Best Practices Checklist for Congregations
Vocation of First Call Congregations Project, 2010
Download this checklist 
Download this checklist 
A checklist of ideas that can enhance and sustain best practices in congregations related to beginning a first call in public ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- ___ The first call congregation claims its vocation as a “teaching” and “mentoring” context for a new leader in public ministry.
- ___The call process includes attention to what is unique about calling a rostered leader into a first call.
- ___ The call committee uses available resources in understanding a call to a first call leader.
- ___ The congregation is intentional in providing a healthy, safe environment for a new leader to shape her or his ministerial identity.
- ___ The congregation honors and welcomes the gifts of its new pastor, deaconess, associate in ministry or diaconal minister.
- ___ The congregation invites the new leader to join members in reflecting on its identity and mission as a community of faith.
- ___ The congregation is open to and makes connections with its larger community.
- ___ The congregation’s goals and actions reflect flexibility and openness to change.
- ___ The congregation addresses financial realities in positive, hopeful ways, especially during the call process.
- ___ A sense of possibility and hope for the future is reflected in behaviors and decision-making by the leadership.
- ___ Leaders are intentional in visioning and planning for mission.
- ___The call committee serves as or arranges for a mutual ministry committee in the first years of a first call ministry.
- ___ Members are respectful of the needed boundaries between the new leader’s personal/family life and congregational leadership.
- ___ The congregation members and new leader enjoy each other.
- ___ The congregation pays special attention to hospitality, making the new leader feel welcome and cared for during the months of transition into the first call and into the broader community.