The Office of the Christian The Office of the Christian TeacherTeacher

Topic Today: The Office of The Topic Today: The Office of The Public MinistryPublic Ministry

Did you remember to place your Did you remember to place your Call Committee Questions in Call Committee Questions in your folder?your folder?

A Good Education is A Good Education is PricelessPriceless

Question of the day from Question of the day from Monday: May a divorced Monday: May a divorced Family Life Director serve in a Family Life Director serve in a Lutheran congregation?Lutheran congregation? Question of the day for tomorrow ---Question of the day for tomorrow --- You have built an awesome basketball You have built an awesome basketball

program at your school. A new Principal program at your school. A new Principal arrives who says that she wants to arrives who says that she wants to emphasize the Fine Arts and from now on emphasize the Fine Arts and from now on equal playing time for all team members is equal playing time for all team members is the rule in athletics. You have invested five the rule in athletics. You have invested five years in building this program. You disagree years in building this program. You disagree with your principal! What should you do?with your principal! What should you do?

The Office of the Public The Office of the Public Ministry? Ministry?

Consider:Consider: Is your Call the same/Different Is your Call the same/Different

then your Pastors?then your Pastors? Is their an advantage to having a Is their an advantage to having a

Call vs. being a Contract Call vs. being a Contract employee? employee?

““Among Lutherans, no doctrine has Among Lutherans, no doctrine has been more disputed since the been more disputed since the

Reformation than the doctrine of the Reformation than the doctrine of the ministry.” Dr. Sam Nafzgar CTCRministry.” Dr. Sam Nafzgar CTCR

Your Call must automatically Your Call must automatically include tenure?include tenure?

Tru

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Fal

se

85%

15%

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

A Call can only be issued to A Call can only be issued to people on the Roster of Synod?people on the Roster of Synod?

Tru

e

Fal

se

15%

85%1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

Your spouse and you are wondering if Your spouse and you are wondering if you should both receive Calls. A you should both receive Calls. A negative factor influencing this is:negative factor influencing this is:

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.

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..

73%

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1.1. The worship The worship schedule of schedule of different different congregations congregations works against you. works against you. You’ll never You’ll never worship together.worship together.

2.2. You only receive You only receive one housing one housing allowance from the allowance from the IRS.IRS.

3.3. You decide to You decide to worship at both worship at both congregations congregations every weekend.every weekend.

4.4. You will only tithe You will only tithe at one at one congregation.congregation.

Do you agree? Congregations Do you agree? Congregations should hire Called Workers before should hire Called Workers before hiring contract workers?hiring contract workers?

Yes N

o

14%

86%1.1. YesYes

2.2. NoNo

A Call guarantees you life long A Call guarantees you life long employment in a congregation?employment in a congregation?

Tru

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Fal

se

100%

0%

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

Can a Called worker be RIFFED? Can a Called worker be RIFFED? What is your opinion?What is your opinion?

Tru

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Fal

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53%

47%

1.1. TrueTrue

2.2. FalseFalse

““Controversy is inversely Controversy is inversely proportional to the amount the proportional to the amount the

New Testament has to say about New Testament has to say about something.” Dr. Sam Nafzgarsomething.” Dr. Sam Nafzgar

Two PhilosophiesTwo Philosophies The tree The tree

The support of Pastoral OfficeThe support of Pastoral Office

Discuss with your partner the Discuss with your partner the advantages or disadvantages of advantages or disadvantages of

going to minister in a going to minister in a congregation that views the tree congregation that views the tree

approach to ministry?approach to ministry?

Old Governance ModelAbdon Model – Board Functions in Governance

Boards Supervise – Lay LedNewer Governance ModelCarver Model – No Boards (Task Forces) Powerful Church CouncilPastor Functions as CEO

People Supervise PeopleStaff Led

Discuss the pros and cons of Discuss the pros and cons of serving in a congregation with serving in a congregation with the support role of ministry?the support role of ministry?

Three levels to help Three levels to help understandunderstand

MinistryMinistry Public ministryPublic ministry Office of public ministryOffice of public ministry

What Calls AreWhat Calls Are

Requests to serve Christ as part Requests to serve Christ as part of a congregation’s public of a congregation’s public ministry. They can be full-time ministry. They can be full-time or part-time.or part-time.

Relationships rather than Relationships rather than contracts.contracts. GodGod CongregationCongregation Pastor and CoworkersPastor and Coworkers Students and ParentsStudents and Parents LCMSLCMS

The DIVINE CALL IsThe DIVINE CALL Is

a deliberate, prayerful, and a deliberate, prayerful, and Spirit-led process.Spirit-led process.

the human means which the human means which God the Holy Spirit uses to God the Holy Spirit uses to place people into ministry place people into ministry positions.positions.

Mr. Braun’s thoughts on CallMr. Braun’s thoughts on Call

Is there a need? (Purpose)Is there a need? (Purpose) Do I have the gifts to fill it? Do I have the gifts to fill it?

(Competency or expertise)(Competency or expertise) Can I experience joy in it? Can I experience joy in it?

(Model)(Model)

CALLS are NOTCALLS are NOT

About ME.About ME. Only a job.Only a job. Guaranteeing you a job in Guaranteeing you a job in

one congregation as long as one congregation as long as you want it.you want it.

Protection from Protection from accountability.accountability.

