Shepherd's Heart 5/15/26
Church Family,
As the announcement regarding Pastor Tim’s hiring as Executive Pastor of Ministries is shared, we know many in our congregation may have questions about the process that led us here. Our hope is to provide some additional clarity and transparency regarding the work of the Search Team and Church Council over the past several months.
In late 2025, Church Council voted to form a Search Team to assist in the discernment and hiring process for an Executive Pastor of Ministries role at Good Shepherd. While this position is considered a staff hire and therefore does not require a congregational vote under our constitution, Council intentionally chose to involve members of the congregation in the process in order to honor the collaborative discernment practices that have historically been important to our church community.
The Search Team consisted of John Felton, Carol Selander, Lauren Reyes-Yu, Steve Marks, Kevin Peart and Vicki Abbinante. On behalf of Council, we are so grateful for their time, thoughtful deliberation to this process, and dedication to our church.
We also want to acknowledge upfront that we should have communicated the formation of this team more clearly and earlier in the process. That feedback is fair, and we understand why members may feel surprised by how quickly this announcement has come. While portions of pastoral hiring processes require confidentiality for both candidates and congregations involved, more public communication about the team and its progress would have been beneficial.
The search formally began with Search Team meetings in January 2026. Applications were opened and received in March, with a total of 24 applicants entering the process. Every applicant received an initial phone screening. From there, the team conducted six first-round interviews and two second-round interviews as part of their discernment and evaluation process.
Pastor Tim entered the process in March. After completing interviews and discussion, the Search Team entered a period of prayer and discernment together before independently sharing which candidate each member felt called to recommend for the role. While the team was deeply impressed by multiple candidates, there was a clear consensus that Pastor Tim Nybroten was the strongest fit for the Executive Pastor of Ministries position. Following those interviews, prayer, discussion, and discernment, the Search Team brought forward a recommendation to Council on April 22. Council then met directly with Pastor Tim on May 7 before affirming the recommendation and moving forward with the hire.
The team valued Tim’s experience serving in both senior and associate pastor roles, his Lutheran theological background and seminary training, his passion for congregational care, and his demonstrated organizational and leadership strengths. The team also felt it was important to recommend a pastor grounded in Lutheran theology and teaching. In addition to his leadership experience, the team believed Tim’s relational and approachable personality would allow him to connect well across generations within the congregation.
We also want to provide clarity regarding congregational voting. Under Good Shepherd’s governing documents, congregational votes are required for Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor Calls.
Pastor Tim will report to Pastor Tara Beth, and the Executive Pastor of Ministries position is considered a staff hire, which falls under Church Council’s hiring authority.
As part of our ongoing governance discussions within our LCMC structure, Council has also been moving toward a model where congregational voting is reserved for the Senior Pastor role moving forward.
Even with that authority in place, Council believed it was important to involve trusted members of the congregation in this process through the formation of a Search Team. It is the responsibility of our Council to discern the best possible path for any pastoral hire, and having a staff hire for this role was the clear choice. Our goal throughout has been to balance transparency, prayerful discernment, constitutional responsibility, and care for both candidates and congregation alike.
We recognize that transitions and staffing decisions can create excitement, questions, and sometimes concern. That is normal in the life of a church. We remain committed to communicating honestly and faithfully.
Thank you for your continued care, prayers, and investment in the life of Good Shepherd.
Grace and peace,
Tyler Wojtkiewicz
Council President ‘24-‘26
As the announcement regarding Pastor Tim’s hiring as Executive Pastor of Ministries is shared, we know many in our congregation may have questions about the process that led us here. Our hope is to provide some additional clarity and transparency regarding the work of the Search Team and Church Council over the past several months.
In late 2025, Church Council voted to form a Search Team to assist in the discernment and hiring process for an Executive Pastor of Ministries role at Good Shepherd. While this position is considered a staff hire and therefore does not require a congregational vote under our constitution, Council intentionally chose to involve members of the congregation in the process in order to honor the collaborative discernment practices that have historically been important to our church community.
The Search Team consisted of John Felton, Carol Selander, Lauren Reyes-Yu, Steve Marks, Kevin Peart and Vicki Abbinante. On behalf of Council, we are so grateful for their time, thoughtful deliberation to this process, and dedication to our church.
We also want to acknowledge upfront that we should have communicated the formation of this team more clearly and earlier in the process. That feedback is fair, and we understand why members may feel surprised by how quickly this announcement has come. While portions of pastoral hiring processes require confidentiality for both candidates and congregations involved, more public communication about the team and its progress would have been beneficial.
The search formally began with Search Team meetings in January 2026. Applications were opened and received in March, with a total of 24 applicants entering the process. Every applicant received an initial phone screening. From there, the team conducted six first-round interviews and two second-round interviews as part of their discernment and evaluation process.
Pastor Tim entered the process in March. After completing interviews and discussion, the Search Team entered a period of prayer and discernment together before independently sharing which candidate each member felt called to recommend for the role. While the team was deeply impressed by multiple candidates, there was a clear consensus that Pastor Tim Nybroten was the strongest fit for the Executive Pastor of Ministries position. Following those interviews, prayer, discussion, and discernment, the Search Team brought forward a recommendation to Council on April 22. Council then met directly with Pastor Tim on May 7 before affirming the recommendation and moving forward with the hire.
The team valued Tim’s experience serving in both senior and associate pastor roles, his Lutheran theological background and seminary training, his passion for congregational care, and his demonstrated organizational and leadership strengths. The team also felt it was important to recommend a pastor grounded in Lutheran theology and teaching. In addition to his leadership experience, the team believed Tim’s relational and approachable personality would allow him to connect well across generations within the congregation.
We also want to provide clarity regarding congregational voting. Under Good Shepherd’s governing documents, congregational votes are required for Senior Pastor and Associate Pastor Calls.
Pastor Tim will report to Pastor Tara Beth, and the Executive Pastor of Ministries position is considered a staff hire, which falls under Church Council’s hiring authority.
As part of our ongoing governance discussions within our LCMC structure, Council has also been moving toward a model where congregational voting is reserved for the Senior Pastor role moving forward.
Even with that authority in place, Council believed it was important to involve trusted members of the congregation in this process through the formation of a Search Team. It is the responsibility of our Council to discern the best possible path for any pastoral hire, and having a staff hire for this role was the clear choice. Our goal throughout has been to balance transparency, prayerful discernment, constitutional responsibility, and care for both candidates and congregation alike.
We recognize that transitions and staffing decisions can create excitement, questions, and sometimes concern. That is normal in the life of a church. We remain committed to communicating honestly and faithfully.
Thank you for your continued care, prayers, and investment in the life of Good Shepherd.
Grace and peace,
Tyler Wojtkiewicz
Council President ‘24-‘26