Exemplary First Call Congregations Research Summary
The Vocation of First Call Congregations Project (2005-2009)
Purpose of the Case Study Research
In 2005, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded the ELCA Vocation & Education unit
$525,000 for a four-year research and implementation project called “The
Vocation of First Call Congregations.” The intent is to study congregations
identified by synods as exemplary in how they support and help form first call
pastors starting their public ministry.
An overall purpose for this study is to see if there are any common practices,
values, attitudes that emerge across several case studies done with selected
first call congregation and if these might be useful in preparing more
congregations to be healthy, life-giving contexts for first call pastors.
Case Study Summary
Summaries of case study themes across 14 exemplary first call congregations
follow.
What Makes First Call Congregations Unique?
- intentional participation in
the growth of the pastor
Realizing they are calling a pastor without experience, lay people take
it upon themselves to help educate, nurture, support – as well as critique –
their first call pastor. They are like cheerleaders as well as coaches in
this special nurturing role.
- stakes are high
Hope for long term pastorate: While all congregations hope for a
long term pastorate, first call congregations seem to imbue this hope with
more intensity, perhaps fearing their pastor may not intend to stay long in
the first call – especially if it is in a context that is foreign to
him/her. Making mistakes may carry more weight in first call congregations.
Lay leaders may fear that if something goes wrong, their pastor will leave;
thus adding tension to how they respond to their pastor, including his/her
ideas for change and style of ministry.
Responsibility for influencing pastor’s future ministry: The
experiences and memories of one’s first call can color the rest of one’s
ministry in positive and negative ways. Lay leaders need to be aware of
their responsibility in giving shape and form to the first call leader’s
expectations in future calls and a sense of confidence throughout their
pastoral ministry.
- reframing of
attitudes
More prevalent in first call congregations, attitudes such as: “We can only
afford a pastor just starting out,” or “We don’t have to change much since
he/she won’t be with us very long” need to be reframed to create a healthy
first call ministry. Lay leaders should be aware that they have a unique
opportunity in receiving an eager, new leader – a first call pastor who
could help them reflect on who they are and where they want to be going. An
example of reframing a negative attitude might be that the first call pastor
“is on loan” to the congregation, providing an opportunity to continue, even
for a short time, the substantial investment of the seminary, resulting in
dividends to themselves and to the pastor and his/her family.
- identity issues of the first
call pastor and the congregation
Wearing the mantle of “pastor” for the first time carries with it
complex but important identity issues to be discerned and reflected upon.
Whether one is starting a first career or coming to the pastorate from other
careers, pastoral identity needs attention across its various dimensions
(ministerial role, authority, boundaries, leadership style). One’s
self-identity comes into play especially during times of tension or
conflict. A healthy self-awareness helps new pastors deal with whatever
comes their way.
The congregation also has to deal with its corporate identity as a community
of faith that is partnering with a new pastor to create a healthy,
life-giving pastorate. The issue of esteem might be particularly
challenging, especially if the congregation doesn’t feel they have much to
offer or to sustain a first call leader.
- cultural match
or mismatch is critical
First call candidates are assigned to particular synods which may not be
their first choice.
Within these synods, congregations that are open to First Call leaders may
also be limited or be in contexts that do not match the background of the
candidates. Synod staff are often challenged to recommend a congregation
that would be suited to the candidate. Cultural considerations need to be
taken into account. Matching the candidate to a congregation that would be a
healthy environment for the gifts of that candidate may be more important
than whether the congregation matches the demographics of the candidate’s
history.
Common Themes Considered Strongest
A thematic analysis of cross-case study issues resulted in a dramatic rendition
of these findings in a Readers Theater. Excerpted content from the cases were
presented to illustrate common issues which emerged across the diverse contexts
of the exemplary first call congregations that were studied. Theme titles
included: Nurturing, Connecting, Flexibility, Partner Relationship, Spirituality
Practiced, Ongoing Challenges and Advice to First Call Pastors and
Congregations.
In several Readers Theater presentations to synod and regional leaders,
participants identified what they judged to be the strongest common themes and
strengths of these first call congregations:
- Importance of intentionality in welcome and hospitality for pastor and
family;
- Managing, adapting and embracing change as a reality;
- Lay leaders in a partner relationship with pastor vs. employer/employee
roles;
- Making meaningful connections to one’s community and the broader church;
- Strong congregational identity – a “joyous pride” in knowing who they
are;
- Important role of visioning and planning;
- Congregations aware they are “training ground” or “a finishing school”
to help first call pastors learn and thrive;
- Congregational flexibility and the ability to live through anything;
- Dealing with the reality of their budget constraints in positive ways;
and
- A sense of hope and possibility undergirding their behaviors.
These leaders also identified what first call pastors were
doing in these congregations in positive ways:
- Receiving and building on the gifts of their members;
- Inviting lay members into a mutual journey;
- Tuning into the culture and appropriate behaviors and actions;
- Sensing when to be serious and when to use (and receive) humor;
- Having a keen sense of self-knowledge and healthy self-differentiation;
- Loving the people no matter what;
- Awareness of importance of boundaries and when to set them; and
- Open to learning vs. proving they know it all.