Walnut Creek Mennonite Church

Written by Pastor Ross Miller

In the early 1990's, after I had been at Walnut Creek Mennonite for a couple of years, I needed someone to preach for me on a Sunday that I was going to be away. I suggested at the elders meeting that maybe one of them could preach. They had never thought about it but decided they could. So over a period of several years the elders, who felt comfortable, would preach when I was away.

Calling Begins

Out of this experience several of the elders started to sense a call to ministry. One in particular who was basically "set" for life (good job, close family, debt free) decided he was ready to step out and test God's call. So we created a half time student pastor position where he was given many opportunities to test his gifts in all areas of ministry. After a period of time he was called to pastor a local congregation. As both congregations gathered together for a celebration service, this individual challenged our congregation to think about who would be next and so began our program of calling out leadership, "Who's Next?"

Who's Next

Since that time we have had others step forward, sensing a call to ministry, and we have tailored a student pastor position according to their interests and schedule. Some student pastors have been half time, some quarter time, some we have paid and others not, some for three months and others for a year, some have gone on to seminary or a pastorate or decided it wasn't for them. The emphasis each time has been on testing God's call and gaining experience in ministry.

A Culture of Call

As I reflect on the years that this program has been in place it really does take a culture of call for the training of leadership. It takes God calling people to serve and individuals being open to testing that call. It takes a congregation that is affirming and patient. People who are willing to tap individuals on the shoulder and be a part of the process of calling forth. It takes a leadership team that is willing to make the calling of new leadership a priority. It takes a positive pastor-congregation relationship. It takes an attitude of expectation and anticipation ; where people are looking for individuals who are gifted in pastoral ministry and people are willing to look at themselves and see if God is calling. It truly takes a culture of call to develop leadership in a congregation.

Schedule I Models of Leadership Development I Questions for Presenters I Questions for Written Desciptions