Theological Foundations of a Pastoral Call Process

Q. Isn't a "pastoral call process" just church language for a personnel search?
A. No. Call involves a spiritual discernment process.

We believe that God uses committees, papers, procedures, and our polity to call persons to positions of leadership. You will fill out forms, use the latest technology in an internet based matching system, and perhaps meet prospective candidates and ministers via videotape or conference call, and then in person.

All of these are ways to help you meet persons who match your needs. That is just the starting point for a call process. No paper or electronic method can replace the discernment process in which each Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) considers the church’s hopes, dreams, needs and wants, as well as persons with all of their gifts, experiences, hopes, dreams, and weaknesses and prays for God's guidance. Many PNCs call persons who are very different from the type of person they envisioned when they began the search. They say, "We felt God's spirit leading us in this direction."

What Is "Call?"

Call is the understanding and acceptance of one's purpose in God's plan. It is the coming together of a ministry need and the gifts of a person or group to meet the need.

PCUSA minister/author Frederick Buechner explains call this way:

"By and large, a good rule for finding out is this: The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you need most to do and (b) that the world most needs to have done. If you get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are, you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time, you are bored and depressed by it, the chances are, you have not only bypassed (a), but you probably aren't helping your patients much either.

Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, Harper and Row, 1973

Persons and groups who are called are not always eager to serve. Sometimes they feel inadequate, apprehensive, and reluctant. They frequently go through times of wrestling before responding affirmatively. An experience of peace and confidence about the call comes in the confirmation of other persons and in looking back after some time has passed.

The experience of being called is a powerful and awesome experience. The experience of being a member of a calling committee is also a powerful and awesome experience that often strengthens faith and change lives for the participants.

Who Is Called?

All of the following are called to positions of leadership in God's plan:

• Individuals: both those specially set aside by ordination as elders, deacons, or ministers, and also all other baptized disciples of Jesus Christ.
• Groups of God's people: tribes, disciples, apostles, committees, and congregations who listen to hear the voice of God in the circumstances of their corporate lives and seek to do the will of God in a particular time and place.
• Congregations: during the time of transition between pastors, a congregation must be about a spiritual discernment process to discover its call — what God wants it to be and do in the next phase of its ministry. By doing a mission study that involves Bible study, prayer, and a thoughtful look at facts about your congregation and community, the congregation can discern God's direction.

Once that is clear, a PNC goes about a discernment process to discover the person God is calling to lead this ministry. That discernment includes continuing prayerful consideration of God’s leading for the church and for potential pastors as well as a thoughtful and thorough use of all the tools and skills the PNC brings to their important work.

Election to A PNC Is A Sacred Trust

The members of the congregation must give careful and prayerful attention to the election of persons to serve in this important role. Those who are asked to serve should consider this to be a significant commitment of their time, energy, and very best wisdom. They should be persons who understand and accept this as a task of spiritual discernment, not being easily influenced by personal desires or congregational politics, but rather listening for the voice of God. They also should be persons of integrity who respect and can maintain confidentiality.

In the Presbyterian call system, the congregation gives authority to the PNC. Once the PNC is elected, the other members of the congregation and the session have no role in determining who will be the next pastor until the PNC is ready to recommend someone to the congregation for a vote. Any Presbyterian may have names to suggest to the PNC, but the work of the PNC must be protected from pressure and intrusion. Names under consideration are not shared outside of the committee. This is both to protect the persons being considered and to protect the integrity of the discernment process.

The presbytery, through the Committee on Ministry (COM) and the executive or general presbyter, has a responsibility to work with your PNC, to advise you, and to evaluate the person whom you select as your next pastor. They are authorized by our Constitution to be partners in the discernment process.

The PNC will receive names from a variety of sources. All names should be considered and evaluated thoroughly, giving attention to the source of the referral. The services of Church Leadership Connection (CLC) are provided as a support to your church free of charge. All Personal Information Forms (PIF) that come through CLC must have the following statement at the bottom of the form:

• for ministers: (Name of Minister) is a member of (Name of Presbytery) As of this date, no allegations or charges are pending against the member, nor is the member currently under judicial censure limiting the ministry or under supervised rehabilitation. The receiving body should always call the presbytery to ask for further information about any applicant, including their ministry and activities within the presbytery of membership. This PIF is in the CLC database.
• for candidates seeking their first call: In accord with Book of Order G-14.0305, G-140309d, and G-14.0310, the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of (Name of Presbytery) has certified (Name of Candidate) ready to receive a call and has given approval for him/her to submit the Personal Information Form for circulation. This PIF is in the CLC database.

It is imperative that the PNC prepares itself spiritually. Bible study and prayer are important as they seek to discern God’s call. Here are a few:

References for Committee Bible Study

About call:

Genesis 12:1-9 — the call of Abram
Numbers 11:10-15 and 24-30 — the call of outsiders
Isaiah 6:1-13 — the call of Isaiah
Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:16-21— God's spirit poured out
Exodus 3:1-12 — the call of Moses
Matthew 4:18-22 — the call of the disciples
Acts 9:1-22 — the call of Paul

About transition points in the life of God's people:

Genesis 32:22-32 — Jacob wrestles with God and with himself at the river
Exodus — God's people led out of Egypt to the Promised Land
Matthew 28:16-20 —the commissioning of the disciples
Acts 4:23-37 —the young church

Other resources:

The Book of Order, especially chapters 1-4, 6 and 14

Participants in Your Search

Presbytery's Role in the Pastor Search Process

Some members of your congregation may wonder, "Why does the presbytery have a role in our search for our new pastor?" and "What does the presbytery do for us during our search?" The presbytery will appoint a moderator of session after the pastor is gone.

