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Pastor's June 2011 Message |
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THE PROCESS OF THE CALL FOR ASSOCIATE PASTOR By the grace of God moving in the hearts and minds of members of Messiah, we are at a point of readiness to Call an Associate Pastor. In a previous newsletter (April), we have outlined the ministry description for our Associate. Messiah members have demonstrated a commitment to this vision through their financial contributions over the course of the past four months. In this article, I would like to outline the process by which we will extend a Divine Call to an Ordained Pastor to fill this role. Messiah’s Board of Elders is tasked with the responsibility of the Call process. They have approved a group of Messiah members to serve on a Call Committee. The members of this committee represent a variety of roles and interests with a balance of men and women, younger and older, early and late service, elected leaders and non- elected. This list will be shared at the May 22nd Congregational Meeting for ratification from the membership. I am hoping that, once ratified, this committee will meet yet in May in order to be oriented into their role. The first step in the process will be to give members of the congregation an opportunity to suggest names of ordained LCMS pastors to consider for the Associate Pastor role AS IT HAS BEEN DEFINED in the ministry description. Members should consider carefully the names they recommend seeking to discern if the pastor they are recommending would be a GOOD FIT for the position as it has been defined. There will be a two week period in which the Call Committee will receive names from members.The second step will be to submit any names that are recommended and given to the Call Committee to the District President of the Southeastern District. He will take the names submitted and, after considering the Ministry Description that we include with the list of names, will add any names of ordained pastors that he believes would fit the role as we have defined it. He will then add information to all the names submitted, both those of Messiah members and his own, and return a packet of materials to Messiah’s Call committee for consideration. He may recommend removing some names that Messiah members have submitted due to their recently accepting a Call somewhere else or for health reasons, and the like. The third step will be for the Messiah Call Committee to look over the information returned to us on each candidate from the District President and determine if any name should be eliminated outright for some reason. If not, then the entire list will be given to the Circuit Counselor for him to call each candidate to determine if there is any reason that the candidate cannot even CONSIDER A CALL at the present time. This is the fourth step. Any candidates that cannot even consider a Call are eliminated from the list. The revised list is then given back to the Call Committee who determines the best way to get the most important information out on each prospective candidate to the congregation for prayer and comment. Along with this fifth step, the Call Committee will look over the information on each of the remaining candidates to determine if a phone interview is necessary to ask further questions or receive clarification on information received from the District President. Should a phone interview be necessary (and it usually is), the Call Committee may choose to select only some of the candidates to interview and will draw up general questions that are given to all the candidates being contacted by phone and some specific questions to each candidate for further clarification. The Call Committee will submit updated information to the congregation on this process and its results.The sixth step will be a prioritizing of the list of candidates by the Call Committee and a determination as to whether or not to invite one or more in for a personal on-site interview (which I highly recommend). Such an on-site interview would give opportunity for more questions to be asked, issues to be clarified and compatibility of vision discerned. Once this is done and on-site interviews are held, the Call Committee will present their recommendations and conclusions to the congregation and a date will be set for a Call Prayer Service to be conducted. At this service, the Congregation will pray, discuss and then vote to Call a particular Candidate for the office of Associate Pastor. I will inform the Candidate selected by telephone that Messiah has Called him to be our Associate Pastor and send to him a packet of materials to help him better understand Messiah and her ministry as well as fill him in on the character of the Greater Charlotte community. Previously, the Board of Elders and the Board of Administration will have determined his compensation package based on years of ministry experience and current cost of living issues. This information along with the Formal Call Documents signed by the legal representatives of Messiah and myself will be sent under a cover letter stating that we will be keeping the Candidate and his family in prayer.The Candidate will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to decide if he feels God is calling him to Messiah or if He is affirming his present Call to whatever church he is presently serving (assuming he is presently serving a church). If he accepts the Call to Messiah, arrangements will be made to move him here as soon as possible. This could take a month or more. I am guessing that from the time of the May 22nd meeting to his presence at Messiah in Charlotte, a year will have gone by.If he declines, well then there are a couple of scenarios possible but I will leave that to a future newsletter should we need that information.
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