First Call Pastors

The transition from seminary student to pastor is challenging. First call pastors who participate in a program of support and guidance during this time find that both they and their congregations benefit.

PC(USA) Programs for First Call Pastors:

Office of Theology and Worship, "Company of New Pastors"

Download the Company of New Pastors Brochure

Entrance Into Pastoral Ministry Programs

A GAC initiative in partnership with middle governing bodies and the Board of Pensions

• Synod of Living Waters/Louisville Seminary Program
• Synod of Mid-Atlantic Program
• Synod of the Pacific Programs

  

Other PC(USA) programs:

• Synod of Lincoln Trails
• Mid-America Pastoral Enrichment for Transition
• Synod of Lakes and Prairies Newly Ordained Clergy Seminars
  
  
• Synod of the Northeast Early Ministry Institute

New pastors – contact your presbytery to learn what programs are available to you.

Entrance Into Pastoral Ministry Report

Report of the Workgroup on Entrance Into Pastoral Ministry approved by General Assembly in 2001

Resources for developing new pastors
These resources help newly ordained ministers move from their roles as seminary students to their new roles as leaders of congregations.

The Seminary Debt Assistance Program was created by the Board of Pensions in 2000. Grants are available to pastors in their first seven years of ministry who are serving small congregations. Download information about the program:

Items marked with are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. For best results, right-click the link (or click and hold for Macintosh), select "save target as" and save the document to your desktop for viewing and printing.