The Pastor Search Process

The Pastor The Pastor Search ProcessSearch Process

Everything you wanted to know Everything you wanted to know about calling a new pastor. . .about calling a new pastor. . .

. . .but were afraid to ask.. . .but were afraid to ask.


““Isn’t this just Isn’t this just

church language church language

for a personnel for a personnel search?”search?”


No.No.Calling a Pastor Calling a Pastor

involves a spiritual involves a spiritual discernment process.discernment process.

The Pastor The Pastor Search ProcessSearch ProcessThere is no need for the There is no need for the congregation to panic.congregation to panic.

This can be the most This can be the most exciting spiritual journey exciting spiritual journey

a church can embark a church can embark upon.upon.


AcronymsAcronymsPNC ~PNC ~ Pastor Nominating Comm.Pastor Nominating Comm.COM ~ Committee on MinistryCOM ~ Committee on MinistryCIF ~CIF ~ Church Information FormChurch Information FormPIF ~ Personal Information FormPIF ~ Personal Information Form

How it BeginsHow it Begins

FIRST, FIRST, the decision is made that the the decision is made that the pastoral call needs to end, pastoral call needs to end, and that decision must be and that decision must be

communicated to the General communicated to the General Presbyter or the Committee on Presbyter or the Committee on Ministry.Ministry.


THEN, THEN,

members of the COM are members of the COM are appointed to serve as Liaisons appointed to serve as Liaisons to to work with the Session, work with the Session,

and the congregation, and the congregation,

but especially the PNC.but especially the PNC.


The Liaisons will conduct an exit The Liaisons will conduct an exit interview with the departing interview with the departing pastorpastor


A COM Liaison, A COM Liaison,

or a representative of the or a representative of the COM, COM, will attend the last worship will attend the last worship

service of the pastor and service of the pastor and declare the pulpit vacant.declare the pulpit vacant.


The liaisons will then meet with the The liaisons will then meet with the Session and:Session and:

Explain the call processExplain the call process

Explain the role of the session, Explain the role of the session, PNC, and COMPNC, and COM

Explain nomination and election of PNCExplain nomination and election of PNC


Discuss the possibility of an interimDiscuss the possibility of an interim

The need to pay vacancy duesThe need to pay vacancy dues

The potential need to do a mission studyThe potential need to do a mission study

Discuss setting a budget for PNCDiscuss setting a budget for PNC

Discuss and determine range of salary for Discuss and determine range of salary for the new pastor the new pastor


Other things for the sessionOther things for the session

to considerto consider Sabbatical LeaveSabbatical Leave Repair/Remodel the ManseRepair/Remodel the Manse Repair/Remodel the OfficeRepair/Remodel the Office Changes in Church StaffChanges in Church Staff


• A congregational meeting is calledA congregational meeting is called

• A PNC is electedA PNC is elected

• AND THE FUN BEGINSAND THE FUN BEGINS

Pastor Nominating Pastor Nominating CommitteeCommittee

• Elects a Chairperson and a ClerkElects a Chairperson and a Clerk

• Determines how often they will meetDetermines how often they will meet

• Decides how their decisions will be madeDecides how their decisions will be made

By a simple MajorityBy a simple Majority

Or a Unanimous voteOr a Unanimous vote

Pastor Nominating Pastor Nominating CommitteeCommittee

Begins work on the Begins work on the

CHURCH INFORMATION CHURCH INFORMATION

FORMFORM

CIFCIF

Writing the CIFWriting the CIF

Be frank and openBe frank and open

Consider how your CIF will be readConsider how your CIF will be read

This is your opportunity to shineThis is your opportunity to shine

Must be approved by the COM liaisonsMust be approved by the COM liaisons

Must be approved by the sessionMust be approved by the session

Posting the CIF OnlinePosting the CIF Online

Once approved, liaison will provide Once approved, liaison will provide passwords for online access for the:passwords for online access for the:

PNCPNCClerk of SessionClerk of Session

Once the CIF is on-line, the General Once the CIF is on-line, the General Presbyter will schedule a meeting and Presbyter will schedule a meeting and

perform an initial match.perform an initial match.

