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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (Corinthians 12:4-7)

Vocation

Marcia Myers, Director

Learn more about the work of this office — download our brochure

From the director

"Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making a home with men and women! … "Look! I'm making everything new…" 
- Revelation 21:3,5 (The Message)

What an amazing, tumultuous, energizing time in the church! There is so much going on, so many conversations and initiatives, so much anxiety and change. In short, it is a time of incredible opportunity. We chose the name “For Such a Time as This” for our small church pastoral residency program to reflect the challenge of God’s call to service in times of risk and opportunity. Such a description is apt for these times in our world context and in our church. It is a challenging time for church leaders. In times such as these where “the way we have always done it” doesn’t work anymore.

Today’s leaders are called to discern God’s will, explore new paths and take risks to seize new opportunities.

The focus of the work of the Office of Vocation is to support the development of leaders for our changing church — leaders who can effectively love and lead existing congregations into new mission in their neighborhoods and leaders who can birth new worshiping communities reaching new Christians in 1,001 new ways . We are working with our seminaries and presbyteries on the complex task of ministerial formation and development. Knowing that effective ministry requires skills of exegesis of Scripture and of modern life, a balance of classroom and mentored experience, a review of the call system is underway to build on the highly acclaimed Church Leadership Connection to provide more flexibility to meet the church’s needs.

We recently commissioned 10 new residents through the “For Such a Time as This” program to serve 11 congregations — seizing the opportunity to grow Christ’s church deep and wide.

We are providing debt relief through the Theological Student Loan Program to assist entrepreneurial pastors to develop  bi-vocational ministries.

In a few weeks we look forward to welcoming invited racial ethnic seminarians to Louisville to nurture their leadership as they move into ministry.

We are encouraging presbytery ministry committees to seize the opportunities offered by the new Form of Government to try innovative strategies to meet mission needs in their communities. The new 2011-2013 Advisory Handbook for Ministry Committees/Commissions and the new Advisory Handbook for Preparation for Ministry are compatible with the new Book of Order and following its tone, offer questions for consideration, models, and possibilities to guide the discernment of presbytery ministry committees in their own context.  Now is the time to ask “Why not?” to explore possibilities for new forms of ministry, and to support passionate and creative leaders for times such as these.

We welcome the opportunity to engage with you in issues of leadership and invite you to join of our internet resource groups designed for presbytery ministry committees, staff, and interested others. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for further information.

Blessings on your ministries,

Marcia

Get the new 2011-13 Advisory Handbook

In accord with the new Form of Government’s purpose to provide guidance for our common life, rather than be a regulatory manual, the Office of Vocation officers new editions of its “Advisory Handbooks”. They are designed for use by those who are called to presbytery ministry committees or commissions and those involved in preparation for ministry. They are available without charge as Downloadable documents. Continue reading

Advisory Handbook of Preparation for Ministry in the PC(USA)

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For Such a Time as This

A Small Church Pastoral Residency Program

For Such a Time as This is a program which seeks to pair small, under-served congregations with recent seminary graduates in a two-year pastoral residency relationship.   During the program, pastoral residents – who will be ordained to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament as Designated Pastors – will be supported and guided by a network of pastor/mentors, presbytery, seminary and national church leaders. Because isolation is frequently cited as a concern for pastors in such settings, residents will be placed in clusters of three to four residents for peer learning and support.  The residents will be Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) candidates for ministry who have completed their M.Div. degree and have been “certified ready to receive a call.” Keep reading

Six Agency Leadership Initiative

At the invitation of the six agencies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 30 leaders from across the PC(USA) gathered in Dallas, Texas, on February 9-11, 2011, for a conversation about leadership for the church in the 21st century. Here are the fruits of their conversation.

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Raising Up Leaders for the Mission of God

A Report of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Joint Committee on Leadership Needs, February 2, 2010

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Snapshots of Presbyterian Leadership

Since we each have different gifts according to the grace God has given us, we each live out our call in different ways.  These stories offer but a glimpse of the diverse paths of leadership and service that are possible with God. Keep reading

Vocation ministry partners

Comments

  • Praise the Lord!!! by Travis Streeter on 10/10/2011 at 2:44 p.m.

  • Friends, if you have not already read the report of the Six-Agency Initiative Consultation-Information Item 248, I highly recommend it to you. Truly it is "a work of art" to which all church leaders must give their full attention. The characteristics for "effective leaders for the church in the 21st century" is of key importance. I wish to thank all participants in the Consultation process for your prayerful and collaborative efforts to develop this fine and most timely document. Now let us roll up our sleeves and get behind the intent of the Consultation to equip ourselves and others to meet the challenges before us as we continue our journey forward together, providing effective leadership to further the mission and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. by Jacquelin Lyman on 03/22/2011 at 5:54 p.m.

  • hi. i am a baptized and confirmed roman catholic that has been out of mainstream with the Church's Conservatism for sometime. i would definitely like to discuss a possible vocation in the presbyterian church. by john c heverly on 03/04/2011 at 4:38 p.m.

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