Pastoral Call Process

[PreachersWife2004]

Yes... one of the hardest things He asks us to do; let go and let God.

 

[CaliforniaJosiah]

Our pastor has recieved a call from a congregation in Georgia. He's accepted and will be gone in a few weeks. It just doesn't seem right that another congregation can call any pastor who's served four years or more at his current calling. Then again, I am quite new with WELS and there is a lot I still don't 'get.'

There was a lot of crying today after services. He announced it at the close of services and it was not taken well. Not even the Elders knew beforehand. I think the whole process could have been handled better by the pastor. This congregation has been struggling for two years now and now this... I'm just confused on how I feel about it.

Some comments, IF I may....


1. Pastors do not "belong" to congregation; they don't own him. His Call is from God VIA the congregation. When a pastor has TWO calls - his current one AND one from another congregation - they both have EQUAL status, and he has the DIFFICULT (and often very, very painful) responsibility to decide WHERE God wants him. Pastors at this time need our love and support. It often far MORE emotional for them than for the congregations involved (ONE of them is GOING to be disappointed).


2. I agree that pastors should not LOOK for a Call elsewhere. God knows where he is and what the situation is. He can speak to his bishop/district president/superintendent about his frustrations but "get me out of this Call GOD gave me" seems inappropriate to ME.


3. In the LCMS, there are FEW "senior pastors." Nearly all are SOLE pastors. Most congregations have only one pastor. To limit those whom GOD may Call elsewhere to associate or assistant pastors is to rob GOD of the great, great majority of pastors - and make it nearly impossible for congregations to Call.


4. As I understand it, the NORMAL process is for the pastor to tell the congregation that he has a call on the first Sunday thereafter - and seek their love, understanding and prayers. He MAY (IF HE CHOOSES) also seek their counsel. He also tells the congregation of his decision the Sunday AFTER he does (knowing this will cause some to rejoice and some to.... well....). Another time for the congregation to love him, no matter what the decision.


Just MY fallible half cent.


Pax


- Josiah





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[ctay]

My parents church, the pastor just retired. They went through the call process and voted to get this one graduating from Seminary. He grew up in this church. I didn't think they liked the idea of placing a pastor just graduated into a church they grew up in. I guess I put that right.

 

[twin.spin]

As somebody stated the congregation doesn't own the pastor. That is one of the unfortunate mentalities a congregation can develope when a pastor remains in one place for too long. But conversely the other mentality can also surface... the pastor thinks he owns the congregation.

A change of calls for a pastor and a congregation can be benefitial for both.. they can reflect upon themself if either one has gotten too comfortable in their approach to the spreading the message.

It's very easy for a congregation to be lulled into passiveness rather than spiritually on fire. It might take a few "rotating" before the congregation learns or other members join the congregation to re-spark the fervor.

And when that right combo occures, then you that God is the one who moves the pieces of the puzzle.. of memebers and pastors alike.

 

[QuiltAngel]

My parents church, the pastor just retired. They went through the call process and voted to get this one graduating from Seminary. He grew up in this church. I didn't think they liked the idea of placing a pastor just graduated into a church they grew up in. I guess I put that right.

I didn't think so either.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Some comments, IF I may....


1. Pastors do not "belong" to congregation; they don't own him. His Call is from God VIA the congregation. When a pastor has TWO calls - his current one AND one from another congregation - they both have EQUAL status, and he has the DIFFICULT (and often very, very painful) responsibility to decide WHERE God wants him. Pastors at this time need our love and support. It often far MORE emotional for them than for the congregations involved (ONE of them is GOING to be disappointed).


2. I agree that pastors should not LOOK for a Call elsewhere. God knows where he is and what the situation is. He can speak to his bishop/district president/superintendent about his frustrations but "get me out of this Call GOD gave me" seems inappropriate to ME.


3. In the LCMS, there are FEW "senior pastors." Nearly all are SOLE pastors. Most congregations have only one pastor. To limit those whom GOD may Call elsewhere to associate or assistant pastors is to rob GOD of the great, great majority of pastors - and make it nearly impossible for congregations to Call.


