As opposed to other denominations, Lutheran pastors are called to a congregation. This is a matchmaking process that is complex, yet rather procedural. Lutheran pastors are not placed in a congregation by a bishop or other church authority. Lutheran pastors do not start congregations from scratch unless directed by the greater church. Congregations form or have a vacancy and they place a request to the bishop's office for a pastor. This is a lengthy process of congregational self evaluation. Through this congregational self evaluation a profile of the congregation's strengths and weaknesses emerges. They highlight important points of value to them in a pastor and their priorities thereby creating a congregational profile.
Pastoral candidates also go through the same process. We create paperwork that defines our sense of ministry; we assess our strengths and gifts as well as areas where we are not as gifted. As a graduating senior I had to have this paper work completed by December of 05. In the meantime I had faculty panels that assessed my qualifications of a theological and doctrinal understanding of my call to ministry in the Lutheran Church. The approval of the faculty panel was a prerequisite for my approval for ordination from my candidacy committee in the synod where I reside and applied to seminary. The candidacy committee is composed of both clergy and laity, they evaluate not only my sense of call to ordained ministry, they also critically examine the sense of call that the greater church generates as well. As seminarian candidates for ministry there are two calls to be evaluated and cultivated as we engage in our seminary formation leading towards ordination. One is our internal call; how is God personally calling us to ordained ministry, and the other is our external call; how do others perceive God's call of us – seminarian candidates – to ministry. A sense of both types of a call to ministry need to be present before the synodical candidacy committee will recommend a seminarian for ordination.
Seminarians have to develop trust in the process. This is not formation towards ministry by check list. Formation towards ministry leads to a change in the seminarian candidate. This process nurtures this change. This would be analogous to the change of a caterpillar into a butterfly. The candidacy committee is there to nurture this change and to document this change. If this change does not occur, the seminarian will not be approved for ordination.
Once the seminarian is approved for ordination another process takes over. It is essentially the matching of paperwork between congregation and seminarian candidate for ministry. As a graduating senior my paper work that I submitted by December is assembled with every other graduating senior's paperwork in Chicago where the national church body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is located. So roughly 300 seminarian profiles are assembled. These seminarian profiles go to every bishop's office in the ELCA, and there are 65 synods headed by a bishop. In the seminarians paperwork we can restrict to a certain geographical area, because of family commitments, or we can be available to receive a call anywhere in America. While stating that we are available to any congregation in America, we can also state preferences where we would like to be located. But the key to our being placed is through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit calls us to a congregation, and the Holy Spirit is at work with a congregation in their calling of a pastoral candidate to serve them.
In Chicago, all this paperwork is assembled and a date is set whereby representatives from the seven Lutheran Seminaries as well as the regional representatives meet; there are eight regions in the ELCA. Those who are restricted are automatically assigned to the regions where they are restricted to. The others are then distributed to various regions. This is analogous to a football draft; names of candidates are displayed and representatives check their short lists of candidates they desire. If the candidate's name being displayed is someone they desire, they express their desire for this candidate. If no other regional representative speaks up they are assigned to the region that has requested them. This may lead to two distinct possibilities. Many other representatives may want this candidate, or no regional representative may want this candidate. Usually the former occurs and not the latter. If there are other representatives who desire a given candidate, a certain amount of horse trading takes place until a resolution is found. All this is done after prayer is offered for the Holy Spirit to guide this process. As candidates we place our trust and faith in this power of the Holy Spirit to guide the leaders of the church to place us where we can best serve the greater church.
As candidates are assigned to regions, the bishops of the synods that compose a given region will then consider the candidates selected to serve the church. If a bishop feels a given candidate can serve a particular church which has a vacancy, that candidate is selected to serve in that synod. Again this selection process follows time spent in prayer calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide those in the selection process. The pastoral candidate is notified during this process of what region and then synod they have been assigned. Once it reaches the synod level the bishop will then forward the candidates profile to a congregation and the synod will forward the congregational profile to the candidate. Through prayerful consideration each party will study the documentation before them. If the congregation so desires to meet with the candidate, a time and place is agreed upon whereby both the call committee of a congregation and the candidate can meet for an interview. If that goes well, it is arranged for the candidate to meet the whole congregation. The candidate may preach a sermon, lead worship, lead a class in Christian education, and spend time answering questions a congregation may pose to the candidate. If both parties feel the power of the Holy Spirit calling them into partnership, the whole congregation will vote whether to issue a call to the candidate to be their pastor. Once the call to the pastoral candidate is issued by a congregation, only then can the pastoral candidate be ordained into ministry of word and sacrament in the Lutheran Church. Lutherans rely upon a sense of call through the Holy Spirit for candidates to become ministers. This whole process is dependant upon this sense of call and faith in the power of God expressed through the Holy Spirit at work through the people involved in this process. It means that as a candidate, I have to surrender my control over the situation and trust in the Holy Spirit to guide me and call me to serve a given congregation. This is called stepping out in faith, and trusting in the will of God to lead and guide me. This trust did not come easily for me or other seminarians; it is developed through seminary and through our interaction with our candidacy committees. Needless to say this may be perceived as a messy process, one where we as seminarians suffer much anxiety, until we surrender ourselves to trust in God and God's plans for us. This is not easy process to engage. But then again, no one said this would be an easy process; life is not an easy process either. Matthew 7:13f pretty well sums up this process.
