Vocation, Vocation, Vocation

Many who have grown up in the Lutheran church have heard the word vocation over and over... and over again. It's one that is drilled into the minds of many Lutherans, along with the question, "what is your vocation?"

Luther did a lot for the church, including nonclergy into the religious fold - bringing those who aren't called to ordained ministry to a recognition that there is work that God is calling them to, regardless of ordination vows. Before Luther, the word tended to be reserved specifically for those who were called only to roles in the church, but with Luther's expansion on the definition of vocation, all are invited to imagine where they are called to fit into God's earthly kingdom.

For Luther, these roles aren't stagnant either. They change throughout our lives as we come upon different seasons. Sometimes we are called to be student and sometimes we are called to be teacher. Sometimes we are called to be guide, and sometimes the guided. And the expectation was that a person would hold and does hold multiple vocations at a time and several different vocations throughout their life. Perhaps the question, "what is your vocation?" is asked so often because it is really more of a question of, "what is your vocation now?" "What is your vocation today?"

From his household chart in the Small Catechism, Luther always had a greater concern for one's vocation as member in their family and call to be caretaker and teacher to the children among us. Whether called to be grandparent, grandchild, father, son, or spouse - these are all roles in the house that one is called to.

Recently, mine and Paige's call has brought us to bring in a couple of kiddos into our home. They are both quite young and need a lot of attention and are at a critical stage of development of bonding with parents. While our language in the ELCA and the synod does not include foster care for parental leave policies (click here for ELCA parental leave report), our congregational council has agreed to the importance of taking the time away to focus on my vocation as 'dad' for a time. 

To this effect, I will be on vacation from May 26-June 1st and on parental leave from June 2nd-July 14th. 

Contacts for pastoral emergencies: 

Pastor Jaime Benson from Bethlemhem Lutheran in Portage

608-742-8502

Pastor Karen Hofstad from St. Paul's in Baraboo

608-356-3230

Pastor Kris Totzke from St. John in Reedsburg

608-768-2556