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Have you
Heard God's Call to Ministry?
The place God calls you to is the
place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet —
Frederick Buechner
Are You Thinking about a
Call?
Could
becoming a pastor or diaconal minister be part of your future?
What about service as an associate in ministry?
Have you ever thought about making
a difference in the world?
Vocational choices in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) are many — we have pastors, but we also have accountants,
chaplains, youth workers, musicians, evangelists, nurses, diaconal
ministers and deaconesses, office managers, counselors, caregivers,
and associates in ministry. The ELCA has many needs to fill as we
carry-out our mission to share the Gospel. We are committed to
shouting-out the Gospel and bringing a message of hope to those who
are hurting.
 Do
you have a sense of wonder?
We need aware, caring, courageous people leading the church in
the 21st century. We need passionate, joy-filled, and
adventurous people who want to bring healing and hope to other
people in this broken world.
Are you a natural leader?
Are you looking for a vocation that uses your gifts of
creativity, that requires an appreciation of spirituality and
ritual, that will be a way for you to give voice to God’s call?
Are you interested in benefits such as quality worship, a chance to
teach, good colleagues, a caring community, variety, lifelong
learning on the job, incredible opportunity to care for others, and
a place to use your imagination?
Are you searching for meaning in
your life?
Many young people have become disillusioned with the culture of
work in our world. The church still looks for people to lead who
have a deep sense of compassion, who want to know that the work they
are doing is significant in the world. That is the church! Many in
our world are looking for meaning. The church gives substance to
that search, and you can be a vehicle of that Good News.
Characteristics of Church Leaders
(including pastors):
Encouraging, Listening, Praying, Equipping, Leading, Hoping,
Healing, Caring, Teaching, Preaching, Blessing, and Sustaining.
Give Voice to your Call
Talk to your pastor, youth director,
music minister, or another church leader about your own call as a
baptized child of God. The church is calling for pastors. If God is
nudging you forward, give your
synod
office a call.
Gifts
for Ministry
All of God's people have gifts for
ministry — the work of the faithful. The question
to consider is "Which gifts do I have, and how will
I use them?" The following gifts seem to be
especially important for our rostered leaders:
● A love for Jesus Christ
● Grace-filled living
● Integrity
● A
passion for justice
● Compassion for God's people
● Self- awareness
● Leadership gifts
● The
ability to learn and share
the faith
● A
capacity for critical
reflection
Invitation to Service
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Candidacy in the ELCA
 PDF,
21KB
Discernment
Helps
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Are You Being Called?
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Leaders
for Mission
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More Qualities of Rostered Leaders
Spiritual Gifts Inventory
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Discern your gifts with this tool
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What Shall I Say?
 This
resource invites you into a process to discover your gifts and
to discern the ministry to which God calls you. Discernment is
perceiving the will and way of God in the church and in your
life. There are no easy steps on the venture to which you are
called, but the church into which you were baptized is ready
to assist and support you as you search. This book from
Augsburg Fortress (in English and Spanish) will help you begin
your journey of discernment.
Order
from Augsburg Fortress |
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