The Call Process: A Guide for Congregations
A pastoral transition is a meaningful season in the life of a congregation. This guide is designed to help you understand each step of the call process, connect with the right district partners, and move forward with clarity and confidence. Below you’ll find each phase of the process, along with the resources and documents you may need along the way.
Please read this helpful introduction before beginning the call process
At a Glance: The Three Phases of the Call Process
Phase 1 — A Season of Ending
A time to care well for the congregation, establish prayer support, secure interim pastoral leadership, and prepare the foundations for the call process.
Phase 2 — The Season of Preparing
The Call Committee’s core work: preparing the Congregational Profile, gathering nominations, receiving the call list, interviewing candidates, and discerning who to recommend.
Phase 3 — A Season of New Beginnings
Once the call is accepted, the focus shifts to welcome, installation, orientation, and building a healthy pastor–congregation relationship.
Phase 1: A Season of Ending
This phase helps your congregation navigate the early days of pastoral transition with care and good order. This includes establishing a Prayer Team, securing pastoral coverage, meeting with the District President or his representative, deciding on interim pastoral leadership, and supporting your congregation through the emotions and logistics of the vacancy. This is a time to give thanks, care for one another, and prepare the ground for what God will do next.
- Plan farewell and grant peaceful release
- Meet with District President / Circuit Visitor
- Establish a Call Committee
- Secure interim pastoral coverage
Phase 2: A Season of Preparing
This phase is where the Call Committee does its core work. This includes preparing the Congregational Profile, gathering nominations, receiving the Call List from the District President, interviewing candidates, communicating with the congregation, and prayerfully discerning which candidates to present at the Call Service. This phase is deliberate, prayerful, and shaped by listening—to God’s Word, to one another, and to the needs of the congregation.
Phase 2 Resource Links
- Congregational Profile (required*) Send to Allison Klettke when completed
- Nomination Form
- Personal & Pastoral Skills Ranking Worksheet
- A Self-Evaluation Tool for Congregations (optional)
- Why the SED? Recruitment Document
- Salary & Benefits Compensation Groups
- Worksheet for Congregational Development of Professional Church Worker Compensation
- Salary Scales and Guidelines
- Pre-Call Interview Sample
- Prayer Service for the Call
- Sample Call Worship Service
- Sample Declination Letter
Prepare and approve Congregational Profile
Gather nominations from congregation
District President provides Call List
Interview candidates
Conduct Call Service and extend the call
Phase 3: A Season of New Beginnings
This phase begins when a pastor accepts the call. This phase includes coordinating with the District Office, supporting the Prayer Team, preparing for the pastor’s arrival, planning the installation, and laying strong foundations for a healthy pastor–congregation relationship. It focuses on welcome, orientation, hospitality, and early communication—ensuring your new shared ministry begins with clarity, encouragement, and joy.
Pastor accepts the call
Prepare for pastor and family’s arrival
Plan and hold Ordination/Installation
Begin orientation and relationship-building
Support the early months of shared ministry
Allison Klettke
District President’s Executive Assistant
703-971-9371 ext 219
Please contact Allison Klettke for all needs concerning applications for an Ordained Minister/Vicar.
Other Resources
This is a document we have created for congregations to send to potential candidates so that they can learn more about the SED, our culture, the opportunity, the ministry we do here, and the support they receive from us.
Please download the document here and send to your candidates who are considering ministry here in the SED!
If your congregation is looking to call a new Seminary graduate for Spring please contact the President’s office to receive application information. The deadline for submission of the applications is March 1.
For Ordained Minister call documents, please contact the President’s Office for user name and password for access to the online forms.
It is important to be in communication with the District office during the call process.
Also, please contact the President’s Office before making any plans for the ordination, commissioning, or installation to make sure that the proper procedures are followed.
Call Rubrics for Commissioned Ministers
To assist you in explaining the call process for all commissioned workers you can view our Call Rubrics for Commissioned Ministers. This document helps explain the call process, when to notify the District Office, paperwork required to install workers, and many other items.
Synodical Graduate Call Procedure when calling from Concordia University System (first call – commissioned)
Placement Request Form for Commissioned Minister Candidates from the Concordia University system
Concordia University System Placement Contact List
LCMS Salary Calculator: Ministries can now generate a compensation estimate for positions in both the Parish Professional and Pastoral segments. Concordia Plan Services has developed this for both congregations and schools.
- To access the tool for pastors and parish professionals, visit: https://tc.cbiz.com/CompToolCPS/Login.aspx (note: log in information is at the bottom of the web page.)
- To access the tool for elementary, middle, and high school teachers, preschool and assistant teachers, childcare and assistant teachers, head administrators/principals, assistant administrators/principals and early childhood directors, visit: https://tc.cbiz.com/CompToolCPSEd/Login.aspx
Tom Kolb
Please contact Tom Kolb for all needs concerning applications for an commissioned minister/teacher.
Executive Director of Youth & Schools
tkolb@se.lcms.org
703-971-9371 ext 205