The Call Process - Step By Step

On February 11, Church Council met together with Bishop Suzanne Dillahunt and Assistant to the Bishop Ed Williams about the call process. The two went over the details of what will happen in the coming months as we seek a new Associate Pastor here at Epiphany Lutheran Church. The bishop said God already has someone in store for Epiphany. We just need to be patient and thorough in our search to find who that person is.  We shared with the bishop and assistant our hopes and dreams for Epiphany, and what we are looking for in a new pastor. There is a sense of hope and anticipation for the future, and it was exciting to hear that articulated at our meeting. We have come a long way in the past 3 years!

In our discussions, we shared the desire to find a candidate who will be able to bring energy and creativity to ministry opportunities focusing primarily at the Austin campus of Epiphany. This pastor will preach and preside at least three of the four Sundays a month at Austin, and will be responsible for the ministry and outreach activities there. This pastor will also be working with the staff to provide ministry and leadership in activities at the Far Hills campus, will have an office at Far Hills, and will oversee the Outreach Ministry Lane. The staff will also work with this pastor in the ministry activities at Austin. We are one church with two campuses, and we want to reflect that in our leadership structure.

We were given a lot of material to review as a council, and given the charge of appointing a Call Committee and filling out a congregational profile. These will be the next steps to accomplish in the coming weeks.

In case you are wondering what the steps are in the process, I have listed them below. I will do my best to keep you updated on where we are in the process.

What I ask of you today, and in the days to come is to keep the Church Council and soon to be established Call Committee in your prayers.

Here is the process we will be following in the days ahead:

• Church Council drafts a job description for the Associate Pastor position.  Council completed this on February 4. 
• Church Council meets with Synod Bishop.  This took place on February 11.
• Update congregational membership list.  This has been accomplished by the staff for our annual report.
• Church Council and staff gathering information for Congregational Profile.  This is in the process of being completed. 
• Establish a Call Committee based on demographics of the congregation.  Church Council met on February 18 to begin this process.  Once a Call Committee has been established, the congregation will be informed who these people are.
• The Call Committee will identify leader of Call Committee and a secretary.
• Complete congregational profile. Submit to Synod Staff.
• Call Committee will review the process with Pastor Ed Williams, Assistant to the Bishop.  He will go over the information from the Synod about the process.
• Call Committee shares initial thoughts of needs and criteria for an Associate Pastor.
• Call Committee Brainstorms questions, thoughts, ideas, and reviews the information to be gathered.
• The Call Committee communicates to the congregation the process and will ask for names of candidates to be considered. 
• The Call Committee will request names of candidates from Synod.
• Synod submits up to 3 names of candidates to Call Committee.
• Pastor Charlie will first meet with candidates.
• The Call Committee will interview up to 3 candidates.
• Candidates will also have an opportunity to interview with staff members.
• The Call Committee will refer 1 candidate to Council and inform other candidates.
• Church Council will interview the selected candidate.
• Set-up a meet and greet with brief the candidate.
• Synod sends call form and related materials. Sets up call meeting with congregation.
• Congregation votes on candidate (2/3 majority required) and compensation (simple majority required)
• Complete call form.
• Forward completed call form to Bishop's Office.
• Bishop's Office forwards call to candidate.
• Candidate responds in 30 days.

So we have our work cut out for us. As we continue down this road, remember God is in charge. God has brought us this far, and God will continue to guide us in the days to come!

Peace

Pastor Charlie