Presbyterian Pastor Hagmaier Settles In

When newly appointed Palisades Presbyterian Church Pastor Dan Hagmaier took up his duties in late November, he had a pretty good idea of what the church wanted in its spiritual leader.   Celebrating its 60th year, Palisades Presbyterian is a well-established parish with an active and involved community, religious education program and preschool. In the last decade, the church rebuilt the sanctuary and expanded the classroom facilities in a building campaign that demonstrated the congregation’s serious commitment to their church and to leadership. But, stable, long-term leadership has been lacking ever since Rev. John Todd, who served as pastor for 18 years retired in 2004.   After interim pastor Charles Svendsen took over the pulpit, Rev. Ed Brandt was hired as permanent pastor in 2006. But Brandt, active in the National Guard, was called to active duty in Iraq in October 2008, leaving the church without a pastor, and upon his return he announced his departure in October 2009.   With this history, the congregation had certain ideas about the kind of pastor they were looking for, Hagmaier told the Palisadian-Post.   ’I think that what was most important to the congregation was to have a pastor who cares, who would build relationships with the members and who would be a leader.’   Hagmaier also learned that the members of the Presbyterian nominating committee insisted on visiting him in the church he had been serving for past two years.   The parish in question, located in Fort Myers, a beach resort on Florida’s southwest coast, was in turmoil, with the threat of splitting apart. Hagmaier had originally been called to facilitate the split, but soon learned that the original parish that at one time counted 900 members, 38 staff and three ministers, was in danger of falling apart following the split.   ’I said that if it meant putting my name in the hat to save the parish, I would,’ Hagmaier says. He served as ‘designated pastor,’ a minister who is contracted by the congregation for a limited two-year term to provide the kind of leadership needed to assist the church in charting a new direction, experiencing a major trauma or bridging a difficult transition.   Hagmaier did bring stability to the church, tripled the attendance in the two years he served, and was invited to stay on as the parish’s senior pastor.   But he and his wife Jaye J., who is originally from Orange County, were ready for a change and interviewed with several churches, including a church in Orange County and Palisades Presbyterian.   God works in mysterious ways, says Hagmaier, who believes that somehow it was destined that he would find a fit in Pacific Palisades. After his interview at the Orange County church and an invitation to accept the pastor’s position, Hagmaier asked for five days to think it over. The night before he was to give his answer, Palisades Presbyterian called and offered the job as designated pastor. An outgoing, youthful man, who loves to dance and finds a joyful partner in his wife, Hagmaier feels his strengths match the Palisades needs.   ’I have a passion for preaching,’ he says, adding that with his solid background in both scripture and ancient languages’Greek and Hebrew’he is able to bring the original intent of the Bible to bear.   He is also strong on relationships, intent on reaching out to all sectors of the church. He revealed, almost in amazement, his afternoon at the Palisades Presbyterian women’s annual cookie exchange. ‘It was the first time a pastor had ever attended the party,’ he says, savoring how the women exchange with one another homemade cookies of all flavors and shapes, which are then placed in baskets and delivered to homebound parishioners.   Hagmaier intends to set a new tone, provide leadership from the top and a positive attitude. He is quick to praise the his parish associates, Rev. Eric Schaefer, who oversees the youth ministry, Rev. Grace Park, who works with pastoral care and officiates at Sunday services, the men and women who serve as deacons and elders, and myriad other positions at the parish.   Hagmaier, 51, sees himself getting to know each member of the parish and providing a welcoming, comfortable environment. With membership having declined (currently at 352) over the last six to seven years, he has already begun contacting former parishioners, to introduce himself and let them know of his presence.   ’My office door is normally open 99 percent of the time, so anytime you wish to stop by and say hello, simply walk in,’ he wrote in his weekly e-mail newsletter.   Hagmaier and his wife will celebrate Christmas with his 18-year-old son Shane, who is flying in from Florida to join them at their rented house in the Highlands (the church house is rented until next summer). Hagmaier also has a 23-year-old daughter, Shawna, who lives in Florida.