The Central/Southern Illinois Synod encourages your congregation to consider how you might play a role in calling forth new ministers by dedicating one or more Sundays to that theme, emphasizing your congregation’s call to raise up those who may be gifted for ministry. You could do this at any time in the year using the resources below.
As a whole synod, we are recognizing “Gifted for Ministry Sunday” on April 16. You are invited to incorporate this theme into worship and other gatherings that Sunday and beyond. Bishop John Roth will provide a video sermon for April 16; prayer petitions, a hymn, and 2023 bulletin inserts will be available. Over the last year the synod produced six “Gifted for Ministry” videos, and we invite you to use these videos as well. Other ideas include an area pulpit rotation or inviting in a different pastor for worship. We have heard that one of the barriers to hearing a call to worship is simply not realizing that pastors come with many personalities, gifts, and voices.
The most significant part of hearing and responding to a call to ministry is when the community recognizes someone’s gifts and tells them, “You have gifts for ministry. I’ve seen how you [fill in the blank]. Have you ever thought about ministry as a vocation?”