Receiving Personal Receiving Personal Information FormsInformation Forms

Personal Information Forms Personal Information Forms

may be receivedmay be received Through the computerized process from Through the computerized process from

Church Leadership Connection Church Leadership Connection

Pastors may self-referPastors may self-refer


And Remember,And Remember,

CONFIDENTIALITYCONFIDENTIALITY!!!!


After the CIF is online and the initial match is After the CIF is online and the initial match is made PIFs will start coming inmade PIFs will start coming in

Every member of the PNC should read each Every member of the PNC should read each PIF carefullyPIF carefully

A process of prioritization or ranking system A process of prioritization or ranking system needs to be determined in order to narrow the needs to be determined in order to narrow the listlist

Decide how you will respond to applicantsDecide how you will respond to applicants

Contacting the CandidateContacting the Candidate

The PNC may call the prospective candidate The PNC may call the prospective candidate and askand ask If they are still seeking a callIf they are still seeking a call Would they be interested in receiving further Would they be interested in receiving further

information and a copy of your CIFinformation and a copy of your CIF Would they send a tape or video of a sermonWould they send a tape or video of a sermon

The members of the PNC should then begin The members of the PNC should then begin calling references listed on the PIF under calling references listed on the PIF under reviewreview

Contacting ReferencesContacting References

Call at a convenient timeCall at a convenient time Have your questions preparedHave your questions prepared Introduce yourself and explain what the Introduce yourself and explain what the

call is aboutcall is about Ask if this is a good time to talk. If not Ask if this is a good time to talk. If not

then when would be a good time? then when would be a good time? Take notesTake notes Thank them for taking the time to talkThank them for taking the time to talk

Contacting ReferencesContacting References

You may not contact any Secondary You may not contact any Secondary References without the candidate’s References without the candidate’s permission!permission!

Under no circumstances are you to contact Under no circumstances are you to contact members of a pastor’s present members of a pastor’s present congregation without her or his congregation without her or his permission to do so!permission to do so!


After After CHECKING REFERENCESCHECKING REFERENCES the PNC the PNC may communicate with the candidate in a may communicate with the candidate in a variety of waysvariety of ways

Telephone conversationsTelephone conversations Conference CallsConference Calls Letters or EmailLetters or Email

Contacting the CandidateContacting the CandidateConversations will continue with potential Conversations will continue with potential

candidates, as the list of those you are candidates, as the list of those you are interested in is narrowed down.interested in is narrowed down.

It is advised to have one person at the It is advised to have one person at the TOP OF THE LISTTOP OF THE LIST

and seek to discern whether God is and seek to discern whether God is moving you toward that person, rather moving you toward that person, rather than keeping a number of people at the than keeping a number of people at the

same level in the process.same level in the process.


You You MAY NOTMAY NOT meet the candidate meet the candidate

FACE-TO-FACE yet.FACE-TO-FACE yet.

you you may notmay not travel to hear them preach travel to hear them preach you you may notmay not invite them to your community invite them to your community

The candidate must be cleared The candidate must be cleared

by the COM first.by the COM first.

Remember . . .Remember . . .

““. . . All things should . . . All things should be done decently and be done decently and

in order.”in order.”1 Corinthians 14:401 Corinthians 14:40

Report #1Report #1 A short summary of the PNC’s processA short summary of the PNC’s process

Studied PIFStudied PIF Sermons reviewedSermons reviewed Conversations with the candidateConversations with the candidate A list of who made reference callsA list of who made reference calls And the results of the reference calls (your notes)And the results of the reference calls (your notes)

Why the PNC believes this particular person Why the PNC believes this particular person would be a good fit for the church.would be a good fit for the church.

Report #1Report #1

In order to meet the candidate In order to meet the candidate face-to-faceface-to-face

the completed Report #1the completed Report #1ANDAND a copy of the candidate’s PIF a copy of the candidate’s PIF should be given to the liaisons to be should be given to the liaisons to be

taken to the COMtaken to the COM

COM ClearanceCOM Clearance

This is crucial!This is crucial!

