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                                                                                                                    October 21, 2018

Dear President Schenkel and Members of Deerfield Lutheran Congregational

Council, 

It has been over twenty-five years since I accepted your call to

serve as Pastor of Deerfield Lutheran Church.   Twenty-five years ago I

was not even “open” to a new call to a different congregation, but one of

DLC’s members, Floyd Winchel, had given my name to then Bishop Jon

Enslin.  I still recall our conversation.  Bishop Enslin calls me out of the blue and asks if I’d consider interviewing for a call. Since my mom had just lost her home in a terrible flood weeks before, and the year before we had lost my dad to cancer, I said, “no.”  He went on, “You might want to reconsider. I just fetched your name out of my waste basket.”  That morning for reasons he could not adequately explain he felt the need to look through his trash.  There he found the note he had written with my name on it. “Perhaps,” he said, “the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something.”  Well, how do you say “no” after that.  So Deb and I came to Deerfield thinking we’d do the polite thing and interview but that would be the end of it. I can say twenty-five years later that happily for us that was not the case.  Those who see things differently can blame Floyd, Jon, and the Holy Spirit!  But seriously, the years we have been privileged to serve this congregation have enriched our lives in ways it is difficult to put into words.  And yes, I do believe the Holy Spirit brought us to Deerfield!  

This letter is to inform you that I now believe the same Holy Spirit is leading both Deb and I to our next chapter in ministry - retirement. Years ago I recall a much older colleague say, “when you see yourself coming around the same corner, it’s time for you to go!”  He meant that when you feel you’re no longer able to facilitate the change every organization needs in order to grow, it’s time for new leadership, a fresh voice.  It really concerns me that I am the only preacher many of you have heard for twenty-five years!  You deserve to hear a fresh perspective on the “good news.”  But also know this - as I have told many of you - no one ever “retires” from our baptismal call to ministry until the day we die! While I do intend to take what I’m calling my “year outdoors” I will still continue as Vice-President of Wisconsin Faith Voices For Justice.  My “new call” is to continue working for inter-faith understanding, cooperation, and collaborative action on serious matters of social justice.          

I have informed the Office of Bishop Viviane Thomas-Brietfeld of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, as well as Portico Benefit Services of the ELCA, of my intention to officially retire on December 31, 2018.  However, my final Sunday at Deerfield Lutheran will be December 2nd. I will use my remaining vacation days which include four Sundays to complete the month of December.  Rev Steven Kottke of our synod staff is available to meet with you in the days ahead to answer your questions about the exit process as well as how pastoral ministry will continue (including pulpit supply) in the transition time until the decision is made about calling a new pastor.

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It has been a joy to serve with you these past twenty-five years!  May God richly bless you in this transition time as the Holy Spirit - who works in ways we cannot adequately explain - breathes new life into Deerfield Lutheran Church!

Always Yours In Christ!  

Pr. Larry L. Sexe

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