Pastoral Search Team...... purpose, timeline and nominations

Purpose of the Search Team:
A pastor search team is a group of church members elected or appointed to act on behalf of the church congregation to identify, interview and recommend the next senior pastor.  Their primary goal is to build a pastoral profile, screen candidates, and ultimately present a single, unifying recommendation to the church for a vote.

Vetting Process for Pastoral Candidates

  • Collect and evaluate resumes.
  • Review candidate's digital content
    • Sermons, podcasts, online presence
  • Conduct interviews
  • Check references from previous congregations
  • Listen to the candidate preach in-person
  • Detailed questioning
    • Assess theology and doctrinal stances
    • Conflict resolution
    • Vision
    • Leadership style
    • Compatibility

Projected Timeline

August 23   -   Target date to pass out Congregation Pastoral Survey

Prayer  &  Scripture

A Pastoral Search Team is a significant responsibility and requires prayer, so spiritual maturity and discernment are more important than popularity.  Pray that God leads us to people who will seek God's will above our own preferences
A Prayer to Pray:    Lord, help us not to choose based on friendship, personality, or persuasion, but to recognize those You have already prepared for this task. Give our church unity, wisdom and peace as we seek the pastor You have chosen for us. May every member of our Leadership Team and of the Search Team be led by Your Spirit, committed to Your Word and devoted to Your glory. Amen
These Scriptures remind us to seek God's wisdom, pursue unity and value Christlike character above all else during the pastoral search process

Proverbs 3: 5-6
James 1: 5-6
Ephesians 4: 1-6
Philippians 2: 1-6
1 Timothy 3: 1-7