How does a congregation honor the a pastor’s sense of God’s call in his or her life? This may begin by recognizing that while we speak of God’s call in coming to a particular congregation, a pastor’s response to God’s call is both broader and deeper than simply where s/he is employed. It is true that pastors do sense God’s call in both coming to and leaving a congregation, but at its deepest level, it is an understanding that God is directly involved in shaping their ministry. Sometimes that is as much a change of emphasis as it is location. As spiritual leader for a congregation, a pastor also tries to stay attuned to God’s call for that congregation as well as God’s call in his or her own personal life. Consider some of the following items in both honoring and being sensitive to a pastor’s responsiveness to God’s call in his or her life.
1. Does the congregation know and celebrate with the pastor the anniversary of his or her ordination and call to this congregation?
2. Does a congregation set the tone of honoring God’s call by occasionally celebrating all those from the congregation who have felt called to ordained ministry?
3. Does the leadership occasionally ask the pastor about how his or her passion for ministry extends beyond the congregation proper?
4. Would a biblical study of God’s call open up a connection between the pastor’s sense of call and that of other leadership members?
5. Where do the demands of the present ministry stand in tension with the pastor’s original sense of call to the ministry?
6. Where does the pastor’s sense of call interact with God’s call for this particular congregation?
7. Can the leadership respond in a constructive fashion when the sense of call for the pastor and the congregation seem to conflict?
8. How does a pastor or congregation distinguish between God’s call and one’s personal comfort or ego gratification?
9. How often does the leadership ask the pastor to share his or her current understanding of God’s call in his or her life?
10. Has the leadership ever asked the pastor’s family about God’s call in their lives in relation to God’s call in the pastor’s life?
Add to the list and see if paying attention to God’s call doesn’t affect how everyone makes decisions.
