A Creative Christian Community in the Heart of San Francisco
Proposed Call to Jay Wilson
Dear friends at First United,
As you may recall, in 2006 we were asked to be part of a group of congregations to provide a call for Megan Rohrer through Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM). At that time we were in the midst of our strategic planning process and decided not to participate. We declined with the understanding that we could join in later. When ELM approached us again this year, however, it was not to include us in Megan’s call, but to make possible another ordination: Jay Wilson. Jay was approved for ordination three years ago and has since been awaiting a call from a congregation.
First United has a long history of taking bold steps for the sake of the gospel; we now have the opportunity to take another by extending a call to Jay. Therefore, after careful consideration, the church council recommends that First United Lutheran Church extend to Jay Wilson a call to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. There will be opportunity for discussion on Sunday, September 28th and a vote will be taken on Sunday, October 12th.
Why First United?
Because of First United's act of “extraordinary ordination” in 1989, we are an obvious choice for continuing in that tradition. Also, since 2007 Jay has been the Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry, with which we have already established a relationship through Pastor Megan Rohrer. This is one of our neighborhood ministries with the homeless and is a natural partnership for our congregation. Jay would continue to work primarily with the Welcome Ministry, but would also be on our staff as Missionary to the Poor.
Why doesn't the Welcome Ministry extend a call?
The Welcome Ministry is a non-profit organization with a spiritual foundation, but it is not a congregation. And while ELM itself could extend a call to specialized ministry, it is preferable to have the call come from a congregation. From ELM's theological statement:
ELM affirms the value of congregational calls and connecting congregations to specialized ministries because of their value for pastors and congregations and for our work of resistance, and we strongly encourage this practice to continue whenever possible.
Why add to our staff? Aren't we too small?
Our main purpose in extending this call is to provide an opportunity for a pastoral candidate, approved for ordination, but ineligible according to the ELCA 's policy of exclusion of LGBTQ candidates. While working mainly at the Welcome Ministry, Jay would brings gift to the congregation, especially in the areas of disability and diversity and transgender issues.
What will it cost us?
Funding for Jay's position at the Welcome Ministry comes from ELM and other grants, as well as fund-raising by the Welcome Ministry. First United will contribute to the Welcome Ministry as part of our annual benevolence giving. We may also participate with the Welcome Ministry in fund-raising efforts.
I hope that you will give prayerful consideration to this proposal and the attached Call & Compact. We will be presenting more information about Jay and about the call process at our meeting on September 28th. Your participation in the discussion and your questions are welcomed and encouraged.
Sincerely,
Steve Johnson Susan Strouse
Council President Pastor
CALL & COMPACT
BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH AND
PASTOR JAY WILSON
First United Lutheran Church, in congregational meeting assembled, extends a three-year call to the Reverend Jay Wilson to serve as Missionary to the Poor of First United Lutheran Church. Jay's primary area of ministry will be to serve as Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry of San Francisco and lead First United in outreach to the homeless.
The following Compact is freely and joyfully entered into by the members of First United Lutheran Church and their Assistant Pastor, Jay Wilson. It is our combined commitment to each other.
1. Social Justice and Community Outreach
We believe in Jesus' vision of the realm of God where all are welcomed and all are valued. We are called into prophetic ministry to address injustice in our community and world. Our worship, our educational programs, our budget, our fellowship activities, all aspects of our congregational life reflects our commitment to living into this vision.
We believe that as an ecumenical organization in San Francisco, the Welcome Ministry, empowers our outreach to those who need our assistance. We are committed both spiritually and financially to the work of this ministry. As a demonstration of our commitment, we support Jay Wilson as Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry.
The role of the assistant pastor is:
• To foster creative and challenging ways for the congregation to engage issues of social justice
• apply biblical/spiritual/theological insight to issues of justice
• serve as assistant director of the Welcome Ministry
• bring updates about Welcome Ministry issues to First United
• seek creative ways to engage the First United membership in the issues of the Welcome Ministry
2. Education
We believe that Christian education is a life-long process. We are committed to providing opportunities for all ages to grow in wisdom and understanding and we encourage full participation in this continual spiritual journey.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• Take the lead in planning education programs for children in conjunction with the Pastor, the Children’s Education team and PLTS seminarians.
