Called To The Public Ministry

Since October, 2013, I have served Zion Lutheran Church of Tomball, TX. as their Interim Pastor. The congregation was most concerned that everyone knows I was "called" to that position. I accepted on the same basis, believing that the LORD of the church had called me to this position of service within His church. I was called to serve Zion as they prepared to call a new pastor to the office of the public ministry in their midst.

The time of my service may now be coming to an end, since in another week the congregation will gather for another call meeting. Three candidates will be lifted up and the congregation will decide whether it is the will of God that one of them be "called" to be their full time pastor. If the man "called" agrees, my work will be over. I will have completed my work as their Interim Pastor and will step aside.

This bit of history does not, however, define what either the congregation or I believe to be the essence of the Divine Call. For that I refer you to a document published by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod back in 2003. The document is called "the Divine Call" and is available for download online.

The Missouri Synod's conclusions grew partly out of a crisis when the church body was being formed.  In 1824 Lutheran Pastor Martin Stephan of Saxony, Germany, began to explore America as a place to practice the faith without harassment by the state-governed  Evangelical Lutheran State Church of Saxony.

Stephan and ten other men formed a "Gesellschaft" or Society for emigration from Dresden to St. Louis, Missouri. He helped organize 700 people and five ships for passage to America in November 1838. When the ships landed at the Port of New Orleans, Martin Stephan was elected Bishop of this small band of Lutherans according to the travel regulations of the Emigration Society. Forster (Zion on the Mississippi: The Settlement of the Saxon Lutherans in Missouri 1839-1841) indicates that Stephan was made Bishop initially only by the passengers and clergy on board the Olbers. This occurred around the time this ship entered the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Forster states, "On January 14, 1839...they made Stephan their bishop and endowed him with a liberal grant of power to carry out the functions of his office.[5]" Additionally, only four of the five immigrant ships arrived safely in New Orleans (the Amalia never arrived) and the ships arrived at varying times over the course of a couple of weeks. Of note, after his appointment, it was Stephan who originated the practice of kissing the bishop's hand.

After two months, the Saxon immigrants purchased land in Perry County, Missouri at the confluence of the Brazeau and Mississippi Rivers. Here they built homes, towns, schools, and churches. The organization of the community was disrupted when Stephan was accused of sexual misconduct. Pastors G. H. Loeber and C. F. W. Walther told lay leaders of this confession. Walther made two trips to Perry County to prepare the Bishop’s deposition.  On May 30, 1839, Bishop Martin Stephan was deposed and excommunicated from the community on the grounds of sexual misconduct and embezzlement. He was put across the river to Kaskaskia, Illinois. Though the women who initially accused Stephan of sexual misconduct later recanted, he was never restored to his position. Following his removal from the colony, he served another congregation, Trinity Lutheran Church, at Horse Prairie near Red Bud, Illinois.

With Stephan gone the immigrants faced a crisis. How could they find a new pastor? Did they indeed have the God-given right to call someone to be their pastor? Dr. C.F.W. Walther wrote extensively on the topic. His work is available in an English translation of the original German document Kirche Und Amt (Church and Ministry). It is also available as a Kindle e-book.

Walther emphasizes that the key doctrine is the priesthood of all believers, outlined by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:9 —

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. - 1Peter 2:9 ESV

The pastor does publicly, by God's will, what belongs to the ministry of the Word of God entrusted to the congregation. His is an office specially designated by God for the sake of the church on earth. So Paul writes,

This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. - 1Cor 4:1-2 ESV

So the congregation must establish and maintain the public ministry in its midst. Zion congregation has followed those steps in this manner:

1. They invited members of the congregation to nominate ordained pastors (men certified and eligible for a Call). In addition, the congregation sought counsel and advice from the Texas District of our church body, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, especially the President. A large number of candidates were submitted. The President's office returned a large packet of information on them all. 
2. The resumes and evaluations of those pastors were carefully studied by an appointed committee of the congregation primarily on the basis of Scripture passages such as 1 Timothy 3:2-7 and the challenges facing the congregation in the rapidly growing area of greater Houston where Zion is located. After many months of prayerful consideration and discussion the committee is now offering three candidates to congregation. Details of the candidates' ministry experience, age, health, training, gifts and families were prepared and distributed. 
3. Now this coming Sunday, February 15, the congregation will gather to discuss, pray and then vote. This process will take place in the congregation's sanctuary with prayer and hymn singing surrounding it. The candidate who receives the most or all of the votes will be regarded and accepted as the one called by God through the congregation. If the vote is not unanimous the congregation will be asked to make it so in order that all may be of one heart and mind. 

The called pastor will then receive a letter and details of his call. It will be up to him to carefully consider whether the congregation he currently serves or the one calling is the church that the LORD of the church wants him to serve. Should he confirm what the congregation believes he will move and be formally installed into office. 

As you can see, it is our belief as a Lutherans committed to the Lutheran Confessions of 1580 that God places men into the pastoral office through the church. Pastors are not placed by overseers or bishops. We also emphasize that no one makes himself to be a pastor. The Call depends on God working through the church. A man may have an "inner call" to serve God as a pastor, but his becomes a Divine Call only when that call is affirmed and confirmed by the church. This remains important since the pastoral ministry is a public activity carried out in behalf of and for the benefit of the church. Study the documents referenced above for further details. And give thanks to the Lord of the church for the pastors He calls to serve His people.