NEW LUTHERAN PASTOR WAS 1ST CHOICE

Young, energetic and personable, the Rev. Robin J. Dugall is just what the congregation ordered. He has been the senior pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Sandy for two months now, and will be formally installed Sept. 11 by the Rev. Dick Magnus of the Rocky Mountain Synod.

The Rev. Dugall is no newcomer to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. For almost four years he has been the associate pastor there.In an interview Thursday, he explained how a Lutheran pastor is selected. The congregation, he said, has the power to hire and to fire pastors.

When members are looking for a new pastor, they select a committee. It is the responsibility of that committee to put together a profile listing the needs of the congregation. The committee then interviews candidates, comes to a consensus, and presents the name of the person they have selected to the congregation. A vote is then taken.

The Rev. Dugall said that in his case, he was the first person interviewed by the committee. After that first and only interview, the committee decided on him.

When he sent in his resume four years ago for the position of associate pastor, though, things were different. He found he was competing with some 30 to 40 applicants.

In looking over his flock, the new shepherd of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church said, "There are about 1,500 members in the congregation here. We have about 700 people attending services every Sunday, and half of them are children." He said the nursery is large, but the group from 5 to 13 years old is much larger.

The new pastor identifies well with these youth groups. While studying to be a pastor, he was involved in youth, camping and music ministries. He also worked for a national youth organization, traveling and speaking at retreats.

He also loves music. He plays the guitar in a nine-member Christian music group called "Chenanian." The group performs about twice a month and has performed extensively throughout Utah and other western states.

Two programs a month is about all he can handle, he said. "My job at church is pretty time-consuming." He described the group's music as "mellow" and very appropriate for Christian worship.

The Rev. Dugall said he first thought about being a minister when he was in the third grade.

"I recall my pastor talking about people going and serving God. He pointed his finger at the congregation and said, `You are called to be a minister of the gospel.' I thought he was pointing at me. From that point on, I thought it was a serious call from God."