March Transition Update

Transition Steering Committee

Chair:  Ruth Koch     303-778-0762     rnkoch@aol.com

Committee Members:
Cathy Brondos     303-797-3778     cbrondos@aol.com
Denny Harthun     303-795-9038     denny@harthunassociates.com
David Rhode     303-796-9321     dave.rhode@rbc.com

Purpose:  To provide guidance during the transition up to and beyond the retirement of Pastor Hinchey:  calling an Intentional Interim Pastor, hiring a temporary music director, developing the farewell activities and worship services and keeping the congregation engaged in the process.

Update:  Check back for updates from the Steering Committee.

Intentional Interim Pastor (IIP) Committee

Chair:  Jack Weaver  303-770-6269  jackweaver@jwweaverlaw.com

Co-Chair:  Kelly Peecher

Committee Members:  Mike Brauer, Jeff Bridges, Mark Fincham, Linda Olsen, Shelly VanDenBosch, Sandy Wetzstein, Phil Winkler

Purpose:  To call a well-qualified, Intentional Interim Pastor who will assist the congregation through the transition process after the retirement of Pastor Hinchey and prior to the calling of the new Senior Pastor.

Update:  The Intentional Interim Pastor Call Committee is currently:

• working to develop a list of candidates for the call.  Based on a conversation Jack had with Pastor Wiese, we now understand there are 70 trained Intentional Interim Pastors, a much larger number than we first believed the pool to be.
• continuing to define the interview process to be used with potential IIP candidates.
• to discuss and to review the information provided regarding the initial candidates identified by the District Office.

More news about the process to call an Intentional Interim Pastor will be coming soon so check back often!

Music Director Hiring Committee

Chair:  Marv Oestmann 303-693-9880 oestmanns@msn.com

Committee Members:  David Lee, Nannette McGuigan, Laura Moes, Pete Strom, Mary Ann White

Purpose:  To hire an Interim Music Director to take over the coordination of the music program at OFLC prior to the calling/hiring of a permanent Music Director, which is anticipated to occur after a new Senior Pastor is in place.

Update:  The Music Director Hiring Committee is currently:

• interviewing Margaret and the volunteer directors to determine the scope of activities currently taking place within the music program and among the various music groups.
• developing a position description for the Interim Music Director.
• working on an interview process, possibly including audition tapes and phone interviews.

Farewell Activities Committee

Chair:  Christene Woodward 303-726-9033 dcwoodwards2000@msn.com

Committee Members:  Jan Burmeister, Sandy Clark, Redd Geurts, Jenny Habeck, Ruth Harthun, Karen Kennedy, Tammi Kotzker, Diane Pearce, Stephanie Rolf, Marian Schilling, Maegan Stein, Linda Ward, Judy Weaver, Joanne Wille, Marleen Wise, Sharon Zierk and still growing...

Purpose:  Busy planning the celebration festivities.  More information will be coming soon.

Update:  Location has been finalized.

Farewell Service Committee

Chair:  Pastor Werner Boos 303-779-1332 buddykb@mindspring.com

Committee Members:  Gerda Hess, Joyce Mosher, Laurie Ortmeier, Pastor CJ Ransdell, Pete Strom, Linda Ward

Purpose:  To develop and coordinate the Hinchey's farewell worship service.

Update:  Information will be posted as the planning gets underway.  Check back often!

How long will it take before we have a new senior pastor in place?

We expect that it will be take 18-24 months from the time of Pastor Hinchey’s retirement to have a new senior pastor in place. This timeline includes about 12-24 months working with an Intentional Interim Pastor. Near the end of the Intentional Interim Pastor’s time with us, a Senior Pastor Call Committee will begin work to evaluate candidates and issue a call.

Why does it take so long for this transition?

It is important to take this time, under the leadership of an Intentional Interim Pastor (IIP), to evaluate the mission of OFLC and develop a complete understanding of what is needed from our new senior pastor. We won’t attempt to shortcut this process, because it’s important to do the hard work of evaluation and planning in order to support the call process and provide a basis for new beginnings.

How soon will we have a new Music Director in place?

We expect that the Music Director Hiring Committee will make a recommendation no later than the end of May and for a temporary music director to be in place no later than mid-summer, in time to do important planning for the fall season. This will be a contract position with renewal on a yearly basis. The permanent Director of Music position will be filled after a new senior pastor arrives.

Why confuse this pastoral transition with re-evaluation of our congregational mission? Haven’t we already done a lot of work on this over the past few years?

Yes, we have done a significant amount of work planning for our future the last couple years, and none of this effort will go to waste. The Intentional Interim Pastor will lead us in the process of examining this previous work, along with our history as a congregation, in order to bring together a vision that will enable us to move forward as a congregation. Our previous work will help streamline the process during transition.

What is the role of the Intentional Interim Pastor?

Not only will this ordained pastor continue the duties of senior pastor after Pastor Hinchey’s retirement, but he has also been trained and has experience with leading congregations through transitions such as ours. He will provide important spiritual and administrative leadership in helping the congregation clarify its vision and mission.

When will the Interim Pastor be in place?

It is our goal to have the Intentional Interim Pastor in place by the end of June, shortly after Pastor Hinchey’s retirement date. The Intentional Interim Pastor Call Committee has recently begun their work towards making this call.

How much involvement will the Synod and District have in the selection of the Intentional Interim Pastor and our permanent Senior Pastor?

The District will support the transition by providing names of potential candidates and identifying resources to help us with the process and in planning. The list of candidates provided by the District will only be a start, and we’ll be soliciting suggestions from other sources.

Will we consider Pastor CJ for the senior pastor position?

The Senior Pastor Call Committee, once formed, will finalize the requirements for the senior pastor position and to develop a candidate list for the call. Pastor CJ may decide whether or not his pastoral skills are aligned with those qualifications and whether he has an interest in the position once it has been clearly defined.