Churches Seeking A New Pastor...
 
Much pain – and no small expense -- is experienced in God’s kingdom as a result of poorly implemented pastoral search processes. The typical committee delegated the responsibility to find a new pastor is made up of people who do not deal with the identification and selection of key executives on a regular basis. Even when one or more members of the committee have this skill set, it has typically been exercised in the business world and not in an ecclesiastical setting. As a result, the selections made are frequently based on surface issues and/or without proper regard for the ecclesiastical issues, and this frequently causes significant pain and damage to the work of the kingdom. In every case, it is difficult to maintain objectivity because human beings naturally have biases and, after all, we are talking about “our church…”

The important process of choosing a new pastor for a church is partly determined by denominational requirements and in large measure by the philosophy, values and vision of the church as expressed through the Pastor Nominating Committee decisions.

Discerning Gods Message… From the beginning, it is critical to ground the process in scripture and to remember not only the Biblical “faith stories,” but also the stories of the church’s own community. It is important to stay in touch with what the church holds sacred and to make sure it is expressed in the discernment process. At every meeting, prayer and scripture should be at the center of the event.

Be Faithful To Your Own Voice… It is essential that the church know clearly “who you are” and, more importantly, what God is calling you to become. Clarity around the church’s vision, driving force and values will help articulate what is needed in a new pastor in order to be faithful to the church’s calling.
Doing The Right things – RIGHT… The ultimate success of your search efforts will depend, in great measure, on not just completing the right steps, but in doing them correctly. This includes:

• Choosing The Right People For The Pastor Search Committee: This includes, among other things, selecting members who have the appropriate gifts for the task, avoiding anyone who may have a personal agenda and choosing those individuals who share a passion for the vision and direction of the church.
• Being Clear About And Committed To: Among other things, the church’s vision, values and “Driving Force.” It also means being crystal clear about the church’s “non-negotiables.”
• Thorough Evaluation: The question is, “Where are we right now?” This self-evaluation includes, but is not limited to, the church’s readiness for change, the current state of “church health,” church culture, current ministries and any obstacles the church currently faces.
• Candidate Analysis: A partial list of tasks includes uncovering the candidate’s vision for the church (do you have a match with the church’s vision?), the candidate’s gifts assessment and how the candidate measures up against the church’s non-negotiables.
• Candidate Selection: This includes pre-screening, effective interviewing, maintaining objectivity and avoiding a biased result, among many additional things.
• Introducing The New Pastor: It is critical that steps be taken to properly introduce the new pastor and the congregation. This goes well beyond just a “formal introduction” at a service of installation. It is about how the church gains commitment on the part of the congregation to the new direction God is now leading the church toward rather than mere “compliance.”

Our process for a pastor search is proven and it increases the probabilities for success. Our commitment at Vision Planners is to equip our client churches to experience more successful pastoral searches, to reduce quick turnover in this critical role and to achieve greater Kingdom Effectiveness.

 

Vision Planners, LLC guides Visionary Leaders through a process by which they create plans to ensure the realization of their visions.  The time and dollars invested in careful planning will be repaid many times over.