Call Process Booklet

Calling a Seminary Graduate
Of course, all pastors are seminary graduates. However, all pastors also need to start
somewhere. Often times they are called “first call pastors.” There are some unique
aspects to interviewing and calling a seminary graduate or first call pastor.
Seminary graduates are fully trained and prepared to lead. Even though pastors
develop and grow throughout their ministerial career, new pastors mature significantly
during their first three years of ministry. Yet, because seminary graduates do not have
years of pastoral experience, they are at a disadvantage in an interview process when
compared to experienced pastors. Thus, if your congregation is an appropriate first call
ministry site and receive the name of a seminary graduate, that person will be the only
name received to interview. The final result of the interview may be “No” but the
question is never whether any one pastor is “better” than another. The question is
always, “Is this who God has in mind for our congregation?”
Keep in mind, that a seminary graduate will not be able to reflect upon years of pastoral
experience, but should be able to answer interview questions based upon their
involvement in congregational life as a lay person and seminary training that involved
clinical settings, contextual education experiences, and the internship year.
Some seminary graduates are second or third career persons; if prior experience
enhances a person’s skills for ministry, such experience may be considered in
calculating compensation. According to the Salary Standards of our synod (page 3),
Experience prior to ordination is calculated at the rate of ⅓ to ½ year for each year up
to ten years of prior experience (up to 5 years credit).
Seminary graduates are expected to participate in First Call Theological education
during their first three years as a pastor. Congregations who receive a seminary
graduate as their pastor are expected to encourage participation and fully support First
Call Theological Education. New pastors connect with other new pastors and are
guided by bishops, seminary faculty, experienced pastors, and churchwide staff as they
reflect upon and process their developing identity and leadership as a pastor. To fund
this expectation, the congregation needs to ensure the full amount of Continuing
Education and Official Meeting dollars outlined in our synod’s Salary Standards is
provided and that the full two weeks of time for continuing education is granted.
Seminary graduates have just completed four years of extensive graduate school, one
of which is an internship year, and are eager and ready to serve the church. That
enthusiasm will be an asset to the mission of your congregation should you extend a
call to a seminary graduate.
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Walking together † for the sake of mission † in God’s world
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