An odd state of affairs. . .

I am struck by how we do not see the strangeness of leaving the recruitment of church workers to the colleges, universities, and seminaries of the Church.  It is a convenient presumption entirely because it leaves off the hook those who ought to be the primary agents of recruitment simply because of how closely they are located to the lives of our young people.  Certainly, it is well and good that the educational institutions of Synod do what they can, however, we have assigned to them a different role and purpose, namely, to train and form church workers -- from pastors to teachers to DCEs to DCOs to DPMs to deaconesses and so on.  Let me be so bold as to day that it is also not simply the pastor's job to recruit them either.  Although the pastor has great influence over them and great potential simply by way of example and should encourage young men and women to consider church work careers, the real recruiters and the ones who often work against that recruitment are the people in the pews -- especially family members!  I talked about this on KFUO a while ago.

The recruitment of church workers begins with parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, friends, and church family.  If those closest to our youth people do not raise to them the possibility of becoming a pastor or church worker or encourage their interest in a church vocation or support them financially toward such a goal, whatever the pastor or college or university or seminary does will face a brick wall.  Now more than 20 years ago a retired pastor came to be our assistant pastor.  He was a second career guy who would have been a first career pastor but he did not get the encouragement or financial support from his family and friends and church family.  On the other side of the coin, I had not even thought about becoming a pastor but my family, church family, and pastors insisted that I give this prayerful consideration.  My home congregation gave this encouragement a concrete form in the money that supported me financially through St. John's Winfield to the Senior College through the Seminary in Ft. Wayne.  And all of this happened in the midst of one of the worst times in our Synod's history -- the split!  Yes, I did enjoy the support of my pastor and I has recruited by a college but the key support was from parents, extended family, and the folks I knew in the pews of my home congregation.  And the fruit it bore has endured 44 years.

The key here is this:  What message are we sending to our young people?  Do we esteem church work as a most noble vocation or do we caution our young people about the drawbacks and burdens of that work?  Do we honor our pastors with respect and respect what they do among us or do we treat them as our servants or speak disparagingly of them to others?  Do we provide the kind of financial compensation they deserve or one we think will not cost us too much?  Do we give them enough so that they are free to devote themselves to the work of the kingdom and not making ends meet?  How do we speak of the Church or school?  Our people are hearing from their parents and family and friends and even church family that church work is hard, does not pay well, and will leave you in the crosshairs of their critics.  How do you suppose that translates in their hearts to a fair consideration of a church work vocation?

Why is this such a big concern?  Our Synod cannot survive with only second career pastors and church workers.  They are absolutely wonderful gifts from God but their time of service is always shorter than a first career church worker.  Furthermore, we are approaching that time when the boom classes of my era are hitting retirement or physical incapacity.  We are facing a black hole of need and we are simply not raising up enough pastors, teachers, deaconesses and all the other offices appointed for service in our church to meet the challenge of those retiring, leaving, or dying.  What may be today an inconvenience as congregations wait longer and try harder to fill vacancies will become tomorrow's disaster.  This is not about what is easiest for us today but what will best serve those who come after us -- including our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Set Apart to Serve is a great program but it is not a solution.  Its best work is to alert YOU to the ways that YOU directly affect those who may or may not be considering church work vocations in your family or in your church family.  Support this program not to benefit your pastor or teacher or whatever but because it will directly affect YOU.  Look at the youth sitting in your pews, recruit them for church work vocations, support them when they show interest in these vocations, encourage them with your prayers and financial support, and do it not for their sake but for the sake of yourself and those in your family down the road.