As a rural church, sometimes they find themselves in rough spots. They are trying to find an interim, then a permanent pastor. So in the meantime they are having a series of visiting pastors until the presbytery sends an interim. They are eager to issue a pastoral call, but they know their process may take a year or two.
Now this would not be too bad, except that their last pastor has been gone for some time now. This means that the congregation keeps slowly shrinking. That is not good.
In the United Presbyterian system, there is a database known as the "Opportunity List", accessible through http://clc.pcusa.org/ . In this the congregations and presbyteries around the world can enter their search data.
Then folks looking for posts, interim or whatever, can and should put in their preferences and find any possible spots for application. It is really quite simple.
But there are a couple things I have noticed. First, a lot of UPC congregations and presbyteries simply do not take advantage of this system. I guess they assume the potential pastors they would wish to speak with have the sacred gift of prophecy. They should be able to just know where the potential posts are located, and how to contact them.
Second, many other faith groups refuse to either create such lists, or to make them accessible to any who are not in the tight upper echelons of their own group. What can I say to those who are so non-ecumenically gifted? Nothing, I suppose.
This morning I read an article from Montana speaking of how many small rural congregations in Montana are using lay persons to serve the congregations. While some faith groups have done this for many years, some have resisted the possibilities.
The United Methodist Church has used lay persons widely. However, it has not seen fit to develop an "Opportunity List" for the denomination. Of course, it would be somewhat different, but it could be dean quite easily.
The point I am making, of course, is that there is no excuse for congregations being without pastoral care in any situation. We have thousands of capable lay and ordained clergy ready and willing to serve, if we only have a simple and pleasant means of finding a spot.
So, faith groups, at least put your own "Opportunity List" together, and let the world know about it.
Then, congregations and presbyteries, bishops and district superintendents, make use of it. The lack of pastoral care in any congregation, especially small rural congregations, is a blot on all of us.
Yachats Blue Link
