Since my ordination in April of 1982 I have held two "permanent" calls to parishes and one to a Lutheran High School. After each of those calls there was a long term of being without a call, the one after the high school situation is still ongoing (since May 2003). The terms of being without a call have lasted 10 months 4-1/2 years, and now almost 13 years. Each time the district presidents I dealt with (and many times it was more than my own DP) did not give much, if any encouragement that he was doing anything to promote my name to any congregation. This despite the fact that I served numerous vacancies in difficult situations, often for months and years at a time.

Further, there is a stigma among congregations concerning the pastor without a call, which is not being adequately addressed by the DPs or Circuit counselors when dealing with the calling congregations. The pastor without a call is considered "damaged goods", a problem to be avoided, and little is done to dispel such notions.

But, there is another point that needs addressing. The handbook is extremely poorly written and further stigmatizes the pastor who goes more than 4 years without a call. Though it is not clearly stipulated, after 4 years that pastor, regardless how much he wants to be considered for a call, is forced out of the classification of "Candidate," into the classification of "NON-Candidate". During this last term of being without a call I began serving a vacancy for a mission in Davenport, IA, while I worked part-time for the federal government. I put in more than 20 hours a week at that mission, and offered pulpit supply to neighboring parishes at the same time, but was never once offered a call, not even a part-time call to that mission. And then, because they could no longer classify me as a candidate my status changed to NON-Candidate, even though I continued to serve that mission part-time, offer pulpit supply, and assist the congregation where I was a member.

In short, during my times as a pastor without a call I was treated as lower than dirt. When I was able to secure a full-time position with the federal government that took me out of Iowa to Michigan, the mission board moved rather quickly to replace me with a pastor whose parish required him only part-time, and he was soon extended a call to the mission.

The DPs, Circuit Counselors, and all the fellow pastors should be concerned about the pastor without a call, support him, encourage, search for every possible way to bring him and his skills back into service in the church.

I would love to be back in a parish, preaching, visiting the sick, etc., but I have found a well paying job that uses a lot of my skills and interests. I have also filed to be considered as Emeritus. Maybe with that label on me congregations will have a different attitude towards me and eagerly seek out my services (ha!).