Elders of St. Jacob’s From Pastor David

At a recent meeting, several Mission District pastors lamented about the unavailability of NALC supply pastors within the Carolinas. Currently, there are few retired NALC pastors available for supply. During August you will recall that when I was quarantined due to Covid-19, we did not have Holy Communion at worship on the two Sundays I was away. That was because there were no pastors available for pulpit supply. The issue came again in October for several of our South Carolina NALC pastors who hoped to take some much-needed vacation time. Again, there were not enough supply pastors to fill in.
The answer to this problem was for pastors to identify lay members who are gifted to serve as Elders to lead worship in the pastor’s absence when no supply pastor is available. An Elder is a lay person authorized to distribute consecrated elements of bread and wine for Holy Communion. Elders are trained by the pastor and act under his direction.
Being an Elder is an extraordinary ministry which does not take the place of the ministry of ordained clergy but serves as a means to distribute Holy Communion during a time of unavoidable pastoral absence. Here at St. Jacob’s, I have identified four persons who I believe are gifted to serve in such capacity. David, Carroll, Sherrie, and A.J. have all completed brief training with me to serve as Elders for St. Jacob’s. They will be authorized by me to distribute the Sacrament if I am not able, and no supply pastor is available. These four Elders will be publicly recognized on January 2nd.