South Dakota Synod Call Process-Revised

The Call Process

South Dakota Synod Support to Ministries

We join together to call your next pastor

Last Revision August 2010

Step One

• Inform SynodYou are not alone in this awesome task! The synod staff and support to ministries committee will walk with you through the process. Your congregation with others in your conference has elected a conference dean and a lay person who help make up this committee.

The information that follows, and that in your packet, has been designed to assist your congregation in the steps necessary to seek a new pastor.


Step Two

• Arrange for pastoral assistance during the transition – Synod provides pulpit supply list of

interim or lay people available• Supply pastors list is available for congregations from the

synod office for congregations seeking a pastor/rostered leader for short terms. Congregations make contact with pastors directly.

• Lay persons available for pulpit supply list is available for congregations seeking an individual to preach and lead worship on a Sunday morning. Congregations make contact with individuals directly.


Step Two (continue)

• Arrange for assistance (continued)

– Synod office may suggest an interim minister for contract outside the call

• An interim ministry following the resignation or retirement of a congregation’s pastor can assist a congregation with a transition following an extended pastorate and the resolution of recent or long-term conflicts. This ministry is done by a person who has received special interim ministry training.

• There are two general types of interim ministry.– Supply Interim—a typical interim usually follows pastoral retirement or

resignation.– Intentional Interim—an intentional interim follows a pastoral retirement or

resignation that was preceded by a long and difficult period of congregational conflict or as a result of a disciplinary action.


Step Three

• Learn about your congregation and the direction the Holy Spirit is leading– Be in prayer– Form a call committee* based on

congregational constitution– Review congregational constitution(s)

and/or parish agreement– Complete a ministry site profile about

your parish


*Call Committee Guidelines

• Confidentiality requirement of all members

• Ethical behavior

• Name a chairman/contact person (generally the same)

• Committee facilitates work of the process

• See appendix of “Call Process” booklet


2010 Partners ~ Support to Ministries Committee Members

• Northern Plains Conference– Rev. Patrick Hahn– St. Paul Lutheran– Bowdle SD 57428-2022– Bonnie Smith– Pollock SD 57648-0096

• Southeastern Conference– Rev. Lance R. Lindgren, Chair – Vangen Lutheran– Mission Hill SD 57046-2003– Pat Norin– Centerville SD 57014-6515

• Prairie Coteau Conference– Rev. Kristin E. Ostercamp– St. John’s Lutheran– Webster SD 57274-0036– Norma Kearney– Watertown SD 57201-4433

• Prairie Rivers Conference– Rev. Mindy J. Ehrke– Salem Lutheran– Mt Vernon SD 57059-5715– Hannah Fleming– Stickney SD 57XXX

• Bear Butte Conference– Rev. Michael J. Fox– Grace Lutheran– Sturgis SD 57785-0577– Vacant–

• Medary Conference– Rev. Randall S. (Randy) Koeller– American Lutheran – De Smet SD 57231-0031– Cheryl Brekke– Willow Lake SD 57278-5411

• Crossroads Conference– Rev. Kathleen R. Soldwisch– Christ Lutheran– Salem SD 57058-0248– Donna Kniffen– Lennox SD 57039-2064


Step Four

• Complete ministry site study– Representatives from support to

ministry meet with your congregation– Congregation share with support to

ministries about the kind of ministry they want and need


Step Five

• Candidates names and profiles– Synod staff and members of support to

ministries consider and submit possible names

– Candidates are contacted by synod for consideration of ministry site and permission to submit their profile

– Candidates accept and profile sent to the call committee for review


Step Six

• Call committee reviews profiles– The call committee considers the

profiles of candidate(s)– The call committee interview(s)

candidate phone and/or in person


Step Seven

• Interview process– Call committee interviews candidate(s) – Candidate(s) interviews congregation


Step Eight

• Prayer and reflection– All should be in prayer reflecting on the

will for the congregation


Step Nine

Call committee recommends candidate to council

• Council acts on recommendation– Council approves candidate/interview

oCalls for Congregational meeting– Council rejects candidate

oReturns to profiles


Step Ten

• Congregational meeting– Congregation meet and greet– Congregation votes– Candidate is informed of decision


Step Eleven

• Candidate discerns


Step Twelve

• Installation– The call process complete

– The pastor and congregation begin their mutual commitment to do ministry together


Together in ministry

• Thanks be to God for the partnership of congregation, pastor, and synod!– Continue to be in support

• Pastor and congregation• Congregation and synod• Synod and pastor/rostered leader


Working together in Ministry

Support to Ministries continues to be with you as you walk together in ministry

Coaching Collegiality

Deans

Discernment

Mobility Forms

Delivery of Names

Interviewing, Discernment

Negotiation, Call

Parish Profile

Lay/Congregation

Presidents

Parish Study

Coaching, Training Support


Thanks Be to God for the partnership of congregation, pastor, and synod!

Documents

South Dakota Synod Call Process-Revised