Pastor Nominating Committee

How long before we get a Senior Pastor??

The process for finding our next Senior Pastor began in June 2007 with the election of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC).  This group has seven members chosen from the Session, the Deacons, and members of the church.  The committee has a cross-section of our congregation with respect to gender and generation.

Church Information Form

The first step in the process was to compile a Church Information Form (CIF).  This document follows a format defined by the Presbyterian Church.

There are two parts to the CIF. The first part is all about us -- a description of our mission, programs, accomplishments and what challenges we face as a congregation.  The second part is all about the person we will call as Senior Pastor -- how we would describe important character qualities, and what responsibilities, tasks and programs that this person would be responsible for.  Salary compensation issues, references and other information complete the CIF

The Pastor Nominating Committee completed their final version of the CIF in October 2007.  After that it was reviewed and approved by the  Grace Presbytery Committee on Ministry and the Session of our church.  The final step is to send it to the General Assembly's Call Referral Service.

The final CIF is posted here on the church web site.  It will also be posted electronically to advertise the position in various media.

Pastor Information Form

Pastors who are interested in this position will submit their Pastor Information Forms (PIFs).  At this time members of the congregation  who have suggestions for candidates are encouraged to provide those names to the Pastor Nominating Committee.

The PNC will read all the PIFs that are submitted.  Several pastors who are of interest for a possible conversation will be selected.  With the approval of the clearance committee from Presbytery, the interviewing process will begin.

Confidentially is very important at this stage.  The candidates and the PNC members must be able to operated in an atmosphere of trust and security.  During this process the congregation will hear from the PNC only time to time.

The role of the Congregation

The most important way the congregation can help the PNC is with prayer support.  The church prayer team has created magnets with the names of each of the members of the PNC for you to place on your refrigerators to remind you to prayer for the members by name.  They need and value your prayers as they seek to follow the Lord through each step of the way toward the call to a new Senior Pastor for our church

Magnets may be picked in the church as supplies last.

For more information on the Presbyterian process for calling a Minister, click here.