Guidelines for Roster
CALC’s MANDATE
Jesus has given the church pastors to equip God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11). CALC is not an ecclesial authority that dictates how pastors are trained and called. CALC establishes voluntary guidelines and standards for the call, training and discipline of pastors. CALC works in partnership with our member congregations to train, equip, roster and discipline pastors. CALC also assists congregations in the call and professional development of their pastors.
MINISTRY STANDARDS
A candidate for Pastoral Ministry in a CALC congregation:
Meets the scriptural qualifications for parish pastors;
Ascribes to CALC’s expectations for parish pastors;
Possesses gifts, skills and aptitudes for pastoral ministry;
Subscribes to CALC’s Confession of Faith and Statement of Purpose;
Has met CALC’s educational standards, that is, has earned a Master of Divinity Degree or Pastoral Ministry Certificate (or an equivalent degree) from a Lutheran Institution; or
Has earned a Master of Divinity Degree or Pastoral Ministry Certificate (or an equivalent degree) from a seminary of another Christian denomination, has covenanted to minister in the congregation in the Lutheran tradition and has agreed to engage in further study in furtherance of this covenant.
Left click on the high-lighted for additional information.
Evaluation & Continuing Education
Annual Evaluations: CALC’s model constitution and bylaws calls a congregational council to provide support for their pastor(s) and other professional leaders, assist them to review and evaluate their ministry and review annually their financial compensation making adequate adjustments. CALC has developed a form by which the ministry of the pastor and the congregation is evaluated. This form may be accessed as a WORD or PDF file on the RESOURCES page under the heading “PARISH PASTOR: EVALUATION FORM.”
Pastors’ Conference. CALC convenes an annual pastors’ study retreat which will provide high quality continuing education and opportunities for professional development for CALC’s pastors, deacons, pastors-in-training and seminarians. Information on the up-coming conference is found by clicking the EVENTS button in the navigation pane above.
Call Resources
Resources for Congregations. Member and Associate Member congregations may utilize CALC’s available resources to assist them with the call process. The following resources are available to congregations in the call of a Parish Pastor.
Website: Pastoral vacancies are advertised under the VACANCY/CALL page of CALC’s website.
Office of the President: CALC’s model constitution states: a Member Congregation may choose to seek the advice and counsel of the President of CALC and utilize CALC’s available resources to assist with the call process. The President’s assistance can include sharing information on pastors known to the President who have expressed an interest in serving in a CALC congregation assisting the congregation in advertising the congregations pastoral vacancy and assisting congregations in vetting candidates (including participating in the interview of candidates).
The Board of Elders/PRP: CALC’s Board of Elders (BOE) can be called upon by any Member Congregation to assist in the call of a Parish Pastor. The BOE’s assistance is rendered through the Pastoral Review Panel (PRP). Click here for additional Information on the PRP.
Call Package. The purpose of the Call Package is to provide guidelines and resources for CALC congregations who are in the process of calling a pastor. These materials define and describe the office of the Ministry of Word and Sacrament together with qualifications for the office. CALC’s Pastor-in Training option is introduced. Practical steps for a congregation to follow through the call process are included. Various appendices are attached to the manual including: a form used for the establishment of a congregational profile; CALC’s Statement of Faith and Purpose; an Application for Entry into Pastoral Ministry in a CALC Congregation; CALC’s Salary Guidelines; and a standard Letter of Call. Click here for access to an electronic copy of the Call Package.
Pastor-in-Training Program. Candidates for the pastoral ministry become aware of their gifts and God’s call in various ways. Some become aware at a critical moment in their lives or the life of their congregation. Some are urged by others in the church to consider their call. Some struggle for years with their call and their circumstances. During a time of pastoral vacancy congregations should look within for members who may be experiencing a call from God to enter the pastoral ministry. The Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT), CALC’s online seminary, allows a candidate for the pastoral ministry to engage in a course of study acceptable to CALC and the Congregation, in order to attain theological education while simultaneously serving in the calling congregation. The potential candidate would first have to enroll in the Shepherd’s Pathway to Ministry (See paragraph 6 below).
CALC has prepared the Pastor-in-Training (PIT) Call Package is to provide guidelines and resources for CALC congregations who are considering calling a pastor-in-training. Practical steps for a congregation to follow through the call process are included. Various appendices are attached to the manual including: an Application For Entry Into Shepherd’s Pathway; CALC’s Statement of Faith and Purpose; a model Letter of Call together with some guidelines for its various terms; and forms that can be used to evaluate the PIT’s progress. Click here for access to an electronic copy of the PIT Call Package.
The Shepherd’s Pathway to Pastoral Ministry. CALC’s Shepherd’s Pathway to Pastoral Ministry (“Shepherd’s Pathway”) is the program, approved by our congregations, by which CALC’s future pastors are trained. Click here for more information on this program. To access the application form to be utilized by any candidate who wishes to enroll in the Shepherd’s Pathway click here.
Application for Entry into Pastoral Ministry in a CALC Congregation. This form may be used by member congregations to collect information on a potential candidate for pastoral ministry in a CALC congregation. Click here to access the application.
Letters of Call. CALC has developed a model letters of call for a Parish Pastor.
Guidelines. CALC has developed guidelines for assisting a congregation in negotiating compensation under a letter of call to a parish pastor.