Great question. This was a question that was a common part of the New Church Leadership Institute last week. It has also been a common follow up question when people ask either how my trip was last week or where I was last week.
I have been considering this question or variations of this question intentionally since January and have moved through various responses. During the summer, I kept looking for more details of what would it be like to be the pastor at a new congregation. I had received some good information about the personality of person that is likely to be fruitful in the new church setting, but wanted to know really what it would be like. A few months ago, I realized that I may not know many more specifics until / if I were to be appointed to a particular community for a new church.
Early last week my response was this – I think that I have gifts and graces that may be fruitful in a new church setting. I am not able to clearly say – God is calling me to start a new church. However, I feel movement on that spectrum toward saying more clearly that God is calling me to start a new church.
Last Friday, one of the speakers asked a question that brought me to my current response, which is: I would like to be considered for an appointment to a new church start. This is very dependent on an interview which will take place in December. This will be an assessment interview with clergy members from Kansas who will have been trained for this specific interview.
I am looking forward to the interview to provide more clarity around this question for me. I believe that God’s call in my life can experienced both internally and externally. I think that this interview process will be an important part of understanding God’s call.
Rev. Andrew Conard 
9 replies on “Will you start a new church?”
Andrew – This is very exciting, God’s blessings on you as you continue through this process!
Andrew, good luck with your discernment! I look forward to seeing how the journey unfolds for you.
Very cool! I’ll be keeping you in my prayers as you continue to discern and as you prepare for the assessment interview in January.
That’s awesome! Definitely keep us posted.
I’ll keep you in my prayers as you discern your call. It sounds great and challenging.
All – Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. My hope is to be a part of God’s work in the world and if this is a part of it – great. If not – that is also great.
[…] start a new church? October 29th, 2007 — Andrew Conard A few weeks ago, I responded to a question that people often ask when they find out that I was a part of the New Church Leadership Institute. […]
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