GUIDELINES FOR ASSISTING PASTORS IN DEALING WITH PASTORAL CALLS
A. Proper Lines of Communication
In dealing with pastoral calls, it is important that a pastor maintains proper communication in three directions:
1. The calling congregation.
2. The congregation presently served.
3. The district president where the pastor currently serves and the president of the district into which he has received the call, both Circuit visitors, and both regional vice-presidents (where applicable). The circuit visitor is to encourage appropriate communication in the three directions indicated above. If the circuit visitor does not receive copies of correspondence, he should inquire and insist that appropriate communication take place.
B. When a Pastor in the Circuit Receives a Call
1. Communication should take place immediately in three directions.
a. To the calling congregation.
The pastor-elect should acknowledge receipt of the call and the accompanying documentation, and give the assurance that it will be prayerfully considered. He should share with the calling congregation his intended procedure for considering the call, i.e., if and when he intends to visit, the time by which he hopes to reach a decision, etc.
b. To the congregation presently served.
Since a call is a public act, the pastor-elect should immediately inform his present congregation that he has received a call. He should do this in a way that encourages prayer and helpful dialogue as he seeks the Lord's will in the matter of the call he has received. The call should not become a "bargaining chip" to enhance the pastor's leverage and position in the congregation.
c. To the district.
The pastor-elect should send copies of all correspondence dealing with the call to his district president. If the call is from another district, that district president should also receive copies of all correspondence as well as the circuit visitors of both circuits.
2. Prayerfully and carefully consider the call.
While the decision to decline or accept a call rests with the pastor-elect, it would be well if, as part of his deliberations, he sought the counsel and advice of his brothers in the ministry, district officials, and members of the congregation involved. The circuit visitor should request an appointment and invite such a discussion. What is best for his present congregation(s) the congregation(s) that is/are calling him, where our Lord wants him to serve, where the pastor’s skills might be best used for the Kingdom, as well as the well-being of the pastor and his family are all important components of a decision to accept or decline a call.
C. When a Pastor in the Circuit Declines a Call
1. Communicate immediately in three directions:
a. To the calling congregation.
The pastor should formally notify the calling congregation of his declination of the call. This should be contained in a letter which is sent to the calling congregation together with the returned call documents. Courtesy suggests that a telephone call to appropriate representatives of the calling congregation be made giving his decision and indicating that a formal letter of declination will follow.
b. To the congregation presently served.
The pastor should formally notify the congregation of his declination of the call and the reasons for which he declined it.
c. To the district.
Copies of the correspondence described above should be sent to the appropriate district presidents and circuit visitors.
2. Express concern for the church at large.
In order to foster concern for the church at large, the pastor should lead his parish in prayer for God's blessing on the calling congregation.
3. Put the decision behind him.
Once a decision is made the pastor should "serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100:2a) in his present congregation, confident that his current location is where the Lord has called him to serve.
D. When a Pastor in the Circuit Accepts a Call
(Please contact your Circuit Visitor for the information in this section.)
In dealing with pastoral calls, it is important that a pastor maintains proper communication in three directions:
1. The calling congregation.
2. The congregation presently served.
3. The district president where the pastor currently serves and the president of the district into which he has received the call, both Circuit visitors, and both regional vice-presidents (where applicable). The circuit visitor is to encourage appropriate communication in the three directions indicated above. If the circuit visitor does not receive copies of correspondence, he should inquire and insist that appropriate communication take place.
B. When a Pastor in the Circuit Receives a Call
1. Communication should take place immediately in three directions.
a. To the calling congregation.
The pastor-elect should acknowledge receipt of the call and the accompanying documentation, and give the assurance that it will be prayerfully considered. He should share with the calling congregation his intended procedure for considering the call, i.e., if and when he intends to visit, the time by which he hopes to reach a decision, etc.
b. To the congregation presently served.
Since a call is a public act, the pastor-elect should immediately inform his present congregation that he has received a call. He should do this in a way that encourages prayer and helpful dialogue as he seeks the Lord's will in the matter of the call he has received. The call should not become a "bargaining chip" to enhance the pastor's leverage and position in the congregation.
c. To the district.
The pastor-elect should send copies of all correspondence dealing with the call to his district president. If the call is from another district, that district president should also receive copies of all correspondence as well as the circuit visitors of both circuits.
2. Prayerfully and carefully consider the call.
While the decision to decline or accept a call rests with the pastor-elect, it would be well if, as part of his deliberations, he sought the counsel and advice of his brothers in the ministry, district officials, and members of the congregation involved. The circuit visitor should request an appointment and invite such a discussion. What is best for his present congregation(s) the congregation(s) that is/are calling him, where our Lord wants him to serve, where the pastor’s skills might be best used for the Kingdom, as well as the well-being of the pastor and his family are all important components of a decision to accept or decline a call.
C. When a Pastor in the Circuit Declines a Call
1. Communicate immediately in three directions:
a. To the calling congregation.
The pastor should formally notify the calling congregation of his declination of the call. This should be contained in a letter which is sent to the calling congregation together with the returned call documents. Courtesy suggests that a telephone call to appropriate representatives of the calling congregation be made giving his decision and indicating that a formal letter of declination will follow.
b. To the congregation presently served.
The pastor should formally notify the congregation of his declination of the call and the reasons for which he declined it.
c. To the district.
Copies of the correspondence described above should be sent to the appropriate district presidents and circuit visitors.
2. Express concern for the church at large.
In order to foster concern for the church at large, the pastor should lead his parish in prayer for God's blessing on the calling congregation.
3. Put the decision behind him.
Once a decision is made the pastor should "serve the Lord with gladness" (Psalm 100:2a) in his present congregation, confident that his current location is where the Lord has called him to serve.
D. When a Pastor in the Circuit Accepts a Call
(Please contact your Circuit Visitor for the information in this section.)