Being a Rostered Person

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) affirms the universal priesthood into which all of its members are baptized.  For the sake of mission and ministry, this church calls some of its baptized members for specific rostered ministries in this church, namely the ordained ministry and three lay ministries (associates in ministry, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers).  On behalf of the ELCA, synods have responsibilities related to the oversight and maintaining of the rosters of this church.

Rostered leadership in this church is a privilege granted through each synod in keeping with the ministry standards, policies, procedures and governing documents of the ELCA.  Rostered leaders serve in response to the needs of this church, and such service requires that an individual adhere to the Confessions of Faith of this church, be diligent in the exercise of ministry, and comply with the constitution of the ELCA, including living within the standards established by this church in its policies, procedures and governing documents.  This is expected of all those who are maintained upon the roster of ministers of the ELCA, regardless of status as active, retired or inactive (on leave or disability).

Synodical candidacy committees have the exceedingly important and highly sensitive task of making initial decisions about the public ministry of those identified as potential candidates for rostered ministry.  The candidacy committee must discern through an intentional process of examination and review whether or not a candidate is qualified and suitable to serve under call in a designated rostered ministry of this church.

Once approved for rostering, ordination of clergy, commissioning of associates in ministry, and consecration of deaconesses and diaconal ministers of this church follow the receiving of a valid, regularly issued letter of call.  Normally this call is from a congregation or the synod.  Those in churchwide ministry serve under call from the ELCA’s Church Council.

When a rostered leader retires from active ministry, the rostered leader may be placed upon the “retired” roster of this church by action of the Synod Council upon the endorsement by the synodical bishop.  If a retired rostered leader accepts a call, then he or she is moved to the active list. For the granting and maintaining of the privilege of retired status on the roster of ministers of the ELCA,  a retired rostered leader must give evidence of meeting the standards and expectations for ministry in this church.

When a call to ministry ends by resignation or termination of the rostered leader without the acceptance of another call, the rostered leader may be granted the privilege of “on-leave” status and placed upon the “on-leave” roster of this church upon endorsement by the synodical bishop and by action of the Synod Council.  Such status, if granted by the Synod Council, is for one year, and renewals of this status must be requested annually by the rostered leader.   The privilege of “on-leave” status may be renewed annually up to a maximum of three years, except in certain circumstances as defined in the ELCA constitution in which the status may be extended for a longer time.

The ELCA constitution makes clear that rostered leaders of the ELCA serve in response to the needs of this church, and therefore there is no requirement that “on-leave” status be initially grant or renewed.  The initial granting and any renewal of the privilege of “on-leave” status requires a clear likelihood that the individual may be apt and available for possible future call to a congregation or another setting of ministry in this church.  If this does not exist, “on-leave” status is not granted or renewed.

An individual who has been removed from a ministry roster of this church may apply for reinstatement at a future date through the ELCA’s candidacy-for-ministry process.