Theological Foundations for a Call Process

Q. Isn't a "call process" just church language for a personnel search?
A. No. Call involves a spiritual discernment process.

We believe that God uses committees, papers, procedures, and our polity to call persons to positions of leadership. You will fill out forms, use the latest technology in an Internet-based matching system, and perhaps prospective churches will meet you via videotape or conference call, and then in person.

All of these are ways to help you be introduced to church situations that match your gifts and interests. That is just the starting point for a call process. No paper or electronic method can replace the discernment process in which each minister, candidate, or educator considers a wide variety of ministry opportunities and prays for God's guidance. As you begin the call process, you come with all of your gifts, experiences, hopes, dreams, skills, and weaknesses. If you allow yourself to be open to the leading of God's Spirit, you may be in for some wonderful surprises. Many who have gone before you in a call process have discovered that God called them to places and situations very different from that which they envisioned when they began the search. Their lives have been transformed and they have delighted in the fulfillment of God's purpose (which always seems much clearer from the end of the process than it does along the way). Welcome to the journey!

What Is "Call?"

Call is the understanding and acceptance of one's purpose in God's plan. It is the coming together of a ministry need and the gifts of a person or group to meet the need.

PCUSA minister/author Frederick Buechner explains call this way:

"By and large, a good rule for finding out is this: The kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work...

1. that you need most to do and
2. that the world most needs to have done.

If you get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing TV deodorant commercials, the chances are, you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you have probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time, you are bored and depressed by it, the chances are, you have not only bypassed (a), but you probably aren't helping your patients much either. Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, Harper and Row, 1973.

Who Is Called?

Individuals:
All those who are baptized are called to discipleship and service of Jesus Christ. Some are specially set apart by ordination as elders, deacons, or ministers. Others are specially called to the ministry of Christian education in the church.

Groups of God's people:
Tribes, disciples, apostles, committees, and congregations listen for the call of God in the circumstances of their lives together, and they seek to do the will of God in a particular time and place.

Congregations:
During the time of transition between pastors, a congregation must be about a spiritual discernment process to discover its call - what God wants it to be and do in the next phase of its ministry. By doing a mission study that involves Bible study, prayer, and a thoughtful look at facts about a congregation and community, the congregation can discern God's direction. Once that is clear, a pastor nominating committee (PNC) for pastors and a Search Committee for Christian educators goes about a spiritual discernment process to discover the person God is calling to lead this ministry.

As Presbyterians we believe that pastors and congregations are brought together through a call from God. It is a relationship established not primarily for the benefit of one or both of the parties but for the purpose of service in the ministry of Jesus Christ. God has endowed both the leader and the people with particular gifts and experiences that, when brought together, provide the resources for effective ministry. This relationship is confirmed as the pastor, the church, and the presbytery all say "yes" to the call. This three-way partnership is acted out throughout the pastoral vacancy process. For educators this relationship is confirmed as the session, the educator, and possibly the presbytery all say "yes" to the call.

Like Moses, persons and groups who are called are not always eager to serve. Often they feel inadequate, apprehensive, and reluctant. They often go through times of wrestling before responding affirmatively. An experience of peace and confidence about the call comes in the confirmation of other persons and in looking back after some time has passed. The experience of being called is a powerful and awesome experience. It is a spiritual adventure!