Logout
With the trend in lay ministry only expected to grow, the ELCA’s synod-authorized minister (SAM) program is quickly becoming more important to congregations.
A SAM is a layperson who isn’t ordained but receives training to serve a congregation as an extension of, or in place of, a pastor. SAMs take a series of classes and are authorized by the synod’s bishop to serve a congregation in a variety of ways, including preaching, presiding at worship, funerals and weddings, and pastoral care, among other roles.
More than 750 congregations across the country are currently served by a SAM, according to a 2024 ELCA report. Many serve in rural areas, in situations where pastors care for multiple congregations, at churches that are in-between pastors, and in regions where Lutherans have a strong geographical presence. The increased use of SAMs in the ELCA indicates that a new nonprofessional model of ministry is emerging alongside the more conventional model of rostered ministry, the report notes.
Living Lutheran caught up with three SAMs who are serving ELCA congregations and asked them to share their experiences.
Marcia Buchs
“There’s not a feeling in the world like laying the body of Christ into outstretched hands,” said Marcia Buchs, a SAM serving Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairbury, Ill. The former nurse and teacher estimates that she spends about four hours a week in this role, for which she is compensated.
A SAM since 2021, Buchs does supply preaching and fills in at her home congregation of Immanual Lutheran in rural Colfax, where she was baptized, confirmed and married. She has also served other congregations in Illinois as a SAM.
“As I worked through the SAM program, I realized that God had prepared me in very unique ways to offer my gifts to worshiping communities,” she said. “My original college degree was in nursing, and I’ve worked in geriatrics, hospice, addiction recovery and nursing education. My second bachelor’s degree came in my 40s when I earned a health education degree and taught junior high health. My master’s in health education offered me work in assisting communities to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use in adolescents.
“This lifetime of professional experience has proved invaluable in offering care and compassion to those dealing with sickness, death, mental illness, addiction and other types of grief and loss, who many in the ministry frequently get called upon to address.”
Dave Griffin
Dave Griffin of East Peoria, Ill., serves Immanual Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Ill. The retired engineer for Caterpillar Inc., and member of Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria, has been a SAM since 2021, when the lifelong Lutheran felt strongly called to the program.
“I’ve probably felt a call to ministry since 1999 but never went all in,” said the father of two. “That spiritual nudge kept occurring, and then I learned about the SAM program. I looked into it but couldn’t do it with the heavy hours at work. But once I was nearing retirement, I got into the SAM program. Everything has aligned really well.”
At Immanuel, which is in the call process for a new pastor, Griffin preaches, presides and fills in as necessary, estimating that he devotes about 20 hours a week.
“I like it a lot,” he said. “I enjoy being able to study the lectionary texts and develop a sermon that hopefully is meaningful to the congregation. I enjoy leading worship and praising God. It matches my skill set and gifts.”
Griffin encourages other who may be interested in lay ministry to discern if they feel a spiritual nudge. “There may be Lutherans who are wondering if this program is for them,” he said. “To that, I say, ‘Come and see. See if this is what you’re feeling called to.’”
Claire Vail
Claire Vail of Champaign, Ill., is at First Evangelical Lutheran in Decatur, serving as the interim while the congregation looks for a full-time pastor.
The retired high school special education teacher has been a SAM since 2021 but was able to devote more time to the ministry last year when she retired. She works 25 to 30 hours a week at First.
“I always felt called to ministry,” said the mother of two, “but growing up in the South and in the Episcopal church, which didn’t ordain women at the time, it wasn’t an option. I’ve always looked at ministry as vocation. Whatever you’re doing is ministry; whether it’s raising children, doing scouts, taking care of other people or serving the church.”
Vail was glad when she learned about the SAM program and trained while she was still working. “I felt the Holy Spirit was guiding me here,” she said. “I feel this is where the Holy Spirit wants me to be and I’m doing what God is calling me to do as a SAM.”
Vail considers the SAM program an example of living one’s faith, saying, “The SAM program is giving a real avenue to our belief in the priesthood of all believers.”
For more information about the SAM program, contact your synod office or read “The Use of synod-authorized ministers in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
