Candidacy in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Southeastern Synod

Got Call? How can I decide if I have “a call” to rostered ministry? It’s an ongoing process of discernment, but you might be getting a few clues already. We call them you 1) Internal (sense of) call Is God giving you a that “gut” feeling? 2) External (sense of) call Are you getting the “nudge” from friends, family, your congregation?

You don’t have to be a pastor – in fact, your call may be to a completely different kind of rostered ministry! Okay, so I can take a hint. But I’m not sure I want to be a pastor! “I’m on hold with my favorite hymn.”

4 Rosters of the ELCA Diaconal Minister (lay roster) Word and Service Bridge between the secular and sacred Examples: Prison ministry, social ministry organizations Associate in Ministry (lay roster) Word and Service AIMs most often serve in congregations and have specialized fields Examples: music, youth, administration Deaconess (lay roster) Word and Service Women serving in traditional and non-traditional ministries of mercy and servanthood Examples: teachers, nurses, missionaries Pastor (clergy roster) Word and Sacrament A call to ordained ministry should include a strong desire to administer communion and baptize

The 4 Steps of Candidacy 4 Assignment 3 Approval 2 Endorsement 1 Entrance

1 ENTRANCE First steps of paperwork and interviews Meeting with synod’s Candidacy Committee for discernment If committee sees potential for rostered ministry, positive Entrance decision officially begins ELCA candidacy process NOTE: You must be a member of an ELCA congregation for one year prior to being Entranced into ELCA candidacy! Assignment Approval Endorsement 1 Entrance

2 ENDORSEMENT Point at which candidate’s pursuit is affirmed and choice of roster is finalized Complete a supervised field experience (such as Clinical Pastoral Education) Following positive Endorsement decision, complete additional field experience (or internship for ordained track) Assignment Approval 2 Endorsement Entrance

3 APPROVAL Acknowledgment of readiness for rostered ministry All requirements completed or almost completed Paperwork for upcoming assignment filled out Assignment 3 Approval Endorsement Entrance

4 ASSIGNMENT Candidate is assigned to specific synod and available for call 4 Assignment Approval Entrance Endorsement

Talk to your CANDIDACY PARTNERS 1.Your pastor 2.The synod office 3.An ELCA seminary So how do I get started?

Stuff You Should Know about candidacy in the Southeastern Synod For most traditional routes, a one-year period is required between first contact with the synod office and your Entrance interview. Candidacy in the Southeastern Synod begins with a “Meet and Greet” (3-9 months prior to Entrance), a time to begin your relationship with the candidacy committee and ask those burning questions! If you are at a non-ELCA seminary but want to be on the ELCA roster, you need to affiliate with an ELCA seminary. Find out more about that and transferring credits by speaking with the admissions office of any ELCA seminary.

More Stuff You Should Know Who to call in the Synod Office Jeanette Burgess, AIM Administrative Liaison for Leadership , ext. 232 or ELCA website (search “Candidacy”) Candidacy meetings and deadlines for materials For April meeting ☛ ☛ ☛ Materials due March 1 For August meeting ☛ ☛ ☛ Materials due July 1 For November meeting ☛ ☛ ☛ Materials due October 1

So, Got Call? Act Now! And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?” Romans 10:15