Guidelines for the Pastor-in-Training Program
CALC Congregations are free to call a Pastor-in Training (PIT). A PIT is a candidate who is willing to engage in a course of study acceptable to CALC and the Congregation under the Shepherd’s Pathway while serving in the congregation at the same time. A congregation calling a PIT congregation should consider the following guidelines.
1. the setting.
Small Congregation: The ideal setting for the call of a PIT is a small congregation with access to retired or active CALC pastor(s) who could be called upon to supervise and mentor the candidate. The demands of a smaller congregation are such that allows time for study, parish work and family life for the candidate. The candidate (under the supervision and mentorship of a seasoned pastor and the training received through ILT) and the congregation can grow together in faith, life and numbers.
Succession Planning: The PIT model could be used in a congregation where the existing pastor is contemplating retirement. The incumbent pastor has agreed reduce his/her ministry incrementally over a three to five year period. The Pastor in Training would assume greater responsibility for congregational life each year until he/she would assume sole leadership of the congregation.
2. The Candidate.
The Ideal Candidate. The ideal candidate for the PIT program is: a member of the calling congregation who has formed a strong Lutheran identity. A candidate with a strong Lutheran identity has typically been raised in the Lutheran Church, that is, baptized as a child or infant, attended Sunday School, successfully completed a Confirmation program and thereafter has been an active member of a Lutheran congregation and has served as a congregational leader. A candidate is considered an active member if he/she regularly and consistently: attends worship; participates in Bible study and other opportunities for Christian education; regularly participates in activities which promote maintenance of the congregation’s property and/or fellowship among congregants; and participates in the mission and outreach activities of the congregation. Leadership in the congregation includes: taking an active role in worship (as liturgist, lector, Communion assistant, sacristan, preacher, and/or leadership role in the congregation’s music ministry); serving on congregational council or a committee thereof; serving as a Sunday School teacher/superintendent or youth group leader; Bible study leader, serving as a volunteer coordinator; and /or taking a leadership role in the mission and outreach activities of a congregation.
Other Candidates. CALC congregations are free to consider a candidate who was raised in another Christian denomination who has been an active member of a Lutheran congregation for at least five (5) years and has taken a leadership role in said congregation, as those terms are defined above. Our congregations are free to consider a candidate does not come from a Lutheran background or has not been a member of a Lutheran congregation for five years. The congregation must carefully consider the following factors in assessing the aptness of a candidate for ministry in a Lutheran congregation: the candidate’s faith journey, familial background, work experience, church membership, experience in church leadership, and educational training. Attention must be given to the development and formation of the candidate’s Lutheran identity through a combination of theological training and mentorship by a seasoned Lutheran pastor.
3. Structure of the call.
Bi-vocational Ministry/Allocation of Time: The PIT’s ministry in a small congregation, or as part of a definite succession plan, is typically not a fulltime ministry. The PIT may have to hold a part-time job during the educational/training phase and potentially for the duration of the candidate’s ministry in the congregation. The congregation and the PIT will have to structure the call so that the PIT is able to fulfill his/her obligations to their outside employer, make time for family, devotional life, personal rest and refreshment, theological studies and pastoral ministry in the congregation. Even if the PIT is not required to hold an outside job, the PIT’s letter of call must provide for the allocation time between family, personal time, study and ministry in the congregation.
Work-Study Program. The candidate will be given an opportunity to actively engage in the simultaneous study for and the practice of pastoral ministry in a structured and supervised parish setting. He/she will given the opportunity to preach, teach, lead worship and provide pastoral care under the supervision of a seasoned pastor and a Lay Committee. The goal of the practical experience component of a candidate’s theological education is to encourage, nurture, hone and develop his/her aptitude and proficiency in the following critically essential areas of pastoral ministry: preaching, worship leadership, teaching, pastoral care, evangelism and outreach, parish administration and the further development of their Lutheran identity.
4. Supervision.
Supervision/Evaluation. The Pastor in Training should be actively supervised and mentored by a Supervising Pastor and a Lay Committee. The Supervising Pastor and the Lay Committee will assess the candidate’s progress through written in-depth periodic evaluations. A midterm evaluation, assessing ministry for the first six months of ministry, should be completed before the end of said six month term. A yearend evaluation, assessing ministry for the first twelve months of ministry, should be completed before the end of said twelve month term. Thereafter, a midterm and yearend report must be submitted for each subsequent year of the term of the PIT call agreement. The Supervising Pastor should discuss his/her midterm and yearend evaluations with the candidate and both must sign each such evaluation prior to its submission to the church council and to CALC. The Lay Committee’s midterm and yearend evaluations must be discussed with the candidate and must be signed by the candidate and the chair of the Lay Committee prior to submission of any evaluation to the church council and CALC. In order for the candidate to continue as PIT a positive evaluation must be given by the Supervising Pastor and the Lay Committee at the end of each twelve month term of the Pastor-in Training call. Written evaluation tools will be provided by CALC. The church council must also receive and approve the yearend reports of the Supervising Pastor and the Lay Committee.
Appointment of a Supervising Pastor. The calling congregation must appoint a Supervising Pastor for oversight and evaluation of the candidate’s ministry and the provision of mentorship for the candidate. The purpose of the Supervising Pastor’s oversight and mentorship is to help the candidate to integrate academic learning into day-to-day ministry, provide guidance in sermon preparation, worship leadership, the administration of Sacraments, time management and provide practical advice and counsel with respect to the provision of pastoral care and parish administration. The Supervisor will also be engaged in the general evaluation of the candidate’s ministry, and personal and professional growth through periodic meetings (in person and over the telephone) and through written, in-depth periodic evaluations.
