September 25 - October 1, 2015 Webster-Kirkwood Times 11-A

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the 2000 bond issue that Kirkwood voters overwhelmingly approved to rebuild the city’s three fire houses and to save the historic fire house on Big Bend.

It was under Openlander’s leadership that Kirkwood added an ambulance service to its fire department.

Earlier this year, in April, Kirkwood votes passed Prop 1, a quarter-cent sales tax for fire and ambulance services.

Prior to his employment with Kirkwood, he worked for the city of Webster Groves from 1980 to 1997. His last position with Webster was battalion chief.

“It has been the greatest privilege, and the honor of my life, to be the fire chief in Kirkwood,” Openlander said. “While I am very pleased with what has been accomplished by the fire department under my leadership, I also believe that an effective leader understands when to step aside. I am confident that your new fire chief will possess the ‘right stuff’ to guide our department to even greater heights.

“I am very excited to see what great things lie ahead for the Kirkwood Fire Department as they continue to provide outstanding service to our community,” Openlander continued.

Kirkwood will name an interim fire chief while it conducts a nation-wide search for a permanent replacement. The first step will be to hire a national search firm. A request for proposal to such firms has been prepared and will be issued shortly, according to a statement from the city.

The estimated time to hire a search firm, select candidates, conduct interviews, and hire a new fire chief is six months, according to the city.

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Chief Openlanderfrom page 1A

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doing this,” Carter said.Carter’s work history reflects his overall mission

to fulfill his calling. As a 17-year-old preaching his first sermon, Carter felt the call to ministry.

“I’ve always understood that I would have a profession, and I would be able to nurture my call in other ways,” he said. “A job is one thing, and calling is something totally different.

“I knew that I would be doing something in the church, and whatever doors would open, I wanted to be prepared,” he added.

He prepared by getting a bachelor’s degree in biblical sciences and organizational leadership from Calvary Bible College and Theological Seminary in Kansas City in 1999. In 2009, he earned a master of fine arts degree in arts management and leadership from Webster University. He received his doctorate in ministry from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., in May 2015.

Through all his jobs, Carter served part-time in ministry at various churches. Then in 2013, he was asked to serve as part of a five-person team of interim ministers for Webster Groves Baptist Church, whose longtime pastor had retired. He felt a strong connection to the congregation, but the time and circumstances weren’t right.

But when the Webster Baptist deacons opened the door to Carter again in 2015, he was ready.

“It’s bigger than providence,” he said. “We built very strong relationships in 2013 that we had to leave, but we were able to pick those back up.”

The congregation will welcome Carter and his family with a luncheon Sept. 27. His family includes wife Melinda Compton Carter, director of communications at Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts; 18-year-old Malik, a film student at Webster University; and 10-year-old Victoria, who aspires to attend the Grand Center Arts Academy charter school.

The congregation of about 40 to 50 families is in the midst of a planning process, exploring what it means to be open to change, Carter said. Change may include building relationships in the community and the neighborhood to let people know the congregation is “still here.”

The first goal of the church as a moderate Baptist church is “to love people and not hit them with a set of rules,” Carter said. “We accept people the way they are. Whatever position we take has to be informed by the two great commandments: Love God and love thy neighbor. Without hesitation.”

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