To the Congregation:
At this initial time of Pastor Tim’s resignation, I am very sure that across our Congregation there is felt the entire range of emotions and anxiety (I know I feel them). This is normal for this to happen when we have been connected to a Pastor for 12+ years. Monday evening, May 22, seven of us from the congregation went to a Synod workshop on “Calling the Call”. The Synod will be a very good resource for us during this time.
I want to share with you what our next steps include.
Please feel free to review the Call Process Manual at http://www.spas-elca.org/congregations/callprocess/toolscallsindex.htm
The following information has excerpts from that manual.
There are 4 phases to the Call Process
1) Leaving-Taking (1-3 months or more
2) Congregation Mission Profile Development (3 months to 1 year)
3) Calling the Pastor (2-4 months)
4) Beginning new ministry.
We are in Phase 1. This is the time for us to plan farewell activities and participate in the those activities and say our good byes. We will also meet with the Synod Staff for the exit interview, arrange for a supply pastor to bridge to the interim pastor, and secure an Interim Pastor. The Synod Staff will conduct the exit interview with the Council and Pastor, meet with the Council to review the process, and make initial contacts with possible Interim Pastors.
THE CHURCH AND CALL
The time of calling a pastor can be a special time for reflection and prayer in the life of a congregation. This time of transition is an opportunity for the Congregation Council to provide encouragement, trust in God, unity and spiritual growth. Prayer, bible study, and regular devotions keep the leadership spiritually centered as it guides the congregation in grieving its loss, assessing the current congregational strengths and weaknesses, creating or affirming a vision for mission and ministry, and calling a new pastor.
The local church is fully the church, but the local church is not all the church there is.
The local church calls a person to be its pastor, but the whole church has a stake in who is called and how the call process is handled.
The Call Committee, the Congregation Council and, eventually, the entire congregation participate fully in the process. But so does the Bishop, who represents both the interest and the commitment of the whole church in seeing that the pastor called is suited to ministry under the call that is extended.
The Bishop’s office has a deep concern for the well being of the congregation’s life and ministry. The Bishop and the staff also have a deep concern for the person and gifts of the prospective pastor. In the call process the Bishop and staff, the congregation and the prospective pastor work together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to bring about a new partnership that is faithful to the Gospel, empowers the local church in its ministry, and strengthens the whole church as people of God.
--- please feel free to contact me ---
Yours in Christ
Bruce Jahnke
Atonement Council President