Appointment of a Lay Committee. The calling congregation’s church council may appoint a three to five member Lay Committee. One member of the Lay Committee should be a member of the church council. The other members of the Lay Committee should act as representatives of the larger congregational community. These other members should, to the greatest extent possible, reflect the makeup of the calling congregation. The Lay Committee’s purpose is to provide the candidate with feedback, encouragement and guidance with resect to his/her worship leadership, preaching, teaching, pastoral care and other aspects of leadership in the congregation. The Lay Committee participates in evaluating the candidate’s ministry and growth through feedback in scheduled monthly meetings with the candidate as well as by completing periodic written evaluations.
Pastor-in-Training Program and the CALC. A congregation calling a pastor-in-training (PIT) may utilize the services of CALC’s Pastoral Review Panel PRP, the Board of Elders or the President or the President’s nominee to evaluate the PIT’s progress CALC’s evaluator provides the candidate with feedback, encouragement and guidance with resect to his/her worship leadership, preaching, teaching, pastoral care and other aspects of leadership in the congregation. The evaluator can assess the candidate’s progress in the PIT program and aptness in the critical areas of: preaching, teaching, worship leadership, administration, pastoral care and evangelism. The calling congregation should provide the evaluator with an audio or video tape of one of the candidate’s sermons each month. A video or audio recording of a Bible study class and/or confirmation class should be recorded each month these classes are offered. The evaluator participates in evaluating the candidate’s ministry and growth through feedback in scheduled bi-monthly meetings with the candidate as well as by completing periodic written evaluations. The evaluation form will be provided by CALC.
Appointment of a Pastor Mentor. The candidate will select, and the calling congregation’s church council will approve the candidate’s selection, of a Pastor Mentor. The Mentor Pastor should be an experienced local CALC pastor who walks alongside the candidate, prays with, supports and encourages the candidate through as much of the candidate’s program as is possible. The Pastor Mentor may also help the candidate to cope with the academic rigor of the PMC or M-Div program, holding him/her accountable to all components of the program and provide a good listening ear as you deal with the challenges which arise during the continuing education process.
5. Coursework that Must be Completed Prior to Taking on the Position of Pastor in Training.
The candidate may actively serve in the congregation following the completion of what are designated Foundational Courses.
Pastoral Ministry Certificate (PMC) Pathway: The candidate may be licensed to preach regularly, baptize, confirm and commune upon completing the following three Foundational Courses in the PMC pathway: (1) HST 321: Luther and His Catechisms (3 Certificate Credits); (2) PT 421: Proclaiming God’s Word. (3 Certificate Credits); and (3) BT 221: Principles of Biblical Interpretation. (3 Certificate Credits).
Master of Divinity (M-Div.) Pathway: The candidate may be licensed to preach regularly, baptize, confirm and commune upon completing the following three Foundational Courses of the M-Div pathway to: BT 304: Lutheran Biblical Interpretation (3 credits); HST 341: The Theology of Martin Luther (3 credits); and, (3) PT 321: Homiletics I (3 credits). Thereafter the M-Div candidate takes courses offered in the M-Div program that are equivalent to the nine additional of the PMC program. Upon the completion of the twelve courses the candidate can apply for and receive a Pastoral Ministry Certificate, receive a congregational call and be ordained. The candidate may thereafter continue to take the additional courses necessary to earn and receive an M-Div degree.
6. Transition in Leadership.
The congregational council of the calling congregation, in consultation with your Supervising Pastor, must provide for an orderly transition in primary pastoral leadership from the Supervising Pastor to the candidate. As the candidate completes more seminary courses and hones his/her critical pastoral skills, the congregational council will incrementally decrease the Supervising Pastor’s general oversight over congregational life, pastoral duties and time spent on the candidate’s supervision. The Lay Committee will continue to meet with the candidate monthly unless and until the congregational council sets other intervals for these meetings.
7. Ordination.
A call issued by a CALC congregation to a candidate authorizes his/her ordination to the office of the Minister of Word and Sacrament. The letter of call for the call of the Pastor-in-Training provides for the ordination of the candidate, if and when, the candidate earns a Pastoral Ministry certificate and receives the approval of his/her supervisors. According to The Book of Concord (Kolb & Wengert Edition, page 341), “it is necessary for the church to retain the right to call, choose and ordain ministers. This is a gift bestowed exclusively on the church, and no human authority can take it away from the church.”
An ordination is nothing more than a rite or ceremony confirming a pastor’s call by a CALC congregation. The ceremony includes a public declaration by the called pastor to approve and subscribe to CALC’s constitution and Confession of Faith. The ordination normally takes place in the congregation issuing the call. The elders and other members of the congregation have the right and freedom to ordain their pastor in a rite led entirely by the congregational members. Pastors and other laypersons (including the council members of the calling congregation) may be invited to participate in the service, which should include the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6). The laying on of hands is not restricted to clergy.
Following a candidate’s ordination, the candidate’s name will be entered on CALC’s roster of pastors. The candidate may thereafter represent the calling congregation as the congregation’s pastor delegate and be nominated for election as a member of CALC’s National Council.
CALC’s Participation. The ordination of a candidate by laying on of hands authorizes the candidate to take on the office of ministry in the calling congregation, however, the candidate may thereafter take a call to another congregation. The rite of ordination is therefore into the church universal. The ordination of a candidate into the church universal may be embodied by CALC’s participation in the ordination through the participation of our President or other member of National Council in the service of ordination.
Manual.
An electronic copy of the PIT Call Package may be download from the RESOURCES page of CALC’s Website.