It’s a story that has played out countless times over the years. God calls people to ministry. They receive training. The church ordains them. They serve.
Sometimes that process plays out for young people just discerning their careers. For Kari Shumaker, the newly ordained pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bird Island, the inkling of a call incubated for decades before fully manifesting.
Kari’s path to ministry began as a child in St. James. She joined her congregation’s folk band and felt accepted by the adults. She shared, “The thing that allowed faith to stick with me over all the years was a really strong intergenerational piece.” The people of the church had a significant role in her journey to ministry.
Fast forward a number of years to Kari serving as the worship coordinator at Paynesville Lutheran Church. After a long stint in that role, “I felt like I was called to something else.” The congregation provided the opportunity to step into new opportunities: home visits, teaching confirmation, and adult education. She soon realized, “I was called to more.” Paynesville Lutheran nudged her on her journey to ministry.
She ‘dipped her toe’ into Luther Seminary, taking a course and a half to ‘see what happened.’ She quickly experienced “this is where God was calling me to go.” For the next four years, Luther Seminary provided vital practical and academic training to prepare Kari for ministry.
Yet when Kari enrolled at Luther, she quickly realized the second portion of the preparation for pastoral ministry: the Southwestern Minnesota Synod’s Candidacy Committee. In every synod in the ELCA, Candidacy Committees walk alongside seminarians, providing support and guidance along the journey. They help them discern the call to ministry. For Kari, “It was very affirming.” They encouraged her to do her internship away from her home congregation in Paynesville, leading her to OSLC in Bird Island. The synod’s Candidacy Committee encouraged her on her path to ministry.
A year of internship led to a full-time call. “It was a really good fit. The church is all about building relationships. I spend much of my time being with people and visiting others. ”The people of OSLC gave her the experience needed to step into ministry.
Time and time again, God used people to encourage her, affirm her call, and provide her with the tools needed to succeed as a pastor of the ELCA.
Her words for those considering becoming pastoral leaders? “I know that there are so many ways to get through candidacy and seminary. I would encourage people to lean into whatever people feel called to do. Get that call set first, then live into it.”
If you are hearing God’s call to ordained ministry as a pastor or deacon or wanting to know more about lay ministry please reach out to Pastor Heather at the synod office. She would love to hear how God is calling you and help you along on your vocation journey!
Pastor Heather Culuris
SW MN Synod Minister for Engaging Leaders
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 218-851-8865
