The call committee and church council invited the Rev. William O. Shortz and his family of Falconer, NY to meet St. John's congregation on the first weekend in November, 1975. At the special congregational meeting after the service on November 2, it was voted to extend a call to the Rev. Shortz to become St. John's ninth pastor. He was installed on Sunday evening, January 25, 1976 at 7:00 PM.