Pastors and calls
How do the names of our WELS pastors get on the call list? Some pastors' names seem to appear quite often on the Call Reports. Do pastors sometimes ask their name to be put on the call list? Thank you for your reply.
District presidents, who are responsible for assembling call lists for pastors, will consult with one another. On occasion, members of a congregation experiencing a vacancy might suggest the name of a pastor to be considered for inclusion on their call list. In such cases, district presidents will take those suggestions under advisement.
There can be circumstances—on the rarer side—that lead a pastor to contact his district president and request consideration for inclusion on a call list to serve elsewhere. Those circumstances have the best interests of the pastor and the public ministry in mind.
From a human perspective, pastors might receive calls frequently for a number of related reasons. They might be known for their God-given gifts and their faithfulness in using them. They might be blessed with a good reputation in the church. They might offer more visible service to the church at-large, so that others—beyond the members of the congregation they serve—are familiar with them and their ministries. Numerous other factors can enter into the equation as well.
I can assure you that receiving a call to serve elsewhere can be an unsettling time in life. Then again, receiving a call to serve elsewhere provides a good opportunity for a pastor to evaluate his gifts and ministry, and prayerfully determine where those gifts can best be used at that time in life. We all would do well to remember our pastors in prayer—especially when they are holding multiple calls.