Study guide
By Robert C. Blezard
Call process: It’s not speed dating N
othing fills a “vacant” congre- gation and a pastoral candidate with such hope and longing as a
potential placement. A congregation has needs it wants to fill, and a can- didate has gifts he or she wishes to share. The Spirit is the matchmaker, along with the synod and the call committee. Everybody is hoping for a match made in heaven.
Exercise 1: Your vision of a pastor A weary pastor laments that she has 500 sets of expectations to fulfill— one for each parishioner who has an idea of what the minister should do. Why is this true to some degree at every congregation? How is it true at yours? What is healthy about indi- vidual expectations of a pastor? What can be harmful in it? How can a con- gregation work to encourage healthy, limited expectations of what a pastor is and should do?
As a study group, form a draft of expectations.
Exercise 2: What does a pastor ‘do’?
Every pastor has a tall order to fill, even in healthy and stable congrega- tions. Section C9.03 of the ELCA model constitution for congrega- tions itemizes 13 specific duties of a pastor.
Review your congregation’s con-
Blezard is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Arendtsville, Pa. He has a master of divinity degree from Boston University and did subsequent study at the Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and the Lutheran Seminary at Philadelphia.
stitution (if it’s up-to-date) or the model. Discuss: What do the consti- tutional duties prioritize and emphasize? What vision do they together portray for the pastor’s role?
What do they say about the congrega- tion’s task? Given the limitations of human beings, what are the chances of finding a pastor who is gifted and excellent in all 13 tasks?
Exercise 3: The pastoral character The ELCA document “Vision and Expectations” lifts up ideals for ordained ministers of our church. Many are aware of its provisions involving sexuality, but that is a very small part.
As a study group, find “Vision and Expectations,” read it and discuss: Broadly, what is it asking pastors to be? Shouldn’t all Christians seek to embody these ideals? Why should we hold pastors to a higher standard? Can a pastor be expected to live perfectly regarding everything men- tioned in the document? Where do notions of sin and grace come in?
Exercise 4: Wanted—a rescuer? Some congregations really don’t want a pastor so much as someone to rescue their church from decline, or to resolve some long-running conflict in the church, or to work miracles with the youth, the budget, the seniors, the worship team, the evan- gelism committee, etc. At what point do congregations expect too much of their pastor? What are the healthy boundaries for expectations?
Exercise 5: Shared ministry The congregation calls a pastor to lead them, but ministry goals are accomplished by everybody working together. Unhealthy congregations look to the pastor to do everything (and unhealthy pastors do this too). Why can’t the pastor do every-
thing? Why shouldn’t the pastor do everything?
How does the organizational scheme for your congregation pro- mote shared ministry, with the pastor as leader? Does your congregation function in this way? How could it be encouraged to function more effectively?
Exercise 6: Mutual ministry A pastor cares for the congrega- tion, true, but congregations are also expected to care for the pastor. A mutual ministry committee serves this function.
Committee members act as a sounding board, listening post and as confidential advisers to the pastor. They are to help the pastor serve well and stay healthy. Why is this impor- tant? When are pastors at risk of burnout? Does your church have such a committee? Why should ministry be a two-way street?
Exercise 7: Where are you going? When a congregation has lost sight of where it’s been and has not set a direction for where it’s going, it’s hard to call a pastor to lead. As a study group, rely on your common experiences as well as the ELCA Trend Report (
www.elca.org) for your congregation to look at where you’ve been. Discuss: What do the statistics say in membership and steward- ship? What factors have caused the changes? What would be a way for- ward? Look at your congregational mission statement for guidance. What skills would a pastor need? What would the congregation have to do?
This study guide is offered as one example of the more than 300 that are currently available on The Lutheran’s website. Download guides—free to print and Web subscribers—at
www.thelutheran.org (click “study guides”).
26 The Lutheran •
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