Leadership at a Decorah church is undergoing a gradual change

For many churches, losing their senior minister can be a difficult time. There's not only the departure of a much-loved minister, but in many churches there's a period of time between when the former senior pastor leaves and the new senior pastor arrives. At Decorah Covenant Church, senior pastor Don Holmertz has held that position since 2010. When he was considering announcing a retirement, he decided that a "tapering off" before retirement was just what the church needed. As of July 1st, he will become a co-pastor, a position which is funded at 70 percent. Decorah Covenant Pastor of Worship and Connections Julie Chamberlain, who will be ordained later this month as a Covenant Church pastor, will become the other co-pastor, a position which will also be funded at 70 percent. Decorah Covenant Church member JJ Johnson, who has been an active church member since 2011, will take over some of Chamberlain's responsibilities, becoming Director of Youth & Worship—a position also funded at 70 percent. When January 1st arrives and Don Holmertz retires fully, both Chamberlain and Johnson will become fulltime staff members. The whole arrangement—which was approved by the church congregation earlier this summer—is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition. Says Rev. Holmertz, "People don't want to feel like they're being left in the deep end." Johnson says the arrangement is perfect for him, since "There's a ton to learn from both Don & Julie." He adds, "this is the path we've been on for a long time," since he frequently volunteered to be part of worship service music and occasionally also gave a sermon. In fact, he used to joke with Julie Chamberlain in earlier years that things would wind up this way—and as the years go on, it became "less of a joke and more of a hope." Holmertz agrees with the change, saying he has been talking about preaching less and is happy to leave church leadership in the hands of "talented and gifted people." Decorah Covenant Church currently holds outdoor worship services outside the church building at 115 Washington Street at 10:30 Sunday mornings.