Call Process Manual - Saint Paul Area Synod

1 January 2018 1 call Process Manual January 2018 January 2018 2 Table of Contents Bishop s Letter 3 Overview Chart of Phases in call Process 4 call Process Checklist 5 call Process and Guidance Phase I Leave-Taking 7 Sample Questions for Exit Interview 8 Phase II Ministry Site Exploration 12 Creating the Ministry Site Profile (MSP) 18 Phase III Calling the Pastor 20 Formation, Structure and Expectations of the call Committee 20 Special Types of Pastoral Calls 23 Getting to Know Your Candidates 24 Interviews & Visits 25 Issuing a call 31 Phase IV Beginning New Ministry 35 January 2018 3 Dear Friends in Christ, I am grateful to present this newly revised call Process Manual to you.

2 It reflects the work and wisdom of several colleagues on the Synod staff, and feedback from dozens of call committee members, interim pastors and other church leaders who have been part of the call Process in the Saint Paul Area Synod in recent months. The call Manual is divided into four sections to correspond with the four phases of transition. They include: I. Leave Taking II. Ministry Site Exploration III. Calling the New Pastor IV. Beginning New Ministry Each section is designed for a slightly different audience. Whether you are a pastor wondering about a new call in this Synod , the president of a congregation going through a transition, a newly named member of a call committee, or an interim pastor, I hope you will find the Process we describe to be clear and easy to understand.

3 One of the deep joys of our Lutheran way of being church comes as members of the congregation play a decisive role in the Spirit s work of calling a pastor to serve in a specific context. Synod staff is available throughout the time of transition to support this work, the bishop attests to the fidelity of the Process , but the congregation is the body that prays and listens and finally votes to extend the call to the candidate the Spirit has led into this new call . Nearly thirty times each year, I marvel as all these steps come together for the sake of God s work in and beyond our congregations.

4 At the Synod office we pray weekly for congregations in the midst of transition. My prayer is that you will grow in your own faith and be strengthened for service during this time. Yours in God s service, Bishop Patricia Lull January, 2018 January 2018 4 Phase 1 Phase IIPhase IIIP hase IVLeave-TakingMinistry Site ExplorationCalling the New PastorBeginning New MinistryPastor announces s/he is leavingPastor leaves; interim pastor begins; preperatory work; Mission Exploration Team (MET) develops Ministry Site Profile (MSP)MSP completed; call committee works to identify and recommend a new pastorCall issued; new pastor is welcomedTime Frame1-3 months3-12 months2-4 months6-9 monthsPastoral CoveragePa s tor's fi na l we e ks.

5 S uppl y pa s tor a s a bri dge to the i nte ri m i f ne e de nte ri m pa s tor; the i nte ri m a s s i s ts i n the de ve l opme nt of the nte ri m pa s tor i s not i nvol ve d i n the ca l l proce s sI nte ri m pa s tor; s uppl y pa s tor a s a bri dge to ne w pa s tor i f ne e de d; ne w pa s a ns fa re we l l for curre nt pa s tor. Me e ts wi th s ynod s ta ff conta ct for e xi t i nte rvi e w, to s e cure i nte ri m, to be gi n ca l l proce s s . Arra nge s for pa s tora l cove ra ge be fore i nte ri m be gi ns ; de ve l ops communi ca ti on s tra te ntroduce s i nte ri m mi ni s try to the congre ga ti on (bl e s s i ng).

6 Se l e cts the Mi s s i on Expl ora ti on Te a m (MET). Se ts di re cti ons for the MSP proce s s . Se e s tha t the mi ni s try of the congre ga ti on conti nue s . Ma i nta i ns conta ct wi th s ynod s ta ff pe rs on. For co-pa s tor or a s s oci a te ca l l s , wri te s job de s cri pti on. Sche dul e s town ha l l me e ti ng to re ce i ve MSP re port i n cons ul ta ti on wi th the s ynod s ta ff. Appoi nts (or nomi na te s ) ca l l commi tte e . Re ce i ve s re port of ca l l commi tte e . Se ts da te s for vote . Conducts ba ckground che ck.

7 Works wi th ca ndi da te on compe ns a ti on pa cka ge . Ma i nta i ns the mi ni s try of the congre ga ti rti ci pa te s i n congre ga ti ona l me e ti ng to cons i de r ca l l . Pl a ns fa re we l l for i nte ri m pa s tor. Pre pa re s we l come for ne w pa s tor. Works wi th s ynod s ta ff a nd ne w pa s tor to s e t i ns ta l l a ti on da te . Coope ra te s wi th s ynod "s i x-month" che ck-i n. CongregationPa rti ci pa te s i n the fa re we l l for the curre nt pa s i nta i ns the ongoi ng mi ni s try. Pa rti ci pa te s a s i nvi te d i n the de ve l opme nt of the Mi s s i on Expl ora ti on Proce s s (MEP) a nd de ve l opme nt of the MSP.

8 Me e ts a t Town Ha l l to he a r a nd a ffi rm MSP a s ba s i s for ca l l .Pra ys for ca l l commi tte e . Ma ke s nomi na ti ons wi thi n s e t ti me fra me . Me e ts to vote on ca l l commi tte e re comme nda ti on for pa s ys fa re we l l to i nte ri m pa s tor. We l come s ne w pa s (or other designated group)Us ua l l y not ye t forme d. (I n s ome ca s e s , fol l owi ng cons ul ta ti on wi th s ynod s ta ff, s ta rts to de ve l op the ba ckground i nforma ti on for MSP.)Works wi th i nte ri m pa s tor a nd/or me e ts wi th s ynod s ta ff to de fi ne ta s ks.

9 De ve l op the MSP whi ch provi de s de s cri pti ons of congre ga ti on's curre nt l i fe a nd dyna mi cs , future mi s s i on cha l l e nge s a nd goa l s , qua l i ti e s s ought i n ne w pa s tor. Wri te s a fi na l re port to pre s e nt to counci l (who re vi e ws a nd a dds compe ns a ti on pa cka ge ) a nd congre ga ti on. Pre s e nts re port to congre ga ti on a t Town Ha l l .Re ports to counci l . Some me mbe rs ma y be a s ke d to s e rve on ca l l commi tte e .Fi ni s he CommitteeNot ye t forme MSP ne a rs compl e ti on, commi tte e i s forme d a ccordi ng to cons ti tuti on.

10 Me e ts to re vi e w te rmi ne proce s s for i nte rvi e wi ng ca ndi da te s . Re ce i ve s na me s , i nte rvi e ws ca ndi da te s , he a rs s e rmons a nd che cks re fe re nce s . Re comme nds ca ndi da te .As s i s ts i n we l come of ne w pa s StaffConducts e xi t i nte rvi e w wi th curre nt pa s tor a nd counci l to de te rmi ne i nte ri m ne e ds . Conta cts pos s i bl e i nte ri ms a nd provi de s i nte ri m cove na nt ul ts on de ve l opme nt of MSP. Works wi th a nd s upport i nte ri m through monthl y re ports a nd i nte ri m cohort me e ti ngs.