The church of Christ, in every age
Beset by change, but Spirit-led,
Must claim and test its heritage
And keep on rising from the dead.
[...] We have no mission but to serve
In full obedience to our Lord;
To care for all, without reserve,
And spread His liberating word.
— Fred Pratt Green, “The Church of Christ, in Every Age”
(Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 2006, #729, vv.1 and 4)
Friends in Christ,
Grace to you and peace as you meet in assembly. I write to you with greetings from my Candidacy Team Colleagues on Churchwide Staff and from my home synod of New Jersey.
Many of you are gathering this year to elect a bishop. Know that you are being held in prayer by the wider church as you gather, discern, and elect a new bishop.
In navigating times of change, the church needs leaders. We celebrate our lay leadership while also looking for people who sense a call and have gifts to be ordained as deacons or pastors.
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Have you ever thought about becoming a pastor?
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Are you curious about what a deacon does?
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Do you love serving in the church and wonder if that could become a career?
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Do you want to share the gospel and empower others to share the good news of Jesus?
Becoming a pastor or deacon is more than earning a degree—it is about having both an internal and external sense of God’s call, affirmed by the wider church.
The process of discerning this call and assessing readiness for ordained ministry does not happen alone. It is a collaborative effort, guided by the Holy Spirit, involving:
This is the ministry of candidacy.
Your Synod's Role in Candidacy:
Your synod has a Candidacy Committee, and I invite you to read their report in this bulletin. Over the past year, this committee has:
If you or someone you know is wondering about this path of ministry, please contact your bishop or an Assistant to the Bishop.
Candidacy is a collaborative process with many partners, so even if your bishop or synod staff changes, the candidacy ministry of your synod continues.
We are in this ministry together—for the sake of the church and the world.
Updates on Candidacy Leadership
Since my last report in 2024, candidacy leaders from Regions 7 and 8 met at United Lutheran Seminary for training and collaboration days. We look forward to meeting again in October 2025.
Beginning in 2022, the Candidacy Leadership Development Working Group (CLDWG) has been re-envisioning the candidacy process. The CLDWG has started sharing potential changes to the process.
I have the honor of standing on holy ground with members of your synod, listening to people discern their call, ask questions, and assess their readiness to become deacons or pastors.
Thank you for your synod’s participation in this shared ministry and for the privilege to serve among you.
In Christ,
The Rev. A. Rebecca Resch (she/her)
Candidacy and Leadership Manager, Regions 7 & 8
[email protected]