Is your congregation a "calling congregation"?

By Deborah Bruce

What are "calling congregations"?  Calling congregations "actively nurture young men and women with the potential to become excellent pastoral leaders" according to The Fund for Theological Education (FTE). Calling congregations identify and support tomorrow's church leaders.

How common are calling congregations?  The U.S. Congregational Life Survey revealed that in 17% of congregations someone age 30 or younger began preparing for ministry in the past five years, and in 16% someone over the age of 30 did so. The survey identifies calling congregations as churches where someone "entered seminary or formal theological education in preparation for professional ministry" in the past five years.

More Catholic and mainline Protestant churches are calling congregations.  Compared to conservative Protestant churches, more Catholic parishes and mainline Protestant churches are calling congregations. The high percentage of persons entering ministry from Catholic parishes is partially a result of their larger membership compared to the average Protestant church. More people represent more potential future leaders.

 
More larger churches are calling congregations.  Only two in ten small congregations (average worship attendance of fewer than 100) report that someone began preparing for ministry in the past five years. Not surprisingly, more large congregations—which have more worshipers who might consider ministry—had someone begin pursuing ministry. One-third of mid-size congregations and four in ten large congregations are calling congregations.

 
What sets calling congregations apart?  Congregations that are more innovative and in tune with the culture of a younger generation provide better places to nurture the call to ministry of young adults. The survey revealed six factors that are important in identifying congregations that send young people under the age of 30 on the path toward ministry. These churches:

• Started a new worship service in the past five years.
• Use email to communicate with worshipers.
• Use a website to stay in touch with worshipers.
• Use electric guitar in worship
• Report little conflict in the past five years that lead people or a pastor to leave the church.

In contrast, three factors distinguish churches that are likely to send people who are 30 or older on the path to ministry. These churches:

• Use email to communicate with worshipers.
• Report more conflict in the past five years that led people to leave the church.
• Sponsor a wide variety of community service activities.

Is your congregation a calling congregation? Are there people in your pews who might be sensing a call to ministry? What can you do to nurture that call?

Learn how your congregation can revive the language of vocation and revitalize the entire community using VocationCARE practices  available through FTE resources and events.

Visit the FTE website and join a growing movement to be "cultures of call."

 

Comments

[Leslie King]

This article is very interesting. we are not a calling congregation but we are definitely doing the things that indicate a potential for leading 30 years or under into ministry. Something we have started in our High School Sunday School class is having a young adult or a member of the youth group facilitate this class working closely with the pastor and youth director. I wonder if this would strengthen any sense of call they may have to ministry. The results have doubled our Sunday School attendance. I should mention that in addition to demographic of the teacher, we also infuse novelty and change up the subject of our Sunday school program. This month we are writing our own curriculum Hex In the Text. This is available online (in part now and in full the first part of February) at www.osawatomiepresbyterian.org under curriculum sketches.

[Deborah Bruce]

Thanks for your comments, Leslie. Encouraging young people to participate as leaders in the congregation helps them stay connected and see the importance of their contribution. That's a great way to help them realize or consider a call to ministry. We've also found that churches that have strong ministries for children and youth are more likely to be growing congregations!

[Mulberry UK Factory]

He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.