The Rev. Jim Haun will soon be trading the slower rhythm of an agricultural community for a closer proximity to family.

Haun, who has served as senior pastor of the Albert Lea United Methodist Church since 1992, has been appointed by Bishop John Hopkins of the Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to Spirit of Hope United Methodist Church in Golden Valley.

Haun will preach his farewell sermon in Albert Lea on July 6. A reception will be held that day from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church. The public is invited to the reception.

The pastor said early in the year he was told he’d be moved this year, then was told it wouldn’t happen. Then in mid-May he got the news he was indeed going to get a new appointment.

&uot;It’s always a mixed bag,&uot; Haun said of moving. &uot;It’s hard to leave, but it’s exciting to move on.&uot;

Albert Lea is the longest appointment Haun has had since becoming a pastor. His last appointment, in Duluth, was for just a few weeks less than he was in Albert Lea. Prior to the 11 years there, he was in Austin for 6 1/2 years and Winona for 2 1/2 years.

Consequently, Haun and his wife Carol have been deeply involved in the community while they’ve lived here. Carol Haun served on the District 241 school board for 10 years, seeing a new superintendent come in, referendums pass and fail and a new school built. She worked at Senior Resources part of that time, and has most recently been clinic manager of the Albert Lea Planned Parenthood office.

Haun himself has been very active in the soccer program. On the girls’ side, he got the program started in the high school, coaching a club team for one year and the varsity team for three. He coached the boys’ team for six years. Before he got into coaching, he was also a soccer referee.

In his years in Albert Lea, Haun has also accompanied three youth mission trips. One was to Pine Ridge Reservation in North Dakota, one was to Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, and one was to Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

&uot;It was really nice to get to know the kids and spend time with them,&uot; Haun said.

&uot;Last year’s trip was very special. It was a going-away for a number of kids who had been in the program a long time.

&uot;I’ve really enjoyed working with the kids &045; both in soccer and in church,&uot; he added.

But Haun said he’s also enjoyed working with adults and seeing adult Sunday school attendance grow. &uot;I think we’ve made some real progress helping this congregation come to a new understanding of church,&uot; he said, adding the &uot;new model&uot; gives more ownership to church members and is less pastor-centered.

&uot;I think that’s healthy,&uot; he said. &uot;Some new leaders are beginning to emerge in the congregation.&uot;

The Hauns have three children, two of whom live in the Twin Cities area. Brianna and her husband live in Maple Grove and have two daughters. Paul and his wife and their two daughters live in Andover. Daughter Alyson was married in September and attends graduate school. She and her husband, who is in the Air Force, live in North Carolina.

Haun said it will be nice to be closer to two of their children and help out with the grandchildren as needed.

In addition, his mother is in a care center in New Hope. Carol’s father lives in Pequot Lakes, and the move will put them another 100 miles closer to him.

Still, he said, they’ll miss the friends they’ve made here.

He said he’s enjoyed being able to experience the four seasons, something he couldn’t do as fully in Duluth. &uot;It’s really been a joy to be able to get more in touch with the life-giving nature of things,&uot; he said.

The new church in Golden Valley is what he calls medium sized, and is slightly smaller than Albert Lea in terms of membership. Haun will be the only pastor there. Other staff includes a three-quarter time education and family minister, half-time music director and an administrative assistant. A youth director position is currently unfilled.

Haun will continue as a consultant to the general board of higher education and ministry, as well as with the probationary process within the Annual Conference, he said.