Farewell to Maddy Carroll

After three years serving in children’s ministries and growing both personally and professionally, Maddy Carroll is preparing to step into the next phase of her call to ministry. Maddy departs St. Paul this month to begin a nine-month internship in Muscatine as part of her master’s degree in diaconal ministry from Wartburg Theological Seminary.

Maddy began her studies at Wartburg Seminary in 2023 after completing a bachelor’s degree in religion at Wartburg College. Her seminary program included two years of full-time coursework, a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) experience focused on hospital chaplaincy and pastoral care, and now a full-time internship that serves as the final component of her degree.

“For my internship, I’ll be working primarily with New Era Lutheran Church and Faith Together Muscatine, a collaborative of ELCA congregations,” Maddy said. “I’m excited to learn in a new context—this is going to stretch me in new ways.”

Her role will be split between two ministries. At New Era Lutheran Church—currently without a full-time pastor—Maddy will help with a wide range of congregational responsibilities, including occasional preaching, program planning, and spiritual care. Through Faith Together Muscatine, she’ll engage with shared programming across four ELCA congregations, including confirmation, youth events, and adult education.

“Coming from a large staff and a specialized ministry at St. Paul, it’ll be quite different,” Maddy said. “We have extended the internship to nine months so I can support the congregation through their full program year.”

Though she’s eager for the road ahead, Maddy reflects with appreciation on her three years on staff at St. Paul—her childhood congregation and the place where her call to ministry was nurtured.

“I’ll miss the people and the kids the most. St. Paul is such a special and supportive place. It’s where I found my love of God and faith. That foundation shaped my whole path.”

She credits the church community with helping her navigate seminary and life transitions with unwavering support.

“St. Paul has been a blessing in my life. I don’t know if I could’ve made it through seminary without the support of this community. I’ll always be grateful,” Maddy said. “No congregation can be what it is without the people who support it. St. Paul has modeled that beautifully—it’s something I will take with me wherever I go.”

Children’s and family ministries evolution  
The future of children’s and family ministries at St. Paul is being thoughtfully and actively shaped by a dedicated planning team. Over recent months, the team, led by teaching pastor Peter Pettit, has gathered input through surveys of children, parents, and volunteers, visited congregations with similar profiles, and reviewed multiple curriculum options. These efforts are helping clarify what currently works well and where there are opportunities to grow.

One of the key insights emerging from the planning team’s work is the importance of supporting parents and guardians as the primary nurturers of faith in their children’s lives. A refreshed vision for children’s and family ministries will focus not only on what happens at church, but also on how St. Paul can walk alongside families at home—providing tools, encouragement, and meaningful practices that make faith formation a natural part of everyday life.

Thank you to the planning committee (Sarah Lammers, Doug Reiling, Caroline Swiderski, Sonia Vogel, Kenny Wheeler, Brandon Yoder) for their thoughtful and diligent work!