The project team began by working with ELCA synods and other partners to
identify and study congregations that have "an exemplary history" of helping
support and form newly called pastors. Previous anecdotal reports pointed to how
some ELCA congregations have consistently welcomed new pastors after completing
their seminary education.
Bishops in 24 synods from Regions 4, 5 and 6 were asked to nominate
congregations that had a history of doing a good job welcoming and supporting a
first call pastor. Some indicators of what constituted “a good job,” previously
reported by synods, were offered to facilitate their decisions. From these
recommendations, 14 were selected that represented a range of contexts and
racial diversity. There was also a mix of male and female pastors, solo and
pastoral team roles.
A project team was identified of persons who had a range of experiences as
consultants to congregations. After being trained in naturalistic case study
methodology by Dr. Robert E. Stake, the researchers spent several months
studying the selected congregations. This involved studying their histories and
several types of reports, visiting the congregations over a weekend and talking
to various individuals and groups, observing the congregations in worship and in
service to the pastor, to members and the community and the writing of case
study stories.
The project team of researchers met with Dr. Stake and a member of the ELCA
Research & Evaluation staff to analyze the case studies, identifying common
themes. While these themes describe healthy congregational practices, they seem
to be especially relevant and important for congregations calling a pastor new
to ministry. These common research themes are:
Nurturing
A new pastor (and his or her family) is welcomed and oriented to the
life of the congregation and its community. Practices of hospitality are
described as a vital dimension of nurturing.
Connecting
Congregations are well connected to their own history, across
generations, to the local community and to the wider church.
Flexibility
Building on the congregation’s culture and strengths develops openness
to change and a flexibility in adjusting to changes. As a result, confidence
is strengthened to move into the mission and ministry that God calls them
into.
Partner Relationships
A healthy congregation includes strong and committed lay leaders. A
partnership model for ministry, including efforts to empower lay leaders, is
essential to all congregations and especially for congregations that provide
the first experiences for a pastor’s public ministry.
Spirituality Practiced
Faith in action is practiced in a healthy first call congregation as it
seeks guidance in the call process and in understanding its own identity and
vocational calling as a vital first call congregation. Practices of
compassion to those in need, prayer support to one another, forgiveness for
mistakes and many ways to be hospitable are dimensions of this faith in
action.
To illustrate these themes and present them in a vibrant way, the project
director found examples of each theme from case study verbatim material and
developed them into a Readers Theater that conveyed the language and voices of
those interviewed across the congregations. This presentation was given to a
gathering of synod leaders in three consultations in 2007 and 2008 and included
discussions about the validity of the research findings. As a result, some of
the themes were refined and expanded to incorporate this feedback. A summary of
two synod consultations in 2007 can be read at Summary of Synod Consultations on
Case Study Research.