Call Process Booklet

Ending Well—Things To Do
Congregation Council
• Pray for a meaningful celebration of the shared ministry of the pastor and
congregation, a smooth transition into the interim period and your local needs.
• Be ready to meet with the synod staff contact person twice in the month prior to
your pastor leaving: once for a call process overview and to determine any special
needs during the interim period, and once for a concurrence interview with a
prospective interim candidate. Be aware that other meetings of the Council may be
necessary during this period.
• Study the role of the interim pastor.
• Plan to appropriately celebrate the shared ministry of the pastor and congregation.
• Consider using the Healthy Transitions materials found in chapter 1 resources.
• Help the congregation to understand a pastor’s involvement following a call.
• Receive the pastor’s final report or conduct an exit interview with the departing
pastor. An interview can be done with the whole Council, the executive committee
or a group of three to five leaders in the congregation.
• Direct all committees/teams/etc. to collect the information necessary for a smooth
transition for the interim pastor (educational curriculum that the pastor oversees,
homebound member list, etc.)
• Complete the definition of compensation form in the resource section of this
chapter and send it by mail or email to your synod staff contact person.
• The secretary of the congregation must sign and send the Certification of
Completion of Congregational Records to the Bishop. See resources.
• Be sure that all forms of compensation according to the Letter of Call and your
current budget (pro-rated for the partial year) are granted by the end date of
service. The treasurer and secretary of the congregation must sign and send the
Certification of Completion of All Financial Obligations to the Bishop. See resources.
God’s
work.
Our
hands.
Congregation
• Pray for a meaningful celebration of the shared ministry of the pastor and
congregation.
• Appropriately celebrate the shared ministry of the pastor and congregation.
• Prayerfully respect the boundaries of the pastoral office. Affirm and maintain
friendships with previous pastors, but be clear not to ask them to perform duties of
their office.
• Listen to the information shared by the Congregation Council regarding the calling
of a new pastor and the role of an interim pastor.
Walking together † for the sake of mission † in God’s world
944 24 ¼ Street • PO Box 107 • Chetek, WI 54728 • 715-859-6810 • Fax 715-859-6812 • www.nwswi.org
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