Grace Lutheran Church

Pastor Gaertner remains at Grace

Following is a copy of a letter sent to the brothers and sisters in Christ at Pinnacle Lutheran Church in Henrietta, New York.

July 15, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Pinnacle,

I am returning to you the Divine Call you have extended to me to be your pastor. I have greatly appreciated your hospitality as you opened your hearts for my family and myself. During my visits I witnessed the wonderful people of Pinnacle capturing a vision for reaching out into the community with the good news of Jesus. I do not want anyone wondering if he said something wrong because every person I met at Pinnacle was gracious, kind, and extended words of peace and encouragement.

I have found it very difficult in deliberating over the Divine Call that you issued to me to be your pastor. Awareness of your need for a pastor has been present in many of my thoughts, and I have struggled to discern if I am to be your pastor. I believe that I am a young, dynamic, exciting shepherd who is able to share my joy to people of every generation. I find in myself many of the qualities that would help serve the people of Pinnacle and the community of Henrietta. It is the match of my gifts with your need for a pastor that made the discernment process so difficult.

My struggle has not been my understanding of the need for a pastor in Pinnacle nor my ability to be that pastor. I talked with other pastors and how they handled the discernment process of receiving a Divine Call to serve as a pastor of another congregation. One spoke with confidence that he knew every time right away whether it was a good fit or not. Another pastor spoke of how difficult of a process it was for him and how it took him several weeks to sort everything out.

I did not know right away one way or another, nor did I believe more time would help me find clarity. For my family and myself it came down to the reality that I did not find a confident comfort in becoming the pastor of Pinnacle and shepherding in the days to come. I trust that no matter what congregation I serve the Lord will provide me with the gifts and opportunities to share the good news of Jesus. I trust that Pinnacle will continue to be a living community fed and nourished by the forgiveness of sins. I do not doubt that Pinnacle will bring the light of Christ to people in need and through that light scatter the darkness of these present times. You are people with a great history shaped by remarkable shepherds being led by the one shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Peace,
The Rev. Evan Gaertner