• Take the lead in educating adults and children on accessibility issues, including, but not limited to, providing training seminars.
• Take the lead in educating adults and children on inclusivity issues, including but not limited to, providing training seminars.
3. Worship
We believe that it is a good and joyful thing to give praise to God. While we know that we experience God everywhere in everything, we find a special value when the congregation worships together. Through Word and Sacrament, music and the arts, communal prayer and praise, we form a community that is the very body of Christ.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• Be available to lead worship at First United as scheduling might permit including pastoral tasks (but not including music)
• Help to develop First United's worship Including visual arts.
4. Pastoral Care and Community Life
We believe that God has called us into a community of compassion and mutual care. We are to be as “little Christs” to each other, as well as to the stranger. We seek ways of strengthening the bonds that connect us to one another, while at the same time creating openings for newcomers to enter in.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• develop pastoral relationships with members
• be available for Pastoral counseling
5. Spiritual Nurture and Growth of Clergy
We believe that all of God's children, including clergy, need to be nurtured and encouraged to maintain a well-grounded lifestyle. We are committed to supporting our assistant pastor to ensure good physical, emotional, and spiritual health, which include the following activities:
• participate in First Call and ELM roster retreats
• plan for annual continuing education opportunities
• take a regular day off and scheduled vacations
• maintain regular communication with staff liaison
At the end of this three-year call, both parties are free are free to negotiate an extension of this call, and its elements, or create a new call.
Prepared and recommended by the Compact Committee:
Pastor Susan Strouse, Ched Hinger, Debbie Barrow & Kirk Pessner: August 21, 2008
Adopted by the Church Council and recommended to the Congregation: September 16, 2008
Adopted by the Congregation: _________, 2008
As you may recall, in 2006 we were asked to be part of a group of congregations to provide a call for Megan Rohrer through Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM). At that time we were in the midst of our strategic planning process and decided not to participate. We declined with the understanding that we could join in later. When ELM approached us again this year, however, it was not to include us in Megan’s call, but to make possible another ordination: Jay Wilson. Jay was approved for ordination three years ago and has since been awaiting a call from a congregation.
First United has a long history of taking bold steps for the sake of the gospel; we now have the opportunity to take another by extending a call to Jay. Therefore, after careful consideration, the church council recommends that First United Lutheran Church extend to Jay Wilson a call to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. There will be opportunity for discussion on Sunday, September 28th and a vote will be taken on Sunday, October 12th.
Why First United?
Because of First United's act of “extraordinary ordination” in 1989, we are an obvious choice for continuing in that tradition. Also, since 2007 Jay has been the Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry, with which we have already established a relationship through Pastor Megan Rohrer. This is one of our neighborhood ministries with the homeless and is a natural partnership for our congregation. Jay would continue to work primarily with the Welcome Ministry, but would also be on our staff as Missionary to the Poor.
Why doesn't the Welcome Ministry extend a call?
The Welcome Ministry is a non-profit organization with a spiritual foundation, but it is not a congregation. And while ELM itself could extend a call to specialized ministry, it is preferable to have the call come from a congregation. From ELM's theological statement:
ELM affirms the value of congregational calls and connecting congregations to specialized ministries because of their value for pastors and congregations and for our work of resistance, and we strongly encourage this practice to continue whenever possible.
Why add to our staff? Aren't we too small?
Our main purpose in extending this call is to provide an opportunity for a pastoral candidate, approved for ordination, but ineligible according to the ELCA 's policy of exclusion of LGBTQ candidates. While working mainly at the Welcome Ministry, Jay would brings gift to the congregation, especially in the areas of disability and diversity and transgender issues.
What will it cost us?
Funding for Jay's position at the Welcome Ministry comes from ELM and other grants, as well as fund-raising by the Welcome Ministry. First United will contribute to the Welcome Ministry as part of our annual benevolence giving. We may also participate with the Welcome Ministry in fund-raising efforts.
