In this time of renewal, pastor looks forward to new beginning

Published Friday, April 6, 2007

In this season of renewal, Eagle Lake Lutheran Church welcomes a new full time pastor to the fold, the Rev. Tom Peterson.

“I want to say a word of appreciation for the hospitably and the welcoming spirit that (my wife and I have) been received with,” he said. “I am really excited about being here, and doing ministry together in the years ahead.”

He replaces the combined efforts of interim pastor Don Peterson and parish worker Gloria Flatten, both now retired. He officially started Feb. 15.

The church had put out word that they were going to be transitioning to a full time pastor. It had been a number of years since they had one.”

The selection process, aimed at making good long-term matches, is very thorough.

“It’s a very in-depth process,” he said. “The church put together a congregation profile, defining their vision and their needs. Pastors also fill out a personal profile, and send them on to the Synod, who send it on to the church. After that, we enter into an interview process.”

He interviewed in the fall of 2006.

“I got the tour of the area and we had a formal dinner together. It was great. They were very hospitable. The interview is a two-way process. There was a lot of great give and take. This was a good call committee.”

He arrived in the area from his call at Valley City, N.D., a town of approximately 7,100 where he’d spent the past 18 years.

“I was at Faith Lutheran Church,” he said. “It was a great call — a good place. I got to raise my kids there, and be part of some really good ministry.”

His son is studying at the Southern California College of Optometry and his daughter at Concordia. He and his wife, Cindy, also served as guardian to a girl, now in advertising in California. Cindy is a music and choral teacher at a Valley City junior high school.

“She will be finishing out the school year there, and will probably go back for another year,” he said. “Then she will get re-certified to teach in Minnesota.”

Peterson was born and raised in St. Paul. His first call was to Underwood, N.D. in 1982. He remained there until his 1998 call to Valley City.

Among his more regular duties as pastor to the Valley City congregation, he also served in hospice and other ministries.

“I worked as a hospice chaplain for six years and was very active in a local Ministerial, an interdenominational organization which provides ecumenical support to all churches in the area,” he said. “It’s pastors supporting pastors and supporting one another’s churches. We held joint church services and a week of prayer for the entire Christian community.”

At Eagle Lake Lutheran Church, he looks forward to the new beginning.

“For us — Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter — this is a central theme of our Christian faith. It is meant to be a time of renewal. I go about this time of year with a lot of enthusiasm. I love this time of year.”

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