ALASKA SYNOD
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​Are you interested in a becoming a public leader
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America?  


​
​Go to elca.org/en/Our-Work/Leadership/Vocation-Become-a-Leader to read about different careers for service in the ELCA.
​Rostered leadership includes serving as a pastor or deacon.

​
​Step One: Prayer and Conversations
Pay attention to your curiosity. Pray with and enter into conversation with your pastor, your family and other significant people in the congregation or community about your gifts for public ministry.  Keep in mind that the call to public ministry comes both from within the individual and from the community.  
Contact Bishop Ostlovich at [email protected] to continue the conversation.


Step Two: Discernment
Discernment is the process which leads you from sensing the call to ministry to actually becoming a rostered leader of the ELCA.  Discernment includes the role of the Synod Candidacy Committee, your congregation, the seminary, the ELCA and you.  Attention is paid to personal and family readiness, personal finances, educational preparedness, openness to serving the entire church and not just one single community, your personal gifts and an awareness of personal growth areas.  

​
Step Three: Timeline
As a timeline, please allow at least six months, preferably twelve months, to get the application process in order.  The application process for ELCA Candidacy includes an application, initial interview, congregational registration, an autobiographical essay, a background check and psychological screening.  It takes time to complete all of those steps.  The Synod Candidacy Committee normally meets twice a year. The Synod Candidacy Committee works in partnership with the seminaries and decisions regarding entrance need to happen with the the Candidacy Committee and the seminary of choice.
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​Do You Want to Be Part of How God is Reconciling the World?
The Holy Spirit continues to call, gather, enlighten, sanctify and keep us in faith. If that sounds familiar, it is Martin Luther's explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles Creed. The Holy Spirit is at work in and through each of us. 

God works through us in and through our many relationships and roles. If you have wondered about serving as a pastor or deacon, elcaseminaries.org offers resources to help you sort that out.  

Bishop Tim, your own pastor or a neighboring pastor are ready to help in your discernment. 
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​Office of the Alaska Synod
​1847 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
Suite 2
Anchorage, AK 99517

(c) Alaska Synod
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​Privacy Policy


​Office (907) 272-8899
Fax (907) 274-3141




​Bishop Tim Oslovich
[email protected]

Chris Aquino,
​    Program Manager

[email protected]
  • Home
    • About the Synod
    • Around the Synod
    • Giving
    • Region One Financial Services
  • Leadership
    • Becoming a Pastor or Deacon
    • For Pastors and Deacons
    • Partners
    • SAM Process
    • Synod Constitution and Policies
    • Synod Council
    • About the Council, Committees and Boards of the AK Synod
    • About the Bishop
  • Mission
    • First Fruits Grants
    • Guiding Principles
    • Mission Funds >
      • Seminary Support Funds
      • SPLM Endowment
      • TEAM and TEAM Grants
    • Mission Support Impact - 2023
    • Mission Table
  • Congregations
    • Call Process
    • Congregational Transitions
    • Congregational Annual Reports
    • Congregations by Cluster
    • Resources for Congregations
    • Rostered Leader Annual Reports
  • Groups
    • AK Child & Family
    • ASWO - Women of the ELCA
    • For Youth
    • For Youth Workers
    • Global Refuge
    • Hunger Team
    • Kuwaa Mission
    • Lutheran Men in Mission
  • Resources
    • ACEs in Alaska
    • Bible Studies
    • Coaching
    • Compassionate, Nonviolent Communication
    • Consultation to Clergy
    • Disaster Preparedness
    • ELCA Foundation
    • ELCA Social Statements
    • Generosity and Stewardship
    • Immigration Resources
    • Links to other helpful resources
    • Report Misconduct
    • Spiritual Practices
    • Staff Booklist
    • Suicide Prevention
  • Events
    • 2025 Assembly Resources
    • Digital Classes
    • Loss, Grief and Nostalgia
    • Telling our Stories in the World Workshop