Church Council Updates

JULY 1, 2026

AN UPDATE ON TRANSITION

Dear Fellow JLC Members,

At a Special Council meeting on July 1, the Council voted to move forward with the next step in sourcing and hiring a new pastor for JLC. Specifically, the Council approved having Pastor Rod activate the Nominating Committee, which will be responsible for identifying a six-person Call Committee, as outlined in the JLC Constitution.

As part of this process, the Council conducted due diligence on the option of engaging a transition consultant to assist with the pastoral search. After careful consideration, the Council decided to move forward without a consultant, opting instead to proceed through the Nominating and Call Committee process.

Pastor Rod will officially activate the Nominating Committee on Sunday, July 12. During that meeting, he will walk the committee through the overall process, as well as the roles and responsibilities involved in the Call Committee’s work.

Once the Nominating Committee identifies candidates for the Call Committee, those names will be presented to Council for review. Following Council approval, a congregational vote will be scheduled to give the congregation the opportunity to formally approve the Call Committee members.

We will continue to share updates through the E-News as the process unfolds.

Bryan Nicholls, Council President

Update: May 2026:

As we send Pastor Ryan off with best wishes and prayers to his new church home, Council will be starting the transition work to prepare for a search for the next pastor to join Joy Lutheran Church.

Council has reached out to the transition team at Rocky Mountain Synod and has begun to familiarize themselves with the transition process and the assistance that the synod will provide for us. Council has met with Reverend Sara Wirth, Minister for Transition and Healthy Ministries. She leads the synod transition team. Council has also met with Reverend Pam Stofferahn who has been assigned as our Transition Coach. Council will be following the steps in the Transition Guide provided by the synod.

As we identify our next steps we will keep you updated through the E-News. Please keep Joy LC in your prayers, that the Holy Spirit will guide all who are participating in the transition and call process.

Bryan Nicholls, Council President

Original Post:

Brothers and Sisters of JoyLutheran Church,

We write to you today with the same words Pastor Ryan shared with us (click here to read) — with both great joy and immense sorrow. The Church Council has received and accepted Pastor Ryan Jerome’s resignation as Associate Pastor of Joy Lutheran Church, effective following his final Sunday with us on May 24th, 2026. 

If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to read his words, which spoke of grace, honesty, and love, in an email he shared with the congregation on Sunday, April 26. 

Pastor Ryan has accepted a new call to a congregation in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area — a decision rooted in his desire to be closer to family and to answer God’s call to be the husband and father his family needs. After six years of faithful, wholehearted ministry among us, we are deeply grateful for everything he has given to this congregation and community.

We want to assure you that JoyLutheran will be well cared for during this season of transition. The Rocky Mountain Synod has a thorough and well-established transition process in place, and the Council is committed to following that process carefully and prayerfully on your behalf. In the coming days, we will contact the Office of the Bishop and begin discerning a path forward. More details will be shared as things unfold.

In the meantime, please hold Pastor Ryan and his family in your prayers, and plan to join us on May 24th, 2026 to celebrate and send them off with the love they so richly deserve.

In faith and service,

The Church Council of JoyLutheran Church