COLUMBUS - Gary Harris has been installed as the new mission developer and pastor at Hope Lutheran Church.
Harris, 61, was installed last month and is the first pastor to oversee the church. Previously, the church, which was formed in 2006, had two interim pastors.
He is coming to the church to help guide the development of the ELCA parish. Harris came to Columbus after serving as spiritual developer at Spirit of Life Church in Sergeant Bluffs, Iowa. He will be moving into a home with his wife, Lynda, in Columbus shortly.
Harris said the parishioners at Hope will be, in a sense, starting over as they discuss what vision they want the church to take.
Hope Lutheran, 4807 29th St., was formed by about 20 individuals who were interested in establishing an ELCA church in the city. The church became designated as a synodically authorized worshiping community in 2005, and as a Mission congregation last year.
Harris said the first steps he and members of the church's leadershipteam will be deciding is how to celebrate worship services and how they can make their parish grow by reaching out to the community.
It will be a long process of establishing Hope in Columbus. He expects that it could take a year or longer. Harris said there is a need for a church that is welcoming to everyone, like Hope Lutheran is, in the community because there is a large number of people in Columbus who aren't associated with any church.
“It's amazing how many people are called to the doors of the church, and it's amazing how many people we are not connecting to,” Harris said.
At Hope, which has about 35 members, Harris said they are going to reach out to those who aren't associated with churches in hopes of meeting their spiritual needs.
Harris has had experience in helping establish churches. He has worked with churches in Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan and Iowa. Originally from the Homer area, Harris said his faith has always been a big part of his life.
He attended Dana College and, during his senior year, filled in at churches leading worship services. He had intentions of entering the seminary, but instead earned a business degree and went to work for Procter and Gamble. Later, he owned a steak house near Lyons. After selling that business, he decided to enter Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Ohio and received an endorsement as a mission developer.
Harris said the members of Hope have done a good job of starting the church, but that more work lies ahead. He would like to see the church keep its current members and also gain younger members and young families. Also, a new church building will be in the future.
How long it will take until the church is established is unknown, but Harris said the vision will be focusing on what is needed in this community.
“The people here have a vision, the ELCA has a vision. But first and foremost it is what God wants, not what they necessarily want,” Harris said.
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