Central Lutheran Church

(The picture above is a collage of some of the favorite pictures I found under the heading "Retirement.")

At the December 9 Council meeting, I informed the Council that I will be retiring. We agreed that my last Sunday worship will be January 18 and then I will be on vacation until February 28. (Below is the letter I sent to the congregation informing them of my upcoming retirement.)

My remaining six weeks will no doubt fly by quite quickly. Amid the goodbyes, I am sure there will be questions about what happens next. Here is a brief outline of what lies ahead. Soon after I’m gone, Bishop Shelley will assign Central an interim pastor(s). Soon after that, you will select a Call Committee, who with help from the interim pastor(s), will lead the congregation in completing a Congregational Profile. This profile will be used by the Synod staff to identify pastors seeking calls who may be a good fit for Central. The Call Committee will then begin the interview process that will eventually lead to calling a new pastor. Bishop Shelley and/or Assistant to the Bishop Pastor Andy Yee will be attending our January Council meeting to explain the process in more detail.

Beloved Congregation of Central Lutheran Church,

The third chapter of Ecclesiastes reminds us of a timeless truth: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." For the past four years, I have felt called by God and by you to serve as pastor of Central Lutheran Church. I have greatly enjoyed belonging to and serving this wonderful faith community.

Life, however, is never static. Change is inevitable. After much prayerful consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to retire, and thus to resign my call here at Central. In consultation with Central’s Congregation Council, my last Sunday worship will be January 18, 2026. I will then be on vacation until my official resignation on February 28, 2026.

I realize my decision to retire may come as a surprise. I have always said, and always believed, that I would wait until I was sixty-five to retire. However, it has become clear to me that it is in my best interest, and in the best interest of the congregation, for me to retire now.

I find it difficult to clearly articulate my need to retire. Much of it is that after thirty-five years of being called to be a pastor, I feel my tank has run dry. Thankfully, I have discovered other callings, like being a grandfather, which I find very meaningful and life-giving. I assure you that my decision has nothing to do with my ministry here at Central. You have been a welcoming, loving, and open congregation to serve. I feel very good about our ministry together.

The reason I believe it is in Central’s best interest for me to step down is twofold. First, it is not right for you to have a pastor who no longer feels fully engaged in ministry. Second, while I believe my ministry gifts were a good match for Central at the time, specifically my organizational leadership gifts, I now believe Central would be best served by someone who is especially gifted in mission development and pastoral care.

Pastoral transitions are always difficult. For a congregation to form a healthy new pastoral relationship, important boundaries must be observed. These boundary policies apply to all pastors leaving a congregation. Accordingly, as of February 28, 2026, I will not be available for any pastoral or administrative duties at Central, including officiating or assisting at baptisms, weddings, or funerals for members of Central. If a member of Central requests any pastoral services from me after that date, I will decline and refer them to Central’s current pastor. And I would specifically request that you do not put your new pastor in the awkward position of asking them to ask me to provide pastoral services.

In St. Paul’s opening to his letter to the church at Philippi he writes: "I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now." Amid all the varied emotions I am experiencing, I feel the same thankfulness Paul felt as he wrote to his beloved congregation.

I am thankful to God for bringing us together and for working with us, through us, and around us. I believe God has truly blessed our ministry together. I am also thankful to all of you for welcoming Deb and I into your church family, for four years of serving, laughing, and crying together, and for allowing me the honor of being your pastor.

Peace,

Pastor Jim