The year 2007 was a momentous one.  This was our fiftieth year in Christ's ministry, one that would help us begin anew in many ways!

The Congregational Council had begun to show, after years of preparation for it, resolve to become the "Programmatic Church" that we had been for some time.  Council members were taking more and more responsibility that once was handled by the pastor or maybe one or two other lay leaders.  We were grateful for this change as we moved to accept the challenges that come from a congregation that had, on the average, over 200 in weekly worship.

That wonderful change came partly with the election, for the very first time, of a woman as the lay leader of the parish.  After six straight years of Dr. Tedd Stephens' excellent leadership of the congregation as vice-president, Ms. Zoe Lynda Pine was elected.  She has done a marvelous job!

Another great change (and new beginning) in the congregation should be considered another first!  After years and years of discussion, study, and more discussion, Our Saviour voted to call an associate pastor.  After a number of profiles were studied, Mr. Joseph Leonard Bolick was extended a call and he accepted in the late spring of 2007!  His talents are many and our need for him is great!  He brings new ideas and energy that is so important in keeping up with the growing needs and changes that come in a community like the one in which we live.

The call committee that worked hard at bringing Mr. Bolick to us were Bob Moody, chair; Shane Barger, Kathy Leonard, Doc Whitmore, Rachel Gentry, Ashton Roberts, Polly Taylor, and Emily Caveney.

Joseph was ordained and installed at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on Sunday, September 2, 2007 at a 4 p.m. service.  What made this service extra special was the fact that Joseph's father, the Reverend Leonard Bolick, Bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the ELCA, was present to ordain his son.  This, to our knowledge, was also a first: an ordination service held here at OSLC!  We were so honored that Joseph would choose to have his ordination here and not in his home congregation (as is done in many cases).  He said that he wanted his ordination service to be where he was called by God to serve for the first time.

We are grateful to many people who have given of their time and talents to help renovate the old chancel area (of the first dedicated worship space) into new offices for Mr. Roger Bailey, Music Director; Ms. Bonnie Koepper, Parish Nurse; and Pastor Joseph Bolick.  A special ramp was cut into the raised floor to make that area handicap accessible.  That was a very difficult task!  This renovation was an all-volunteer project, and was completed just in time for Joseph's arrival!  We are truly grateful to the men and women of this congregation who made this happen!  Alan and Collette Forsman, Carl Snyder, Charles Bullock, Kasey Sorensen, Ken Diehl, Dave and Martha Herting, Zoe Lynda and Bill Pine, Richard Koepper, James Flint, Bill Benedict, Carolynn Bailey, John Harper, and Mark Harper.

Our Saviour Church has been blessed through the years with many great spiritual leaders in our pastors.  In recent years, though, there have been a number of retired pastors and clergy who worked in other areas of the life of our community, but who were always on call when the need arose!  We are ever grateful for the witness of ministry to Pastors Jesse Wolf and Bill Benedict; we thank God for the leadership and servanthood of Pastor Carl Petering, retired now from his years of service to the Mountain States Health Alliance as the Chief of Chaplains to this institution; and, for the years of service to Dr. Dennis Hamm, a retired military chaplain who was active as a teacher and student counselor at East Tennessee State University.