I hope that you will give prayerful consideration to this proposal and the attached Call & Compact. We will be presenting more information about Jay and about the call process at our meeting on September 28th. Your participation in the discussion and your questions are welcomed and encouraged.
Sincerely,
Steve Johnson Susan Strouse
Council President Pastor
CALL & COMPACT
BETWEEN THE MEMBERS OF FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH AND
PASTOR JAY WILSON
First United Lutheran Church, in congregational meeting assembled, extends a three-year call to the Reverend Jay Wilson to serve as Missionary to the Poor of First United Lutheran Church. Jay's primary area of ministry will be to serve as Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry of San Francisco and lead First United in outreach to the homeless.
The following Compact is freely and joyfully entered into by the members of First United Lutheran Church and their Assistant Pastor, Jay Wilson. It is our combined commitment to each other.
1. Social Justice and Community Outreach
We believe in Jesus' vision of the realm of God where all are welcomed and all are valued. We are called into prophetic ministry to address injustice in our community and world. Our worship, our educational programs, our budget, our fellowship activities, all aspects of our congregational life reflects our commitment to living into this vision.
We believe that as an ecumenical organization in San Francisco, the Welcome Ministry, empowers our outreach to those who need our assistance. We are committed both spiritually and financially to the work of this ministry. As a demonstration of our commitment, we support Jay Wilson as Assistant Director of the Welcome Ministry.
The role of the assistant pastor is:
• To foster creative and challenging ways for the congregation to engage issues of social justice
• apply biblical/spiritual/theological insight to issues of justice
• serve as assistant director of the Welcome Ministry
• bring updates about Welcome Ministry issues to First United
• seek creative ways to engage the First United membership in the issues of the Welcome Ministry
2. Education
We believe that Christian education is a life-long process. We are committed to providing opportunities for all ages to grow in wisdom and understanding and we encourage full participation in this continual spiritual journey.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• Take the lead in planning education programs for children in conjunction with the Pastor, the Children’s Education team and PLTS seminarians.
• Take the lead in educating adults and children on accessibility issues, including, but not limited to, providing training seminars.
• Take the lead in educating adults and children on inclusivity issues, including but not limited to, providing training seminars.
3. Worship
We believe that it is a good and joyful thing to give praise to God. While we know that we experience God everywhere in everything, we find a special value when the congregation worships together. Through Word and Sacrament, music and the arts, communal prayer and praise, we form a community that is the very body of Christ.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• Be available to lead worship at First United as scheduling might permit including pastoral tasks (but not including music)
• Help to develop First United's worship Including visual arts.
4. Pastoral Care and Community Life
We believe that God has called us into a community of compassion and mutual care. We are to be as “little Christs” to each other, as well as to the stranger. We seek ways of strengthening the bonds that connect us to one another, while at the same time creating openings for newcomers to enter in.
The role of the assistant pastor is to:
• develop pastoral relationships with members
• be available for Pastoral counseling
5. Spiritual Nurture and Growth of Clergy
We believe that all of God's children, including clergy, need to be nurtured and encouraged to maintain a well-grounded lifestyle. We are committed to supporting our assistant pastor to ensure good physical, emotional, and spiritual health, which include the following activities:
• participate in First Call and ELM roster retreats
• plan for annual continuing education opportunities
• take a regular day off and scheduled vacations
• maintain regular communication with staff liaison
At the end of this three-year call, both parties are free are free to negotiate an extension of this call, and its elements, or create a new call.
Prepared and recommended by the Compact Committee:
Pastor Susan Strouse, Ched Hinger, Debbie Barrow & Kirk Pessner: August 21, 2008
Adopted by the Church Council and recommended to the Congregation: September 16, 2008
Adopted by the Congregation: _________, 2008
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hiroko Fukuchi on
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Now, I learned the intent of calling Jay to FULC's ministry, perfectly. Assistant pastor! I'm glad to know that the Jay in Kids' Time will be a full-time member and minister of the First United. I hope everyone will agree to have him in that position!
-Hiroko
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Permalink Reply by Susan Strouse on -
Thanks, Hiroko. I will add your voice to the vote.
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