Quote


I continue to wonder what pastoral and lay rostered leadership (deaconess, associate in ministry, diaconal minister) will look like in the future. With well over a thousand people in seminary, we continue to emphasize the importance of theological education, but questions constantly arise about how many semi- naries we need. Eight? The landscape is being formed by distance learning, ecumenical seminaries and the TEEM program, which allows students to get their theological education while serving in small, struggling contexts.


Bishop Michael Rinehart, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, writing in “Connections,” the synod’s online newsletter.


Questions for calling congregations


P


reviously, almost any ELCA con- gregation seeking a pastor could


vision• Does this congregation have a engage and interest a new pastor?


for its mission that would


in decline• If membership and finances are ar• Can this congregation pay a sal-


, what does the future


look like and what can be done to grow?


y and benefits at a rate that will not adversely affect the pastor’s morale or put unnecessary hard- ship on his or her family? Is support sustainable through the years?


change ho• If there is a need to radically w the congregation and


its pastor function, are members ready to accept the changes when a new pastor arrives?


ing t • Would the congregation be will- o share a pastor with another


church or be led by a pastor or lay- person without the traditional type of preparation?


For a study guide, see page 26. May 2011 21


expect to find one. Today congre- gations have to ask some questions of themselves.


MICHAEL W. WATSON/DESIGNPICS


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