You know what I hate…
…when I get a call at 10 pm on a holiday from a synod official asking that I call the assistant to the bishop right away on his cell. Talk about nerve wracking!
It ended up being about an opportunity to serve in the redevelopment of a parish that has quite the history. It’s sort of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a good opportunity, with lots of potential to do good ministry. It is a place that is ripe for growth both in discipleship and in numbers. They are meeting in a temporary location but already have land and some initial money with which to build. All of that is exciting!
On the other hand, redevelopment means term calls of one year at a time. When you have a family that is something of a drawback. Do you uproot for what may be a one year call? Do you sell your home? Do you buy or rent in the new locale? Do you try and commute it (it would be one HELLUVA commute, about 1 1/2 hours each way if traffic is light)?
The synod seems eager to move on this. I am supposed to get some more stuff from them this week.
Filed under: call process, church life, transition
Doesn’t explain the necessity of calling you at 10 on a holiday. Wouldn’t it make more sense to leave a message at the church office?
Regarding the “complications”…I think they will fall into place if this is right. And if you do it and it isn’t “right” then you get out of it more easily.
I don’t know how anyone can be asked to consider a 1 year term call in a new location. I really don’t know why clergy are expected to be so movable. I start year 6 here next week and I’m not planning to go anywhere and my family would be devastated if we did.
Yes, complications they are….
Tom, I am kind of with you in one sense. I would be pretty content to stay put if the situation was right. The problem is that I don’t want to be an associate with a new senior pastor. Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
I did find out the term call thing means that it can be terminated at the end of each year, but that it has never been terminated in this synod, and that the vast majority stay in the church with a regular call at the end of the three years.