For Ministry Re-Entry

Called teachers may step out of ministry or delay entry into ministry for a variety of reasons. District presidents oversee matters of doctrine, practice, and public ministry in a designated geographical region, and they determine whether an inactive teacher is eligible for a call. Ministry-certified teachers who step out of or delay called ministry for any reason will follow these steps to become call eligible.

STEP ONE: The calling body seeks permission from the district president for the inactive teacher to be used on a call list and provides the district president with the person’s complete contact information, including email and cell phone. The calling body may inform the inactive teacher to watch for and respond to the district president’s correspondence by which he will explain the eligibility review process and direct the inactive teacher to contact the president of the district in which the teacher last served.

STEP TWO: The former district president or his representative consults with a) the teacher’s former pastor, b) the teacher’s former principal, and c) past congregation representatives. If the former district president determines there is nothing in the teacher’s past service that prevents eligibility, he notifies the current district president of his findings. The current district president or his representative consults with the inactive teacher’s current pastor and then interviews the inactive teacher to determine aptness for called ministry. The current district president will ask the inactive teacher to supply a summary of applicable activities accomplished while out of the ministry. The current district president may also consult with the Commission on Lutheran Schools, and/or Martin Luther College’s Teaching Ministry Certification Office as needed to make a determination regarding call eligibility.

STEP THREE: The current district president determines whether the inactive teacher a) may be considered for a permanent call, b) may be considered for a provisional call, or c) is not eligible for a call at this time.

STEP FOUR: The current district president informs the calling body and inactive teacher of the teacher’s call eligibility and next steps. The district president should contact the CLS, who will note any restrictions on the candidate’s grade level or location availability.

STEP ONE: The teacher will contact the district president in the district he or she currently lives (note: this is a change to resolution COP0052). The teacher’s pastor can help him or her know who the district president is and how to contact him. The current district president will instruct the applicant to contact the president of the district in which the inactive teacher last served.

STEP TWO: The former district president or his representative consults with a) the teacher’s former pastor, b) the teacher’s former principal, and c) past congregation representatives. If the former district president determines there is nothing in the teacher’s past service that prevents eligibility, he notifies the current district president of his findings. The current district president or his representative consults with the inactive teacher’s current pastor and then interviews the inactive teacher to determine aptness for called ministry. The current district president will ask the inactive teacher to supply a summary of applicable activities accomplished while out of the ministry. The current district president may also consult with a) the Commission on Lutheran Schools, and/or b) Martin Luther College’s Teaching Ministry Certification Office as needed to make a determination regarding call eligibility.

STEP THREE: The current district president determines whether the inactive teacher a) may be considered for a permanent call, b) may be considered for a provisional call, or c) is not eligible for a call at this time.

STEP FOUR: The current district president informs the inactive teacher of the teacher’s call eligibility and next steps. The district president should contact the CLS, who will note any restrictions on the teacher’s grade level or location availability.

Levels of Call Eligibility

The district president declares the inactive teacher to be call eligible. The teacher may be used on any appropriate call list.

The district president articulates to the teacher any necessary requirements (see below) for professional development and, if applicable, a calling body. Should the person be called, the district president also shares the necessary requirements with the Commission on Lutheran Schools and the MLC director of ministry certification, who works with the teacher and principal to document the district president’s requirements. The teacher should complete all requirements in two years. Upon satisfactory completion of provisional call requirements, the director of ministry certification informs the district president. The district president may declare the teacher call eligible and available for a permanent call, and he will inform the teacher, principal (if applicable), Conference of Presidents, and the Commission on Lutheran Schools.

The former district president explains to the teacher and the current district president why the inactive teacher is not call eligible at this time. The current district president may request that the teacher works with others, such as a pastor, counselor, or the MLC director of ministry certification to resolve issues. Should the teacher address the district president’s concerns in the future, he or she may make a new request for call eligibility.

Guidelines for Determining Call Eligibility

Personal reasons: Financial, family, and other matters unrelated to the table of duties. Typically, a 12-month absence is required.

Health reasons: Physical, mental, or emotional issues. Evidence from a professional should demonstrate that the issues have been resolved before a person is declared eligible for either a permanent or provisional call.

Cause: Persistent adherence to false doctrine, scandalous life (not blameless), willful neglect of duty. Typically, this results in being permanently ineligible.

Inability to serve: Established inability to perform the duties of office. This would be a likely reason to declare someone not eligible for a call until the person can demonstrate that deficiencies are resolved.

Position eliminated: A called position no longer exists. The person may be declared eligible for a different call.

For the good of the ministry: A situation that is not related to the table of duties, which leads to the conclusion to end service. This will involve consultation with the called worker, calling body, and district officials before call eligibility is determined.

Peaceful release: When a calling body is unable to fulfill its financial obligations to a called worker, and the called worker is unable to support his or her household on what limited support the calling body can provide, the called worker may ask for a peaceful release from his or her divine call. The called worker/calling body relationship is then ended. The district president may determine whether the person is eligible for a different call.

If the current district president has no concerns regarding the inactive teacher’s reasons for leaving ministry, and the teacher is a member in good standing of a WELS congregation, the following may be helpful considerations.

OUT OF MINISTRY FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS: The teacher should be considered ministry eligible and available for a permanent call.

OUT OF MINISTRY 5-10 YEARS: The inactive teacher may be declared ministry eligible, depending on the level of professional activity during that time.

  1. A competent teacher who has been away from ministry but teaching full time in another setting may be considered eligible for a permanent call.
  2. A competent teacher who has been away from ministry with some teaching or professional development activities during that time may be considered eligible for a permanent call.
  3. An otherwise competent teacher who has not stepped foot in a classroom or engaged in teacher professional development may benefit from some formalized training or professional development. The district president may give permission for the teacher to be called provisionally. A provisionally called teacher completes any requirements under the direction of the principal or calling body. An inactive teacher should work with the MLC director of ministry certification to complete any requirements set by the district president. When the teacher satisfies the requirements, the principal or the director of ministry certification informs the district president, who declares the teacher to be eligible for a permanent call. Suggested requirements are 2 credits of coursework or 50 hours of professional development over two years.

OUT OF MINISTRY FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS: Call eligibility depends on the level of professional activity during that time.

  1. A competent teacher who has been actively teaching part-time or more in a non-called, paid or unpaid position for a significant portion of that time can be considered eligible for a permanent call.
  2. An otherwise competent teacher who has been out of ministry and not been involved in significant teaching throughout the time away should complete some requirements to sharpen his or her skills before being declared eligible for a permanent call. Suggested requirements are 3 credits of coursework or 75 hours of professional development and three weeks of experience in a Lutheran school followed by a principal’s evaluation. Either the principal or the director of ministry certification will inform the district president when the requirements are met, and the district president may then declare the teacher eligible for a permanent call.