“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5:22a).
As we continue through the call process, we prayerfully reflect on where God is leading us. Over the past two months we reflected upon the questions: “What are we looking for in a pastor?” and “What are we hoping this pastor will do?” This month we look at the question: “Why is this process taking so long?” The old joke goes something like this, “We all know that we want patience, and we want it now!” Where have you seen this true in your life or the lives of those around you? And yet we know that the old saying goes, “Patience is a virtue,” we also know that we wish that patience was a product that we could buy from Amazon with same day free shipping. If it was simply a product, rather than a character virtue, I guarantee that it would be a top seller! Character, however, is caught, not bought. It is something that must be observed around us and formed within us. So, how is your formation in patience going? Mine has its rough days!
While it is true that there are many human things that can slow down or delay a call process, it is also true that the call process is kind of like a marriage. It is “not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God” (Declaration of Purpose within a Christian Wedding Service). We are not simply looking for someone to “fill” the role and “play” the effort in your selection process for spouse than that. As the Apostle Paul reminds Timothy, “do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,” which is a reference of the process by which a pastor is welcomed into the ministry, so also must we be patient within this process.
As we have now extended a call to Rev. Paul Dickerson to consider, we pray for God’s guidance and direction for all parties involved—Calvary Lutheran, Christ Memorial Lutheran, and the Dickerson family. Too often we forget that when we extend a call the recipient now finds himself with two “divine calls” one to his current church and one to consider from our church. Now comes that question, “Where does God desire him to best serve?” In many ways, a pastor can have a meaningful ministry in either location, but which setting is uniquely calling for the best use of his skills, experience, etc. And that is the prayerful process on which we now embark. We ask God to lead and us to listen. We ask God to guide and us to go where he leads us. May we continue to seek not our will but God’s will throughout this entire process.
May God grant us peace, patience, and perseverance throughout this process of prayerful deliberation. And may God remind all of us of the shared ministry that we have of “sharing the hope that is in us” (1 Peter 3:15), as we continue to shine with the light of Christ, wherever He has placed us. You don’t have to be a pastor to shine with the light of Christ in your unique calling and vocation.
