October 2024 marks a monumental point for the NOW District: the 10-year anniversary of MAP-West Coast! If you’re not familiar, MAP was created by the three West Coast districts of the LCMS (CNH, NOW, PSD) to help support first-call pastors during their first two years of ministry (a third-year option was added in 2023 at the request of participants). It includes mentoring, coaching, cohort discussions, and an annual face-to-face gathering at the CNH offices in California. It’s a natural next step after seminary to give pastors practical, on-the-job training.
MAP was developed to equip new pastors as they adjust to what can be a challenging Northwest environment. Each summer, new pastors — either graduating from seminary or the SMP program — are added to the invite list. The six main areas of focus are: Spiritual Leadership; Missional Behavior Part 1; Missional Behavior Part 2; Theology and Integration with Missional Practice; Healthy Ministry (self, family, others); and Congregation, District, and Synod Structure and Governance. Sessions at the annual orientation include topics such as The Heart of a Spiritual Leader, Responding to a Call/Church Polity, A Plan to Sustain in Ministry, Partnership in An Era of Declining Resources, and the presentation of case studies.
Rev. Ted Moeller, who has been an integral part of MAP since its inception (you’ll find him leading sessions, curating case studies, and overall just being a pillar of wisdom and support) wrote last year:
“I have been honored to be involved in MAP from the very start and consider it to be a highlight of the year. The collegiality of our three districts is encouraging, and the sharing of stories inspiring. I love watching the transformation that happens over and over again. When asked to talk about their congregations, first-year pastors use the terms, ‘they’ and ‘them’; by the second year, it’s ‘we’ and ‘us,’ ” Moeller noted. “I savor the relationships I now have with so many dedicated, talented (and no-longer new) servants of the Word at work in our end of the country. MAP–West Coast works! The church is in pretty good hands.”
More than 40 NOW pastors have gone through the program thus far – including the six men who are participating in 2024/2025.