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Comments: 16
Thanks for you comment Jerry. All the best.
RKL
Each subsequent moment then will be an additional improvement...but only so long as he/she subscribes to the true message of that Spirit. If that Spirit is recognised as sourced directly from God, as it is, it will be regarded as whatever the receiver's belief system dictates to them.
Many will misinterpret the message and go astray, they may well then be considered false prophets or worse. Many within established religions will attribute the meanings of said messages to precepts and creeds of their religion or church. Some few of us without preconceived notions about all of that will recognise the revelation for just what it is...the speaking to us of our highest concept of what God should be all about...transcendent truth and love beyond our wildest imagination. We can then recognise that the meaning of perfection can be changed from some external extreme on a polarized linear scale...to a place of Balance where the individual is all he can be just as he is when fully connected to God via the Holy Spirit at any particular moment...it just does not get any better that that here on earth...or in Heaven for that matter.
I have written a book on my experiences of all such...they have been profound and transcendent. (free at www.spiritcalls.us)...Peace and Love.
Jery you are right on.
Nathan you will have to take a class at LTSG (Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) from the new systematics professor just recently hired. She has done her graduate work in both Buddhism and Hinduism and their relationship to Christianity. I am unfortunately unqualified to respond to your question. Hopefully someone else more knowledgeable than myself can shed some light on your question.
Diana, Greek Summer Boot Camp was the two weeks just before the beginning of Fall semester of my first year. And yes it was just like boot camp. We had class twice a day for about 2 hours each, and between classes we had to do homework and memorization for the next class. For older minds such as mine, this memory work was taxing to say the least. But then again Hebrew was no walk in the park either.
Good news is that a call has been extended to me by the congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Absarokee, Montana. My ordination is set for Sunday, 16 July, 2006. at 5:30 pm at Zion Church of the City of Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland. We will be moving out to Absarokee soon thereafter.
I will keep you all posted as time goes by as to how things unfold. All the best.
Pax
RKL
I just spent 20 minutes typing a response with all kinds of good detail to both of you...then something happened and I lost it all...must have been for a good reason... so I will let it go and just say to Nathan that in Buddhism there is what is called the 'middle way', that and what you ask about is going to get you as close to the spirit you seek as any other place. It will not be found at a polar extreme...unless of course you will only settle for God, and that will take an eternity...Holy Spirit is available here and now for those truly ready...It can show by any name, as long as it stands for your very highest concept of truth.
Robert, thanks for the acknowledgement and mentioning Sophia/wisdom, my spiritual awakening came in that form and my suspicion was confirmed when I asked if S/He was my other half, my missing female aspect or side, I was informed in the affirmative.
Welcome to Montana, that is one pretty area that you are headed for...but then I guess you already know that as I recognized the picture. If that area is anything like this area it is a good thing that you are at least an 'independent'...because in most of this state 'liberals' get no respect. Good Luck and God Bless. j.
Interesting article. Being raised up in the Southern Baptist demonination, I am most familiar with how they call pastors. It is a much simpler, and much less organized process. Not particularly better, just different. My brother is a Methodist, so I am also familiar with how they call pastors as well.
Best of wishes to you in your new congregation! It is a very beautiful place and you have shared some stunning photos.
RKL
Thanks and all the best.
RKL
I was raised a Roman Catholic, but do to many complicated circumstances, my husband and I chose to convert to the Lutheran Church in 1998. I'm afraid I am a "twice a year" at best attendee - but I must admit that I've been nothing but impressed with our experiences since joining.
Thank you for providing such an informative article. I learned so much!
RKL