Call Process Booklet

Guidelines for the Installation of a New Pastor or
Other Rostered Leader
The installation of a new pastor or other rostered lay leader is a time of great celebration
for a congregation. Installations are performed on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and by the authorization of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.
Please call the bishop’s office as soon as possible to discuss the date and time for the
service of installation. It is important to plan well for this important event.
These are guidelines for the service of installation.
• When the Letter of Call has been accepted, schedule the installation service with
the synod office in coordination with your new leader.
• A special worship service at a time other than Sunday morning should be
considered so that other clergy and congregations may attend. (See the next
section.)
• The service follows the order for Holy Communion, with the order for installation on
pages 224–231 of the Occasional Services book and can be found in the resource
section of this chapter. Please print a this service order in your worship bulletin are
as an insert.
• Normally, the colors and lessons of the day will be followed.
• The pastor and congregation pick the hymns for the service.
• In the event of a call to a “solo” or “senior” position, the synod staff contact person
typically preaches and presides from the beginning of the service through the
installation rite. Following the installation rite the newly installed pastor presides
through the rest of the service. At the beginning of the service, the congregational
president welcomes and introduces the synod staff member, and gives other
announcements related to the day. Please have typed Prayers of the People
(including local prayer concerns) ready for the bishop or synod staff person to
incorporate into the rite for installation.
• In the event of a call to an “associate” position, the senior pastor welcomes and
introduces the synod staff person at the beginning of the service and gives other
announcements related to the day, presides through the second lesson, after which
the Bishop or synod staff person preaches and presides through the installation rite.
At this point the newly installed pastor presides through the rest of the service. The
senior pastor leads the Prayers of the People during the installation rite.
• If the installation is held during a regularly scheduled Sunday service:
- the installation service will be done at each congregation when the parish has
several congregations yoked together;
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Walking together † for the sake of mission † in God’s world
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