This past spring, as we began the search process for an Executive Assistant to the District President – focusing on Mission, Mercy, Outreach, and Pastoral Care – my initial hope and expectation was that our Indiana District Board of Directors would be extending a Call to this position at its regular May meeting. The Board entrusted the search to the Praesidium (myself, the regional vice presidents, and the District secretary), which began its work in earnest in mid-April, shortly after the first week of Easter. It quickly became apparent that more than a month would be needed to exercise due diligence in the process, so no attempt was made to bring a short list or any recommendations to the Board in May.
What we encountered in our search for a pastor to fill the somewhat revised executive position that the Reverend Dr. Geoffrey Robinson has served for these past nineteen years (since August of 2007!) was an “embarrassment of riches,” so to speak, from within our Indiana District and beyond. That is to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the number of nominations that we received within just a few short weeks – twenty-seven good and faithful men – indicative of the strength and depth of our LCMS Ministerium. Of those twenty-seven, six of the nominees either removed themselves from consideration or were simply unavailable to consider a Call at this time because of their current commitments and obligations. From the remaining twenty-one nominees, the Praesidium brought a short list of five names to a special meeting of the Board of Directors this past week, at which a Call was extended.
Thanks to everyone who nominated pastors for the position, and thanks to each of the men on the short list who agreed to be considered and interviewed. Such things are never taken lightly, as the pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod recognize the seriousness of the Divine Call to the Office of the Holy Ministry. For a man even to contemplate the prospect of leaving full-time parish ministry to serve an executive position in the District Office is poignant. The Lord distributes His gifts in a variety of ways for the blessing and benefit of His people, and He affords His Church on earth the freedom to variously arrange and order her activities in the service and support of the mission and ministry of the Gospel. In some cases that may involve a pastor being called away from the highest office in the life of the Church – that of preaching and administering the Gospel at the lectern, pulpit, font, and altar of a congregation – in order to serve and assist with the administration and oversight of the Church’s larger fellowship.
In this case, after much prayer and consideration over these past several months, the Board of Directors elected to Call Rev. Seth Mierow, presently the pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, to be the “Executive Assistant to the District President: Mission, Mercy, Outreach, and Pastoral Care.” Pastor Mierow announced the receipt of this Call to his congregation this past Sunday, and he will spend these next few weeks deliberating the Call in prayer and in conversation with his family, his parishioners, his colleagues and confidants, his brothers and fathers in Christ. I ask that you would also remember Pastor Mierow and his congregation in your prayers and intercessions – along with our Indiana District Office – over these coming weeks, that the good and gracious Will of God would be done among us also.
I have known Pr. Mierow as a friend and colleague for many years now, and I have especially enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to work with him as one of our Indianapolis Circuit Visitors over these past four years. He has served St. Peter, Indy, faithfully and well through the preaching and teaching of the Word of Christ and by the steady and conscientious pastoral care of God’s people in that parish and beyond. The Lord in His mercy has blessed Pr. Mierow’s labors in many beautiful ways, and we trust that the same merciful Lord will continue to bless and preserve His Church through the fruits of His Cross.
We were equal parts overwhelmed and gratified by the number of excellent nominations we received for the Executive Assistant to the District President position, and it is no exaggeration or hyperbole to say that I give sincere thanks to God for each and every one of the pastors who were nominated. Christ be praised that He has never failed to raise up such good and faithful preachers and teachers of His Word for the care of His Church on earth – and that He promises to do so, even to the close of the age!