Congregations and the Call Process
Go here to see a list of congregations/ministries in the Southeastern Synod currently in the call process.
About the Call Process
When a congregation’s pastor or deacon resigns, the synod staff partner with congregational lay leaders and initiate what we refer to in the ELCA as the “call process”. The call process is an intentional time of prayerful partnership between the bishop’s staff and the congregation’s leaders. We believe that the Holy Spirit is active in this time of leadership transition working through both the congregation and the synod staff to clarify the congregation’s purpose and mission in the community and to identify leaders who God may be calling to serve a congregation into the future.
Two primary resources used during the call process are the Southeastern Synod’s Call Process Manual and the Compensation Guidelines. The Call Process Manual provides a helpful overview to those who want to familiarize themselves with the process, as well as a detailed description of what happens throughout for congregation leaders who are working through the process. The Compensation Guidelines provide guidance for determining appropriate compensation and benefits for rostered ministers.
To access forms and more regarding the call process, from the congregational perspective, check out the part of the ELCA website dedicated to guiding congregations in this process.
The Assistants to the Bishop are working together to facilitate the call processes with congregations. They work in close partnership with Bishop Strickland and, when appropriate, with our synod’s Directors for Evangelical Mission, Ms. Melissa Fuller and Pr. Linda Manson. Learn more about our staff here.
Check out this video, describing an overview of the call process: