May 24, 2026

Dear Friends of First Lutheran,

On this Pentecost Sunday — this day when we celebrate the Holy Spirit rushing in like wind and fire, surprising the disciples and sending them out into the world — I find myself trusting that same Spirit with something I need to share with you today.

I will be ending my call as your pastor at First Lutheran Church. My last Sunday in this pulpit will be September 6, 2026.

I want to be honest with you: this is not a decision I have made easily, and it is one I make with real sadness. Over the past months, I have been dealing with health challenges that have continued to worsen, and I have reached the point where I know that stepping back from active parish ministry is what I need to do in order to care for myself. It is the right decision — I have come to peace with that — but “right” and “easy” are not always the same thing.

This decision has been made in prayer and in careful discernment, and not in isolation. I have been in close conversation with Bishop Tim Graham and Rev. Dan Forehand of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod throughout this process. They are fully aware of this transition and are committed to walking alongside First Lutheran as you move forward. You will not be left without support, and the synod will be a resource to your council and to this congregation in the months ahead.

My husband Drew joins me in saying that we have truly grown to love this church and this community. You have welcomed us, shaped us, and allowed us into the most tender and sacred moments of your lives. That is a gift I do not take lightly, and it is not one I will forget. We will continue to pray for First Lutheran — for its ministries, its people, and the pastor who will one day stand in this pulpit after me — long into the future.

Between now and September 6th, I am fully here. I will continue to preach, to teach, to visit, to pray with you, and to pastor this congregation with everything I have. I want these remaining months to be marked by gratitude and grace — a good and faithful ending to the chapter we have shared together.

I know this news may bring up questions, feelings, and conversations you need to have. Please know that I welcome all of it. If you would like to talk — about your questions, your concerns, or simply about what this means for you — please reach out to make an appointment so that we can spend some unhurried time together. There is no question too small and no feeling too complicated to bring.

The same Spirit we celebrate today — the one that shows up in unexpected moments, that breathes life into tired and frightened people, that sends communities out beyond what they thought possible — is already at work in what comes next for First Lutheran. I believe that with my whole heart.

It has been the honor of my ministry to be your pastor. Thank you.

In Christ’s grace and peace,

Rev. Amy Bartleson Balcam

First Lutheran Church

Columbus, Indiana