At our special congregational meeting on Sunday, Trinity voted to call Pastor Chris Meester to become a part of our pastoral team. It was a wonderful meeting, full of energy and excitement for the future. The unanimous vote to call Pastor Chris was 146-0.
Pastor Chris is a graduate of Wartburg College, Waverly, IA and Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Mn. He currently serves as the solo pastor of Dumont Reformed Church, Dumont, IA. He has served in this capacity for the past seven years.
Pastor Chris has served as a pastor in the Reformed Church in America (RCA). His family has deep roots in that denomination. His father has served as an RCA pastor for over 40 years. The RCA is in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which means that our pastors can fully serve in each other’s congregations. Having said that, Pastor Chris has indicated to us that he intends to begin the process of transferring to the ELCA roster after he starts his ministry at Trinity. He feels like the ELCA is a better “fit” for him.
Pastor Chris loves to read, to engage in meaningful conversations with people, to study theology and to teach. Pastor Chris was drawn to Trinity because, in his words, “we are a servant church, one who cares deeply about its community and world. And, as an intergenerational church, Trinity is following God’s call to love our neighbor.”
After two call committee interviews with Pastor Chris, and after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from Trinity staff and positive reports from his references, we are confident that God is calling Pastor Chris to join community.
Pastor Chris, his wife Laurel, and one-year old daughter, Eliora, are excited about the possibilities that a call to Trinity would provide, and they very much look forward to joining Trinity and becoming a part of the Owatonna community.
Pastor Chris will begin at Trinity on Monday, February 13, 2023.
We are very grateful for the work of Trinity’s call committee. They are: Steve LaCount (chairperson); Kim Wencl (Council Liaison); Sue Bendorf; Joel Hunt; Wes Kain; Amy Knutson; Monica Konold; Seth Muir; Maureen Schlobolm and Pastor Todd.
Test Driving Theology 