As I write this (2:38pm – Monday afternoon) I still don’t have all of the information in place in regard to the call that I received to Rib Mountain Lutheran Church. I apologize for the delay. It’s certainly agonizing for me to think about possibilities without specifics. It’s sort of like waiting for test results and a diagnosis so that you know what to start worrying about.
I hope none of you feel reluctant to ask questions. It’s sort of a weird situation. My wife suggested to me that it probably seems awkward to talk about because of how peculiar this call
process of ours is. In other vocations, if I were looking for another job I wouldn’t say anything to my employer until I had already accepted another offer. The call process is much more exposed. As a pastor there is a code of ethics. A pastor isn’t to go fishing for other assignments…and I did not. And I do want you to know that. I was extremely surprised when contacted several weeks back. A pastor often might be aware that he is on some calling church’s list, but that so often comes to nothing that you don’t sit around thinking about it.
Our church’s call process is odd and anomalous in a lot of ways. I don’t think there’s anything quite like it. That can make the ordeal more frustrating. Because it’s such an unusual operation people don’t know what to think or how to respond.
I hope you all feel free to approach me and ask me any questions you have. I am always ready to share if asked. After 23½ years here, people are still sometimes incredulous when I say that I am an introvert. But I very much am. And introverts often give the impression that they’re unwilling to share. That’s not really true. Introverts are slow to volunteer information oftentimes, but happy and even eager to share when asked.
Anyway – I haven’t said much because I don’t know much yet. There are lots of things to consider. But it’s hard to consider until you know what all those things are. This isn’t the easiest process. But not all things are meant to be easy.
In Christ,
Pastor Picard