Because this process Because this process

of clearing a candidate can of clearing a candidate can take weeks to take weeks to complete. . .complete. . .


. . .it is up to the PNC to . . .it is up to the PNC to initiate the process.initiate the process.

The COM does not The COM does not

read minds.read minds.


The Committee on Ministry (COM) The Committee on Ministry (COM)

Will act upon these requests Will act upon these requests

at stated meetings ONLYat stated meetings ONLY

The COM ordinarily meets on the The COM ordinarily meets on the

FIRST TUESDA YFIRST TUESDA Y of the month of the month


The COM will:The COM will: Contact the COM moderator of the Contact the COM moderator of the

candidate’s presbytery for referencecandidate’s presbytery for reference

The General Presbyter will:The General Presbyter will: Contact the General Presbyter or Contact the General Presbyter or

Presbytery Presbytery Exec of the candidate’s presbytery Exec of the candidate’s presbytery for a for a referencereference


If the person being consideredIf the person being consideredis a candidate for ordination is a candidate for ordination

under the care of a under the care of a Preparation for Ministry CommitteePreparation for Ministry Committee

the COM will consult with that the COM will consult with that committeecommittee


Once the COM has granted its clearance, the Once the COM has granted its clearance, the PNC may schedule a time for the candidate to PNC may schedule a time for the candidate to visit the church/community.visit the church/community.

Once a date has been determined the COM Once a date has been determined the COM liaisons liaisons MUST BE NOTIFIED.MUST BE NOTIFIED.

The candidate will need to send a copy of their The candidate will need to send a copy of their “Statement of Faith”“Statement of Faith” for the COM for the COM

Face-to-Face VisitFace-to-Face Visit

When a candidate comes to When a candidate comes to visit with the church’s PNC, visit with the church’s PNC,

two thingstwo things will be will be scheduledscheduled::


First, the PNC will meet with the candidate First, the PNC will meet with the candidate andand

Show them the churchShow them the church Show them around town/communityShow them around town/community

schools, homes, places of interestschools, homes, places of interest Have an in-depth conversation about Have an in-depth conversation about

the church and the call the church and the call (spouse may be invited)(spouse may be invited)


Second, while they are in town a small group of Second, while they are in town a small group of members of the COM will meet with and members of the COM will meet with and examine the candidate in the areas of:examine the candidate in the areas of:

Their faith journeyTheir faith journey Their “Fit” with the churchTheir “Fit” with the church Their sense of call Their sense of call Their style of worship and leadershipTheir style of worship and leadership Their connection and commitment to PC(USA)Their connection and commitment to PC(USA)

Decision TimeDecision Time

IFIF the COM small group sustains the the COM small group sustains the

examination, andexamination, and

IFIF the PNC wishes to extend the PNC wishes to extend

a call to the candidate, anda call to the candidate, and

IFIF the candidate agrees the candidate agrees

to accept the call . . .to accept the call . . .


THENTHEN, the candidate , the candidate

AND the PNCAND the PNC

will be invited to come will be invited to come

and meet with the COMand meet with the COM

at a stated meeting.at a stated meeting.


At this meeting the candidate will be asked At this meeting the candidate will be asked to share the story of their faith journey to share the story of their faith journey and will be examined in the areas of:and will be examined in the areas of:

TheologyTheology Worship & SacramentsWorship & Sacraments Presbyterian PolityPresbyterian Polity


The members of the Pastor The members of the Pastor Nominating Committee will be Nominating Committee will be

asked to explain why they think asked to explain why they think this person is this person is “right”“right” for them. for them.


The PNC will also be asked to The PNC will also be asked to provide copies of the the provide copies of the the

Terms of CallTerms of Calland be prepared and be prepared

to discuss them with the COMto discuss them with the COM..


IFIF the examination is sustained, the examination is sustained,ANDAND the terms of call approved, the terms of call approved,

THENTHEN

Plans for an installation service Plans for an installation service can be made, and . . .can be made, and . . .

Let’s Let’s Party!!!Party!!!

Documents

The Pastor Search Process