Update on the process of calling and associate pastor—a project of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu Mission Campaign.

Donate or Pledge to the Mission Campaign

Associate Pastor Call Process Update

Members of the Call Committee: Chuck Huxel, Carolyn Koehler, Crystal Landheer, Karyn Castro, Robert Zimmer, and Peter Flachsbart.

Call Committee Formed Following the development of the “Vision for an Associate Pastor” position description (PDF), the Church Council requested the council president to form a Call Committee. The council president did so and the Call Committee started meeting.

The Call Committee for an associate pastor works a little different from one that would select a senior pastor in that the current LCH pastor meets with them as an advisor as it is necessary for the committee to select an associate pastor that he can work with. However, the final selection is made by the committee and then presented to the Church Council.

Candidate Screening In October, Pacifica Synod Bishop Murray Finck, who was in the Islands for the fall Hukilau Conference and the installation of a new pastor in Kona, met with the committee. At the time he brought mobility paper of four candidates that our synod had chosen for us to consider. Following a Professional Leaders Conference of Pastors on the mainland, one additional candidate was presented.

One candidate was released back to the synod and the other four went forward for consideration. After the Call Committee did an initial screening, we set up and had get-acquainted interviews with each candidate. After getting to know the candidates some and they us, we continued on to doing face-to-face interviews via Skype. Both sets of interviews deepened the committee’s understanding of the strengths and weakness of candidates.

Following our Skype interviews, the Call Committee released two additional candidates back to the Pacifica Synod.

It is important to acknowledge that when the committee turns a name back to the synod, the decision is made based on the assessment of the skills the Vision statement called for. It should not be interpreted as any personal reflection on the skill of a pastor. Each is qualified in all aspects of ministry.

Recommendation to Council On January 9th, the Call Committee selected a single candidate to submit to the Church Council for their consideration. On January 18, the Council endorsed this recommendation and began planning for a visit during the month of February.

This completed the work of the Call Committee, unless the process had to be reopened. All Call Committee discussions were held in confidence, and materials will be destroyed once the associate pastor has been installed.

Call A Special Congregational Meeting was held on Sunday, March 4, to vote on calling Pastor Angela Freeman for a two-year term as associate pastor of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and in April she accepted the call. Pastor Freeman arrived in Honolulu in the middle of July.

Installation Associate Pastor Angela Freeman was installed by Bishop Muray Finck on Saturday, August 18, in a festive service involving LCH musical ensembles, leaders of the congregation, and clergy for the Hukilau Conference and our ecumenical partners. Following the installation, members and visitors joined in festive potluck in the Hörmann Courtyard. Photographs from the Installation are available of the LCH Facebook page.