4. As I understand it, the NORMAL process is for the pastor to tell the congregation that he has a call on the first Sunday thereafter - and seek their love, understanding and prayers. He MAY (IF HE CHOOSES) also seek their counsel. He also tells the congregation of his decision the Sunday AFTER he does (knowing this will cause some to rejoice and some to.... well....). Another time for the congregation to love him, no matter what the decision.


Just MY fallible half cent.


Pax


- Josiah





.

Good post CJ.

4. As I understand it, the NORMAL process is for the pastor to tell the congregation that he has a call on the first Sunday thereafter - and seek their love, understanding and prayers. He MAY (IF HE CHOOSES) also seek their counsel. He also tells the congregation of his decision the Sunday AFTER he does (knowing this will cause some to rejoice and some to.... well....). Another time for the congregation to love him, no matter what the decision.

In Lutheran Church Canada, this is always done. Calls are also noted in our official publication, the Canadian Lutheran, and in our District News Letters. There it notes the calling Congregation, who they have called, and the status of that call (considering, accepted, declined). Such is done so that not only the Congregations involved may pray on this, but the whole Synod as well. No secrecy here.

 

[DaRev]

To limit those whom GOD may Call elsewhere to associate or assistant pastors is to rob GOD of the great, great majority of pastors - and make it nearly impossible for congregations to Call.

So, you don't believe that a call as an associate or assistant pastor is from God?

 

[swinkler]

"most pastors don’t teach the Bible, instead offering nine week sessions with varying topics with no continuity or growing depth. Teach the Bible! "

Well Said...Most Pastors forget that the great commission (making disciples) is mostly inside their congregation

 

[LutheranChick]

Our pastor has recieved a call from a congregation in Georgia. He's accepted and will be gone in a few weeks. It just doesn't seem right that another congregation can call any pastor who's served four years or more at his current calling. Then again, I am quite new with WELS and there is a lot I still don't 'get.'

There was a lot of crying today after services. He announced it at the close of services and it was not taken well. Not even the Elders knew beforehand. I think the whole process could have been handled better by the pastor. This congregation has been struggling for two years now and now this... I'm just confused on how I feel about it.

I feel for you, Stude. Our Pastor just accepted a call to Indiana, kind of by Chicago. We love our Pastor & he has done so much for the congregation. He wasn't on a call list, but the congregations can call anyone they want. My first reaction to the call was that there was no way he could go, and leave our congregation in the lurch - a lot of selfish thinking. Our pastor agonized over his decision. He called a church meeting, and laid out the things that he could help the new congregation with, vs staying with our congregation. He invited people to write down their feelings on a piece of paper which could be submitted anonymously if desired.

I was unable to attend that Sunday, but I had sent him an email stating all of my reasons for why I thought he should stay. When I read his reply, I realized that he was needed much more at the other congregation - there was so much more he could do there, and so much more potential. We are in such a rural community with not much hope for growth. I was not surprised at all when he announced his decision to take the call. And I don't blame him. He was so worried about our congregation, though. He received counsel from other Pastors, who reminded him that HE needed to trust in God. Pastor told me how ironic it was- he's always teaching the congregation to trust in God in all things, and here he was, fearing and not trusting.

So we have to just trust in God, to keep our little congregation going. It's going to be scary- I don't even know if we can afford another Pastor. But God will bless us, as he has been doing all along. I am just grateful we had such a good man for a Pastor for 2 years (and 1 year as vicar). So, my prayers go out to you and your congregation, Stude.

 

[Studeclunker]

Heavens to Betsy, I didn't know this thread was still hanging on!

I guess an update is in order... I suppose.
Our new pastor arrived a while ago. He's a good enough fellow. The tendency of this congregation to stray from the hymnal is stronger under him than the previous pastor. I really detest it when they tailor the creed and other aspects of the liturgy to thier message. So... yes I'm having issues with him. Still have to schedule time to see the new pastor and discuss this with him. Won't go till the temps drop below a hundred though. I just can't deal with the heat. For instance; this past Sunday was 107 and we didn't go. No AC in the car and I can't deal with the heat when it's that high.

I can't say I like the system, however looking back at the previous pastor's ministry, there may be something to it. His ministry was vibrant and lively up to that previous call. Afterwards, though the teaching was still excellent, he seemed to slide a bit. No, there wasn't any compromise in principle or proper teaching... it was something intangible that just seemed to depart. One of those things that's hard to describe.

