September 28, 2015

Dear members and friends of Resurrection.

After much prayer and reflection, I am resigning my position as Lead Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church.  After thoughtful consideration of my pastoral skills, dependable strengths and temperament, I have decided to pursue Intentional Interim Ministry and the training for this ministry begins on October 26.  My last Sunday at Resurrection will be Sunday, October 25, 2015.

I am ever grateful for the five years that God has called me to serve as your pastor.  When I came, I wrote about St. Paul’s words to the church at Philippi, “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.”  I continue to pray and give thanks for each of you, asking God to continue to strengthen and lead the people of Resurrection into the future.  We shared in a common mission: to call all people to a vibrant life of faith in Christ.  Thanks be to God!

As I transition to a new form of ministry, I am confident that Bishop Lull and the staff of the Saint Paul Area Synod will assist Resurrection in its own transition. As our church constitution states, “At a time of pastoral vacancy, an interim pastor shall be appointed by the bishop of the synod with the consent of this congregation or the Mission Leadership Team.”  Resurrection also has a strong lay staff that will be most helpful in this time of change.

Finally, I seek to remind each of us that Christ is the ultimately leader of every congregation. Jesus gave to us a wonderful promise in Matthew 28:20.  “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Peace,

Pastor John Keller