MNO Synod Bishop's Message

Caring for our Candidates

The western synod bishops held a meeting with students at Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Saskatoon. The Bishops intentionally set time
aside to visit with our candidates for ministry and to visit together as
a group of bishops. One of the purposes of the meeting was to model
unity, that we as a group of western bishops support the seminary,
support the students in candidacy and support the roles and responsibilities
set out in the ELCIC Candidacy Manual which standardizes our program for
ministry training in the church. Together as a group we honour and are
committed to this training model for future leaders in the church, both
ordained and diaconal candidates. Together we support the mission of
the church, to train leaders to be missional thinkers, to take responsibility
for the call to be God’s presence in the world.

The second purpose of our visit was to model communication to our future
leaders. It is absolutely necessary that we be transparent in our tasks and
responsibilities, that we share a vision for ministry with the people who will
one day be pastors and diaconal ministers in the our church. Our call to serve
in the world should be shared and enriched in our relationships with one another
and with creation.

It was also an opportunity to remind students they are part of the wider church. Candidates for ministry are not called to ministry of a synod. They are called to a ministry of the wider church. It may be nice to come back to one’s own synod after training, but that is not always the reality. We must therefore train candidates for the whole church. One congregation may identify and nurture a candidate for ministry and send them off to seminary or theological schools, but it may be another congregation in the ELCIC who will provide internship or contextual education. Someday they will serve another congregation or parish. We do this in partnership with one another for the good of the whole church.

In an effort to show support to our candidates by our visit at the seminary, the bishops also wanted to affirm the support of other partners in the candidacy process. Students are supported by their home congregations, by individuals in the church, by the seminary and by synodical committees (CTEL and CCOM). Each has a specific role in the training of future rostered leaders (ordained and diaconal). Each accepts responsibility for theological and practical formation of our future leaders. No one group is responsible for the training of our leaders. We do this in partnership with one another for the good of the whole church.

How can you help? Here are some ways to live out this partnership:

Provide full or partial scholarships for students
Make and maintain relationships and contacts with students throughout their training
Provide internship sites for ongoing training
Provide capital gifts to the seminary to ensure there is a facility for training
Invite students and faculty to be present in your congregation via written communications or visitations. Encourage them to tell their story of faith and call.
Be a member of the Synod committees that are responsible for the screening and nurturing of candidates for ministry
Pray for the future leadership of the church, in your weekly worships or gathering places

With the introduction of the ELCIC “It’s your Call Program” there has been an increase in candidates for ministry in the church. Let’s praise God for this renewal of leadership possibilities in the church.

Are you a missional thinker in the church? Do you resonate with the call to serve others? Consider a call to rostered ministry as a way to serve God in the world.
Thanks be to God for those who have answered the call to rostered ministry.

To view Bishop Elaine's blog click on the link below:
mnosynod.wordpress.com