Professional ministry is a vocation with a sense of calling to a profession of faith and service. The role between congregation and minister, whether called (settled), transitional or contract, differs from an employer-employee relationship where the employer may dictate how the employee does their job. A minister serves in a relationship of mutuality and consent, with any expectations (e.g. number of Sundays in the pulpit, pastoral care obligations, staff supervision authority, etc.) spelled out and mutually agreed to in the Letter of Agreement.

What will change with a settled minister?

• A called minister becomes less like a “consultant” and evolves into a vested partner, engaged with the congregation for the fulfillment of its long-term mission.
• When a congregation calls a minister and the minister accepts the call of this particular congregation, they enter into a covenantal relationship for an indefinite period of time.
• A contract minister is hired by the board and serves under an annual (or a defined multi-year term) contract. There is an annual, mutual review of ministry but, structurally, the board has more power because it can decide whether or not to renew the contract.
• The congregation’s members vote to extend the call. A called minister can only be dismissed by a vote of the congregation. (In practice, when a ministerial relationship is no longer viable, the congregation and minister will negotiate terms for the minister to resign.)
• Because the annual, mutual review of ministry is conducted in a relationship that is structurally mutual, there can be more vulnerability and opportunity for transformational growth and depth.