The Call Process as Gift

by David Haberstock

I grew up in a parsonage. I had one pastor until I became a pastor. I had never attended a call meeting before becoming a Regional Pastor. Beyond what the Bible says about “the call,” I knew little about it.

So, in just over two years as a Regional Pastor helping congregations with calls, what have I learned?

1. God is in control of this process to send pastors to parishes, preachers, or prophets to hearers.

2. God often does not do what you want.

3. There are no “wasted calls,” for God is blessing someone through your congregation issuing a call, even if the pastor does not accept the call.

Let’s focus on that third point: there are no wasted calls. It’s a common refrain in a calling congregation: “Well, that was a waste of a call.” Sometimes it’s the frustrated parishioner or vacancy pastor saying it. Sometimes it’s the interested pastor or church worker saying it in conversations amongst other church workers as they observe the goings on in other parts of the church. But I say again: there are no wasted calls.

Your congregation may not be blessed by a pastor coming to serve you, but you are being blessed by calling a pastor. Moreover, the broader Church is also blessed.

You and your congregation are blessed because you are part of God’s calling and sending of a preacher of His Word (Romans 10:14-15, by processes seen in Acts 6:1-7; 13:1-3).

In every step of that process you are affirming that you believe, teach, and confess God’s promises: that He works in and through His Word and Sacraments (Romans 10:17; Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 26:26-28, 1 John 5:6-8, etc.), which are distributed to you by the hands and mouth of His called and ordained servant (Romans 10:14-15; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

You are confessing to one another and to the world around you that you are the Church, and, as the Church, that you, His flock, need His voice in your midst coming through the voice of His under-shepherd (Smalcald Articles III.xii:2; John 10:27).

You are also blessed because every time you are forced to issue a call you must consider again your congregation and its needs, and discuss them with your Circuit Counsellor or Regional Pastor. These things winnow us. They sort out the chaff of unrealistic expectations and leave in us a desire for and appreciation of God’s miraculous working in our lives through His Word and Sacraments. Sometimes vacancies draw more people into volunteering to keep the various functions of the church operating. Vacancies, therefore, are often times of personal growth in love for one another, spurred on by difficulty and necessity (Romans 5:3-5). So the Lord is blessing you one way or another, for He will work for your good even in a temporary lack of Word and Sacrament (Romans 8:28).

But that’s not all. The pastor you extend a divine call to, and the congregation he serves, are blessed by your call. Of course, many a pastor or congregation may say, “That hardly feels like a blessing,” due to the fear of losing their pastor, or the struggle and soul-searching the pastor goes through as he prayerfully considers a call. But I tell you again: it is a blessing. The pastor who receives a call is blessed by the conversations he has with his parishioners, his family, and with his Lord. Often times this encourages and reaffirms his desire to continue serving the people of God in his current field of work. Other times it allows important and honest conversations to occur and provides an opportunity to address issues that have plagued a pastor and congregation. Sometimes one call nudges a pastor who had never thought of moving so that he will accept a later call. Calls provide a chance for honest open dialogue within a congregation. All of this is a true blessing in our life together as Christ’s Church.

So, there are no wasted calls. With the Lord, everything is gift. Even our times of lack—lack of a pastor, lack of Word and Sacraments, and so forth—are a gift He works good things in for us (James 1:17).

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Rev. David Haberstock is the Central Regional Pastor for Lutheran Church–Canada.

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