"A pastor or associate pastor shall be elected by the vote of the congregation and the relationship between them shall be established by the presbytery." (G-14.0501b)

As Presbyterians we believe that pastors and congregations are brought together through a call from God. This call is confirmed as the pastor, the church, and the presbytery say "yes" to the relationship. This three-way partnership is acted out throughout the pastoral vacancy process. Presbytery's Committee on Ministry (COM) will be an active participant with your congregation as you seek a new pastor.

Presbytery Committee on Ministry

The Presbytery Committee on Ministry:

"shall counsel with churches regarding calls for permanent pastoral relations, visiting and counseling with every committee elected to nominate a pastor or associate pastor. It shall advise with the committee regarding the merits, availability, and suitability of any candidate or minister whose name is contemplated for nomination to the congregation, and shall have the privilege of suggesting names to the committee. No calls to a permanent pastoral relationship shall be in order for consideration by the presbytery unless the church has received and considered the committee's counsel before action is taken to issue a call." (G-11.0502d)

The calling process is a primary responsibility of your presbytery's COM. They assist you and provide you with resources, guidelines, compensation requirements, and other services to make your job easier. The COM is involved at key points and must concur in your final decision before a call is issued. An experienced member of the COM should be assigned to work with each PNC as "liaison" throughout the entire vacancy. They usually meet several times with your session and then with your Pastor Nominating Committee after it is elected. This person will be your advocate and coach throughout the process, assisting you and assuring that the requirements of your particular presbytery are met at every stage of your work. Consult regularly with your COM representative or liaison for advice and guidance.

Some areas where COM will be involved:

• The COM will provide the PNC chairperson with a login ID and password to use with the on-line matching and referral service, Church Leadership Connection.
• COM staff (often the executive or general presbyter) will do reference checks with the presbytery of the minister or candidates being seriously considered.
• The COM assures that the PNC considers candidates without regard to race, ethnic origin, gender, or marital status, according to the presbytery's plan for inclusiveness in employment.
• Representatives from the COM may meet with "finalists" who visit your church.
• After your PNC has selected a person for election, the COM will examine the person and make recommendations to the presbytery.
• If approved, Presbytery will receive your pastor as a member and will appoint a commission to install her or him in a special worship service.

Who Does What? Responsibilities During a Pastoral Vacancy

The Session

The session’s responsibility is to set a positive and reassuring tone for the vacancy time, helping the congregation to deal with the departure of its pastor, carrying on its ministry, and looking forward to the next stage of its life together. The session meets regularly with the moderator appointed by the presbytery. It continues to fulfill its responsibilities for the worship life of the congregation, Christian education, pastoral care, congregational fellowship, mission and administrative functions. During the vacancy the session is responsible to secure guest preachers and to provide for pastoral care with the assistance of the COM. The session must be involved at key points in the calling process. The session will plan for and participate in any congregational mission study. It will provide a process for the congregation to elect a Pastor Nominating Committee. It supports the PNC with prayer and funding. The session provides funds for search expenses such as travel, telephone, mail, and other incidentals and determines the amount of money available for financial compensation for your new pastor. The session must carefully review and approve the completed Church Information Form. The clerk of session attests to this approval with his or her signature.

The Moderator of Session

The session moderator moderates session meetings or arranges for another minister of presbytery to do so. In unusual circumstances the moderator may permit an elder to lead a meeting for particular and non-controversial business. The moderator helps session provide for new member and officer training, budget preparation, and statistical report preparation.

The Interim Pastor

The interim (if one is employed) is the temporary pastor and usually the moderator of session, carrying on the ministry of the church during the search for a called or installed pastor. The interim may assist with a mission study (some have special expertise in this area). An interim pastor supports the PNC but is not directly involved with its work. According to our Book of Order, an interim pastor cannot be called as the next installed pastor in a church serving as interim under any circumstances.

The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC)

The PNC completes the Church Information Form (CIF) with the help of the clerk of session and the treasurer and submits it to session and the COM for approval, then to Church Leadership Connection for matching with potential pastors. Once the CIF has been matched and PIFs are received, each PNC member reads and evaluates PIFs for further consideration. A member of the PNC is appointed to do reference checking on candidates of interest and share that information with the rest of the committee. Once it has narrowed the field of prospective pastors, the PNC will interview potential pastors away from the local area and during visits to the church community. The PNC selects a candidate to place in nomination before the congregation, works out details of the terms of call, and makes arrangements with the presbytery for the appropriate examination and approvals.

The Presbytery Committee on Ministry (COM)

The COM gives guidance to session and PNC, appointing one of its members to work closely with the church through the entire process. It recommends to presbytery a moderator of session and provides names of potential pulpit supplies and/or interim pastors. The COM moderator or executive/general presbyter does presbytery-to-presbytery reference checks on prospective pastors before they visit, and a COM representative may meet with finalists. Usually, the congregation votes first, then the COM examines the chosen person for suitability for the church and membership in presbytery. Once the pastor is approved, the COM recommends an administrative commission to install the pastor.

Church Leadership Connection (CLC)

CLC Staff in Louisville, Kentucky (888) 728-7228, x8550 provide materials to assist you in completing the Church Information Form (CIF), in conducting the search, and in completing the call. These materials are available from your presbytery office and on the internet at www.pcusa.org/clc. The Church Leadership Connection (CLC), a computer system through which PNCs can submit CIFs, ministers can submit PIFs and matching can be done, either by your presbytery executive or by CLC staff. Your CIF is placed on "Opportunity Search" on the internet to advertise your position. PIFs are referred from ministers whose experience and skills match needs expressed on your CIF.