Our current pastor is excellent. However he lacks the vibrance that the previous one showed. Our attendance has dropped and I wonder if there is a problem beyond the issues I have mentioned. You see, from as far as we come, we just aren't that involved with this congregation. Ninety-mile round trips will do that. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all works out.

LC, I can sympathise with your situation. Our county (Trinity - No. Cal.) has only one Lutheran church and it's ELCA. Thus we have to travel to a Church in Redding. Your situation reminds me of the changing demographics in our country that continue to change the warp and weave of our society. Though sometimes I think that societal fabric is ravelling pretty badly, it still seems to be holding, if only barely. As much as I complain about the drive, at least we have a Church of some kind to attend. There are other people, amazingly in this country who have nothing at all for a hundred miles. Thus, the liberals in some congregations can get away with trammeling the teaching, liturgy, and traditions of the Church. These people entrap the few conservative members left as they have nowhere else to go.

I do hope and pray your little congregation passes through this difficulty. It would be a shame for that small light in a big sea of darkness to go out.

Ours, here in Redding, is likely the only Church left (in this area) where the Gospel and Bible are taught without any compromise. We have two HUGE congregations that have the new popular formats of Happy-Clappy and Pentecostal movements. Bethel is famous world-wide. Little Country Church is an oxymoron as it is neither little nor in the country. Still, I look at them both and wonder. Either we are getting something very wrong, or they are the wide road Christ was speaking about. In my confusion, I haven't an answer for the question.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I didn't think so either.

It's funny because when I go visit some of the older WELS churches I see two or three same last names and find out they were father/son or grandfather/grandson. It seems that back then family members were routinely called back to churches they grew up in.

I wonder when the tide turned on that.

It sort of makes me sad that we have that mentality, because it means I'll probably never get to call my childhood church MY church again as long as my husband is a pastor because I grew up there. I realize where the arguing reason comes from, but I'm not sure I necessarily agree with it.

 

[Lprdgecko]

Well today was a sad day at my church-away-from-home (the one I attend while at college). I've been going there for three years now and the pastor and congregation are all wonderful and extremely nice. Today was the pastor's last day as pastor of this congregation, since he got elected to a district position (which, from my understanding, is different than a Call?) last month.

I had forgotten how hard these types of services are... At my home church, my "childhood" pastor accepted a call and left, but I was still in elementary school then so I don't remember much about it. Then the pastor who'd come after him, confirmed me, and was there through my high school years, retired then got a call in another state to fill in at a church, so he is now in semi-retirement.

But yeah, it was a very emotional service. Pastor got choked up a couple of times during the service (especially during the Sermon), some people in the congregation were crying, a couple of the hymns we sang were emotional (It is Well with my Soul - doubled the emotion for me because it brought back memories of when I'd heard it the first time at my best friend's mother's funeral in High School, as well as Go my Children With My Blessing, which always chokes me up anyway...) ... .Needless to say, I had a lump in my throat for most of the service.

The good news is that he and his wife won't be gone forever. They've already said they will be back to visit next month, and they didn't sell their home here, and I think he said that once he is finished with his elected position he will retire and move back here, but I'm not sure.

 

[solarflare]

New International Version (NIV)
Romans 11:29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

I'd be at least somewhat hesitant to leave the original congregation without its specific permission to do so. Whatever the situation with the new call would be.

 

[alexnbethmom]

I'd be at least somewhat hesitant to leave the original congregation without its specific permission to do so. Whatever the situation with the new call would be.

uh - it doesn't work that way. God calls pastors to do His Work in a congregation, and if His Work through that pastor is done and He wants to send him to another congregation, that is God's Will.

it would be asinine to ask "permission" from the current congregation - asking for prayers for help in the decision is one thing, asking for "permission" is quite another. if a congregation is so bent on keeping their current pastor no matter what, that they refuse to give permission, well that's kind of like they're thumbing their nose at God and saying "who cares what You want, we want him and you can't take him from us", isn't it?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I'd be at least somewhat hesitant to leave the original congregation without its specific permission to do so. Whatever the situation with the new call would be.

Again, a church does not "own" a pastor.