX
Rev. Donal Widger, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs CO

CALL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED MAY 3, 2009 AND AMENDED IN AUGUST 2009

NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED (DEADLINE MAY 25, 2009)

Communicant members of Christ Lutheran Church may nominate any Pastor in good standing on the Clergy Roster of the LC-MS as a potential candidate to receive a Divine Call to be our Pastor.  If you wish to nominate someone, please obtain and complete a copy of the nomination form from the Church office and submit it to Jim McDonald or any member of the call committee.  Nominees should possess the qualifications and experience indicated by the Pastoral profile survey and the congregational health survey.  Generally, Pastors who have served less than three years in their present parish are not considered viable candidates. 

MEETING WITH PASTORS MISCH AND RADKEY, APRIL 15, 2009

On April 15, 2009, Pastor Misch presented his summary of the Pastoral Profile Survey we completed. 
Click here for his PowerPoint presentation.
Click here for the brief summary of the survey results.
Click here for the full survey results.
Click here for written comments on worship.
Click here for the PowerPoint presentation on the Congregational Health Survey prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee.
 

AD HOC COMMITTEE/CONGREGATIONAL HEALTH SURVEY

Jim McDonald, Spiritual Board Director, has contacted appropriate Texas District, LC-MS, officials and acquired information to begin the process.  He appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to gather data and assemble information for the congregational health survey.  This committee consisted of:  Jim McDonald, Don Goodpasture, Tom Jackson, Bruce Kennedy, and Joyce Kuhl.  They assembled statistical and historical data concerning membership, attendance, budget and offering data, and similar facts to help the District President as he provides names to the congregation for the call list.  Upon completion of the congregational health survey, this committee was disbanded.

MEETING WITH THE CIRCUIT COUNSELOR AND AREA A MISSION AND MINISTRY FACILITATOR (MMF)

Pastor Steven Misch, Area A MMF, and Pastor Tim Radkey, Circuit Counselor, met with members on January 25, 2009, to explain the Call process and what to expect.  Both emphasized the importance of prayer; to that end, you are invited to consider the prayers and intercessions found on pages 305 - 307 of Lutheran Service Book as additions to your daily prayers.

THE NEXT STEPS

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