Dear Friends in Christ,

I wish to share with the synod the news that I have accepted a call to serve Galilee Lutheran Church in Roseville as their pastor. The congregation voted to extend the call to me on August 17, and I will begin my ministry there on October 1. 

Thirteen years ago I joined the staff of the Saint Paul Area Synod, and the whole experience has been wonderful. My role in all those years has been to collaborate with others in order to start new congregations, help established congregations renew their mission, and give encouragement and support to culture-specific ministries. During all this time, I have also been a partner with others to identify and equip leaders for mission in the call process. All these activities have connections with the synod’s threefold vision for mission to foster new leaders, share the story of Jesus, and end poverty. 

With Bishop Rogness having been recently elected to a second term, this was a good time to discern my call and consider a transition. I’m excited about serving Galilee Lutheran Church. They place a high value on worship as the center of their life together in Christ. In particular, they want to engage the challenge of outreach in a first-ring suburban community that is seeing a rapid diversification of its population. And finally, Galilee is an active member of ISAIAH, through which it is engaged in the public arena to make the metro community a more just place for all those living here. 

I want to thank Bishop Rogness and my colleagues on the synod staff who have given me support and encouragement as I discerned this new call. I also want to thank the pastors, other rostered leaders, and lay leaders of our synod with whom it has been my pleasure to serve all these years.

In Christ, 

Ralph Baumgartner