Called to Deliver: The Pastoral Ministry

By Rev. Rich Heinz

It was the spring of my 8 th grade year. Our class was on a field trip to Chicago, and we concluded the day with a visit and tour of the campus of Concordia CollegeRiver Forest. That tour made such an impression on me that I never seriously considered any other college. Enjoying the visit and tour, I began to process several things. There were all the times that teachers in my Lutheran school had dropped hints. There was the great impact of vicars in our congregation —young men doing their “student preaching,” if you will. There was my pastor, who had (purposefully, I’m sure) said things in front of his son, who was a good friend of mine, that I should be a pastor.

And then there was Mrs. Thrush. She was the classic “little old lady” in church, who had been friends with my great-grandparents. Every time I would acolyte, she would admire how I looked in the vestments. With a sparkle in her eye, she would tell me that I needed to give some thought to this!

God gives each of us many vocations. Each vocation or calling is worthy of honor as long as it is lawful. Through our vocations, we serve our neighbor in love, living out the faith that the Lord has given. And while a vocation serving in Christ’s Church does not earn any more “points” with the Almighty, it is a joy and privilege to serve Him!

I thank God that He has led me to the calling of the Pastoral Office. He has taught me, trained me, and used me to serve His Church and her members for over 20 years, in a variety of ways. That’s a beautiful aspect of the Holy Ministry—there are some basic regular tasks, and a broad spectrum of service that surrounds them. The preaching and teaching of the Word of God are central to the pastor’s work. Serving the people of God with His Word can take many forms. While the most common is in the life of a parish, pastors can also be called to teach theology at a Lutheran school, university, or seminary. Or they may serve the Church at large in an organization such as Higher Things, Lutheran Heritage Foundation, the Synod, or in so many others.

Delivering the sacraments can create some of the most joyful moments of a pastor’s life in the ministry. Giving new birth from above to the Lord’s children is an incredible and exhilarating event! So also is each and every celebration of the Eucharist! Of course, the serious task of hearing confessions, and the joyful result of proclaiming Absolution is a blessed and impactful event every time.

A pastor has the unique gift of being brought into a family’s life at the moments of their most joyful celebrations, and during their deepest heartaches. From births and Baptisms, to hospital rooms and death beds, each is a place where he is called to bring the comfort of the soothing, healing Gospel to his parishioners. Arms loaded with his most trusted tools (Bible, hymnal, catechism, and a “sick call communion kit”), a pastor speaks and sings the Word of God and delivers the Holy Supper, bringing forgiveness, peace, love, and hope like nothing else can.

There are also the days filled with “average” moments. The hours of meetings with boards and committees and voters’ assemblies would be an example. These times are received as gift, and help us appreciate the joys of the more important times of Word and Sacrament all the more! A pastor can continue to thank God for the joys of preparing and teaching Bible Study, working with the youth in the church, and anticipating the next Divine Service!

Serving God as a pastor is definitely not a “9 to 5” job. Pastors are always “on call.” People do not have accidents only at certain times, or schedule when to die. A pastor will always drop what he is doing and go to the bedside of the hurting (or dying!) Christian— even though the Old Adam wants to sleep through that 3:00am call or text! But he will also find that, in spite of the hardships, the Lord works through that Word and the pastor is humbled and fulfilled to be a part of that time.

Through all the highs and lows of life with the congregation (or in my case, Concordia University), the pastor is forgiven and strengthened in receiving the Word and the Sacraments, and joyfully gives them to God’s children. He works to serve the Lord in serving His Church.

If you are a young man asking, “What do I do? How can I become a pastor?” Here are some starters. Go to church, regularly! Receive Jesus in His Gifts, and feed on His Word. Study and pray your catechism all the time. Then, when you fail to do these perfectly (which happens every day), the Spirit will lead you to repent and receive forgiveness in Christ. This is your foundation.

Talk with your own pastor. He’s really not that scary. And he probably would be thrilled to know you are considering this vocation! Your pastor knows you; he will talk with you and give advice on how to pursue this “noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1).

Your home pastor will likely urge you to go to a Concordia University (possibly his alma mater, if he attended one). There you can be well equipped with the languages that Scripture was written in (Hebrew and Greek) as well as some excellent theology classes to lay the foundation for your seminary work.

After your bachelor’s degree, you would go to one of our Synod’s seminaries (or maybe our sister seminary in Canada). Three years of academics and a year of vicarage—think student teaching for pastors—and the church says you are ready. The Lord works through seminary officials and district presidents to place seminary graduates into their calls, to be ordained into the Office of the Holy Ministry.

Yes, it’s a long process, but it is such an amazing gift from God to serve His people! The joys far outweigh any challenges in this life, making the pastoral ministry a wonderful blessing and calling from the Lord.

Rev. Rich Heinz is the assistant vice president for Mission & Ministry at his Alma Mater, Concordia University Chicago, in River Forest, Illinois. While serving the university, he is still an ordained servant of the Word, encouraging others to pursue the calling of the Holy Ministry, and other callings of service in the Church. He is also the worship coordinator for Higher Things.