Call Process Booklet

Appendix A
God’s
work.
Our
hands.
They went through the region of
Phrygia and Galatia, having been
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak
the word in Asia. When they had
come opposite Mysia, they
attempted to go into Bithynia, but the
Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;
so, passing by Mysia, they went
down to Troas. During the night Paul
had a vision: there stood a man of
Macedonia pleading with him and
saying, “Come over to Macedonia
and help us.” When he had seen the
vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had
called us to proclaim the good news to them. Acts 16.6–10
The Call Process in the ELCA
The call process is undergoing a major transformation in our Church. This article by one
of the architects of the redesigned process is available on the ELCA website and is
reprinted here for ease of access.
The Story of the ELCA’s New Mobility Database Project
Part 1 — The Search for a Better Way
I have been in hundreds of call processes. Literally. I usually have 25 call processes
going on at any one time. Over a period of 14 years as assistant to the bishop in two
synods, it has been my calling to guide congregations and rostered leaders through the
call process. I have found it to be complicated work that is nuanced in every setting
where it is attempted. It creates its own stresses for Call Committee members, rostered
leaders, and the call process administrators. When I had the opportunity to use my
D.Min. program to focus energy on understanding and improving the call process, I
took it. I needed to go into “ponder mode” about the call process. And I wanted to
Walking together † for the sake of mission † in God’s world
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