I know that I am called to pastoral ministry in the ARP. Sure, I could fit in the OPC or the PCA, but I specifically believe I am called to the ARP. I love the ARP. I spent my seminary time in the ARP, going to presbytery and Synod, learning the ethos and meeting fellow seminarians and pastors in the denomination

The Chancellor of my seminary alma mater has written a book called “Leaving a Career to Follow a Call.” In seminary, we learn to distinguish between the “inward call” and the “outward call” and the necessity of both. But what do we do with “the call” as it gets more specific?    

It is easy when “the call” is to ministry. Then you go through seminary and other seasons of life as you try to figure out if you’re called to pastoral ministry, church planting, college ministry, youth ministry, the mission field, or some other avenue of ministry. So now you’ve narrowed down that you’re called to a specific ministry. What next?    

Let’s narrow down that specific ministry to a specific context. If you’re called to do college ministry, do you go through RUF, Cru, Campus Outreach, or some other organization? If you’re called to the mission field, to which field do you go and through which agency serving in the field do you go through? If you’re called to pastoral ministry, which denomination do you go with and where in that denomination do you go? If you’re called to church planting, again which denomination will you go through to plant that church and where will you plant that church?  

Ok, so now you’ve got a pretty narrow call after much prayer, advice, time in seminary, and taking an inventory of your giftings. What happens if that narrowed calling isn’t happening?    

For instance, I know that I am called to pastoral ministry in the ARP. Sure, I could fit in the OPC or the PCA, but I specifically believe I am called to the ARP. I love the ARP. I spent my seminary time in the ARP, going to presbytery and Synod, learning the ethos and meeting fellow seminarians and pastors in the denomination. I want to see her flourish and thrive as part of God’s kingdom. I want to see her reaching out to unbelievers. I want to see her planting churches. I don’t want to see her wither and perish. I want to serve her as the denomination to which God has led me.   

However, pastoral callings are scarce right now in the ARP. I have been tempted to and succumbed to impatience and frustration. I’ve even been tempted to question the call, both in general and as narrowed.    

Now comes the big question. Do I stick with the narrow calling or do I move back up to a more general level and start again? Do I stick with the ARP, but begin to explore mission fields which at one point I was seriously considering? Do I pick back up with that serious consideration? Do I stick with the ARP or begin to search for a pastoral call in the PCA or OPC where there might be more opportunities? What about other denominations with whom I might have some issues?    

Do I stick with the ARP, but begin to explore church planting or college ministry? Or do I stay where I am and continue to pursue the call as it has been narrowed down over time, prayer, and experience?    

Is this the talk of one who is panicking and frustrated instead of relying and waiting upon the Lord? Is finding a call in the general sense more important than finding a call in which it has been narrowed? Is it more important for me to be a minister somewhere, than a minister in the ARP?  

I don’t know if there’s a right or wrong answer to this. Perhaps for some, they will need to re-evaluate and start over at the general level, while others should stick with the narrow call. Maybe there is some wisdom in biding one’s time while waiting on the narrow call to materialize. I see all of these guys (and gals) come to seminary straight out of college, then they go straight into ministry without necessarily having a lot of life experience. Perhaps they should work secular vocations, get married, have kids, etc., and gain life lessons before ministering to others. Perhaps some in that time will realize that they are not truly called, or that where they thought God was leading them is not where He is leading them. Only God knows as we can make our plans, but he directs our steps (Prov 16:9).    

As for myself, while I am waiting, my family and I have changed churches (from one richly blessed to one that is in need of revitalization) within our denomination (the ARP) to help her out. I am going to stick with my narrow call, but since it is not coming yet, I’m going to work within a context that will provide experience, wisdom, and growth geared toward my narrow calling of pastoral ministry within the ARP. I’m going to pursue my calling as it has been narrowed until God makes it apparent that I should be pursuing “the call” in a different direction or fulfills “the call.”   

Like Moses, perhaps this time is my 40 years in the wilderness for preparation. God knows I do not want to take things into my own hands. Yet, He also knows that I really don’t want to be in the wilderness for 40 years. That would put me becoming an ordained minister at 72. 🙂

Mark James is a graduate of RTS Charlotte and is a licentiate in the ARP’s First Presbytery.  He is currently employed at RTS Vitual.  He was a member of Ballantyne Presbyterian Church (ARP) when he attended seminary and is now at Ebenezer ARP.  This article first appeared on his blog, Confessions of a Theoholic, and is used with permission.