HANDLING CALLSHANDLING CALLS

It is likely you will receive It is likely you will receive several calls in your life.several calls in your life.

A new Call is valid at the A new Call is valid at the moment the congregation moment the congregation votes to Call you. (but, you votes to Call you. (but, you really have it when the really have it when the paperwork arrives.)paperwork arrives.)

HANDLING CALLSHANDLING CALLS

When a congregation notifies you When a congregation notifies you of a call, contact yourof a call, contact your PastorPastor PrincipalPrincipal Congregational PresidentCongregational President District Office’s education executiveDistrict Office’s education executive

HANDLING CALLSHANDLING CALLS

Announce receipt of the Call Announce receipt of the Call to the congregation.to the congregation.

Set a target date for a Set a target date for a decision.decision.

Pray for the Spirit’s Pray for the Spirit’s guidance.guidance.

Receive counsel from Receive counsel from coworkers, supervisor.coworkers, supervisor.

Evaluate present ministry. Evaluate present ministry.

HANDLING CALLSHANDLING CALLS

Carefully review Call documents Carefully review Call documents and materials from calling and materials from calling congregation.congregation.

Make two lists. One identifying Make two lists. One identifying reasons for accepting the new reasons for accepting the new position and one identifying position and one identifying reasons for remaining in your reasons for remaining in your current ministry.current ministry.

Decide – and don’t second Decide – and don’t second guess.guess.

HANDLING CALLSHANDLING CALLS

If accepting If accepting Notify pastor, Notify pastor,

congregations, congregations, and district and district office.office.

Mail post cards Mail post cards and signed and signed acceptance acceptance documentsdocuments

Request a Request a peaceful releasepeaceful release

If decliningIf declining Notify Notify

pastors, pastors, congregationscongregations, and district , and district office.office.

Send letter of Send letter of declination declination and return and return Call Call documents.documents.

Questions????Questions????

What is meant by a divine Call?What is meant by a divine Call? May a divine Call be for 6 May a divine Call be for 6

months? 10 years?months? 10 years? Who creates the ministry?Who creates the ministry?

How do I get on Synod’s How do I get on Synod’s Roster?Roster?

Application to District PresidentApplication to District President Qualified by College and Qualified by College and

assigned first Callassigned first Call Signed statement of agreement Signed statement of agreement

with Synod’s constitution (Have with Synod’s constitution (Have you read or seen it?)you read or seen it?)

What is the advantage of What is the advantage of Roster status?Roster status?

1. Eligible to be Called1. Eligible to be Called 2. Eligible for tax benefits as self-2. Eligible for tax benefits as self-

employedemployed 3. Eligible for synodical 3. Eligible for synodical

placementplacement 4. Eligible for synodical 4. Eligible for synodical

relocation assistancerelocation assistance 5. Eligible for ecclesiastical 5. Eligible for ecclesiastical

defensedefense

Advantages continuedAdvantages continued

6. Eligible for appeal rights for Minister 6. Eligible for appeal rights for Minister of Religionof Religion

7. Eligible to attend and serve at district 7. Eligible to attend and serve at district conventionsconventions

8. Eligible to attend and serve at 8. Eligible to attend and serve at national conventionnational convention

9. Eligible to serve on synodical boards9. Eligible to serve on synodical boards 10. Eligible to enjoy Health Plan, 10. Eligible to enjoy Health Plan,

Retirement, DisabilityRetirement, Disability 11. Eligible to be honored in church as 11. Eligible to be honored in church as

ambassador for Christambassador for Christ

Professional in Lutheran Professional in Lutheran MinistryMinistry

Ministry is equated Ministry is equated with________with________

Called to ministry of Called to ministry of congregation not ______congregation not ______

You are Called to serve You are Called to serve _______ your classroom walls._______ your classroom walls.

C vs. cC vs. c Where does volunteer fit in?Where does volunteer fit in?

What is the proper order in a What is the proper order in a Professional Church Worker’s Professional Church Worker’s life?life? ChurchChurch FamilyFamily GodGod

Mutually Agreed upon Mutually Agreed upon means(?)means(?)

… … duties as mutually agreed on duties as mutually agreed on …..…..

What about time-management What about time-management for a first-year worker?for a first-year worker? CoachingCoaching DirectingDirecting Congregation Service “Should a Congregation Service “Should a

teacher volunteer in the teacher volunteer in the congregation?”congregation?”

Bus DrivingBus Driving PlanningPlanning Volunteering- “Should a DCE Volunteering- “Should a DCE

volunteer in the school?”volunteer in the school?”

What differences exist What differences exist between secondary and between secondary and

elementary Lutheran teachers elementary Lutheran teachers and Family Life Directors?and Family Life Directors?

Called to congregation, free to Called to congregation, free to choosechoose

Students vs. subjectsStudents vs. subjects Don’t teach religion as subject Don’t teach religion as subject

(in most cases)(in most cases) Congregational InvolvementCongregational Involvement School expectationsSchool expectations

What is the worker’s role in What is the worker’s role in evangelism?evangelism?

Is there a difference between Is there a difference between teaching in a Lutheran School teaching in a Lutheran School and being a Lutheran teacher?and being a Lutheran teacher?

Should a PCW tithe if their Should a PCW tithe if their wages are already low?wages are already low?