Staff Restructuring: Overview of the Strategic Plan for 2027
September 30, 2026
Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
I want to first speak with my pastoral voice before I share the plan that has been designed for next year’s mission and budget.
The leadership of St. John has created a plan based on the feedback they have received from Spring listening sessions around staffing. This is an effort to be faithful to the finances of this church and the preschool. With that in mind, it is imperative that we choose a future that reflects a balanced budget, a right sized staff, and a model of ministry that is sustainable.
I believe this will make us more vibrant in the long run. Consider the decision we made to go from two worship services to one as an example that has made our church more vibrant. Therefore, reducing staff does not have to be bad news, but a chance to reflect a sustainable model for ministry that will position St. John to be an important bearer of the Gospel for the Fargo-Moorhead community for years to come.
Our witness to God’s justice through Care for Creation, social ministry, and inclusive welcome of all persons is so important! Therefore, in this article I will reflect a big picture view of staffing changes and offer us times to talk together ahead of our stewardship month in November and our vote for this budget in January.
The goal of this strategic plan is to reduce our staffing budget to coincide with our budget deficit, which is projected to be $40,000. We will invite our stewardship campaign this November to challenge our church to increase giving to reduce this year’s deficit and then enact a plan that will balance our budget for the 2027 budget year.
The staffing formula reflects changes to most staff positions and has the goal of making all positions part-time/stipend-ed and to increase church volunteerism. Please note that some staff changes come because of life changes and others through intentional choices.
Pastor Chad – For two budget years, he will reduce to a ten-month full-time contract. He will not be working in January and July, and appropriate coverage will be arranged for pastoral care, worship services, and confirmation.
Dawn Papenfuss – She will begin reduced hours in January. Then, she will retire in May, and we will have a celebration Sunday at the end of April to thank her for her many years of service. New positions will include stipend-ed positions for Sunday/Special Service music and choir directors.
Jeremy Maahs – He will be done as the part-time youth coordinator at the end of July. He will begin his seminary internship year in August 2027. We will have a celebration Sunday for Jeremy coinciding with the National Youth Gathering sending service in June. His position will move to a stipend-ed position next Fall.
Erin Bjerke – She will end her full-time position in May at the end of the educational year. We will have a celebration Sunday for Erin in May as she concludes her work with us. Her position will be turned into two stipend-ed positions that include Christian Education and Communications.
Melissa Johnson – Unchanged
John Williams – Unchanged
Music staff - Unchanged
New position created – Volunteer Coordinator
New position created – Tech Coordinator
Finally, you might review a coinciding document the council has prepared to help us understand the October conversations we are creating. Please consider coming to a couple of forums where we will be discussing the staffing changes ahead of our Stewardship Sundays. They are:
Sunday, October 18th at 11:15 a.m. in the sanctuary
Wednesday, October 21st at 7:30 p.m. in the parlor
If you have further questions regarding these changes, please reach out to a member of the Executive Committee:
President: Tony Boersma | Term: 2024–2027 | akboersm@gmail.com | (701) 540-1308
VP of Support: Derek Boman | Term: 2024–2027 | derekboman@gmail.com | (218) 779-8172
VP of Ministries: Sue Grundysen | Term: 2025–2028 | bjsjrmCoCo@gmail.com | (701) 730-3775
Secretary: Angie Walswick | Term: 2024–2027 | angienorberg@yahoo.com | (507) 313-9538
Please keep this process in your prayers!
God’s Peace!
Pastor Chad
Senior Pastor