God is Calling, Who Will Answer?

Jenny Buckley
Council President

Getting Ready for the Annual Meeting: Part 3 of 5

Call Committee and Process

I love that life in the church is different than what we experience in the rest of our lives. Of course there are similarities: budgets, human resources, staff meetings, maintenance, initiatives, etc. But the traditions and beliefs that guide many of our habits at church, such as the liturgy, music, common prayers, offering, and sacraments, are part of what sets our “company” apart from those in the corporate world. Similarly, the hiring process for a new pastor is very different from what most of us have experienced when hiring new leadership in our places of employment.

In the Lutheran church, we don’t “hire” a new pastor, we “call” a new pastor. This term may be something you have heard, but perhaps don’t fully understand. 

“The Lutheran process of call is unique because it is an effort to discern what God wants for the local church and the whole church in order that the Gospel may be proclaimed and the Sacraments may be administered in accordance with the Gospel” (Call Committee Charter). 

Part of the call process is to form a committee of staff, council, and congregation members to actively participate in the discernment and hiring process. On the other side, individuals who are rostered leaders in the church, pastors and associates in ministry, continually pray for discernment from the Holy Spirit asking questions about where, when, and how God is calling them to serve. The Saint Paul Area Synod (the regional administration of the ELCA) partners with the committee to help identify possible candidates for the church, and in turn, contacts candidates to determine if God is calling them to be open to a new placement.

When Pastor Diane Sponheim heard and accepted her new call to Faith Lutheran Church, the church council requested members of the congregation be recruited to form a call committee. As the nominations team worked on forming a committee, the needs of the church were assessed in light of our mission and a new job description for Pastor of Connect was created.

The Pastor of Connect job description includes many familiar components: preaching, teaching, providing pastoral care, collaborating with and managing staff, etc. However, this role is unique because we are searching for a person who will intentionally focus on strengthening relationships within our congregation and growing/creating new partnerships locally, regionally, and globally. This person will need to be innovative, engaging, and have a heart for building meaningful relationships in and outside of the walls of SOTV.

The call committee has met several times to review feedback received from the congregation about the type of pastor they are looking for and compared that feedback to the job description. The priority of the committee is to find the person God has planned for our church; so, we will take our time, being deliberate in our discussions and interviews, and praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit. The church leadership also asks you to take an active role in this process by praying for the church, the committee, and our next pastor.

If you have suggestions for candidates, or ideas about the type of person you would like to see fill the role of Connect Pastor, please contact the call committee chair, Ellen DeVries, at call@sotv.org.

Next week’s blog with provide an update on the Capital Campaign. Between now and then please feel free to contact the council with feedback and questions at council@sotv.org.

Blessings,
Jenny Buckley-Church Council President