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Pastor Search Update This Page will be dedicated to the information about the search for a new senior pastor. Newest information will be on top and oldest on bottom. ***************************************************** In April, the Pastoral Search Team continued meeting weekly and sent the Pastoral Search Church Information Form to Transformation Ministries. Recall that the form is designed to provide information that will enable Transformation Ministries and our Search Team define the type of pastor that God is leading us to. The team also met with Mark Lambert, who reviewed the progress the church has made on the CALL recommendations, and our progress on identifying the characteristics God would have in our next pastor. Bruce Schipul, Arizona’s Church Resource Minister, came the following week, and further refined our understanding of the information we assembled. Bruce did leave us with a couple of questions to answer, before we should look at resumes. He will present the application packets of several candidates once we work through the remaining questions. Under God’s leading, we, both Bruce and the Team, expect that the Team will be reviewing resumes before the end of the month. Remember from last month’s update, that the rest of the steps in the seven step Pastoral Search Process are: 4. Conduct the search by collecting resumes, sorting a short list, conducting an initial phone interview, hear taped sermons, etc. 5. Interview face-to-face, background check, review Transformation Ministries’ disclosure statement, etc. 6. Conduct a candidate weekend to present one candidate and have him submitted for approval. 7. Complete the process. In all of this, the Team seeks to remember that we are not seeking to select a pastor, but that we are seeking to recognize God’s choice for our pastor. I have been asked what to do if you believe you know someone that God might be preparing for us. First, you can refer him to Transformation Ministries’ Web Site at (http://www.transmin.org/), where information is posted regarding church openings in Arizona. Or alternatively, you could contact Joe Schroeder for information on how he could apply. Please pray us through this
crucial time in the Search Process. It will only be through God’s leading that
the right one will be called. The Pastoral Search Team met again Tuesday, continuing in the task of defining the roles and responsibilities of our new pastor. Currently, we are looking at the “Vision” for the church, and how we can meet God’s challenges in the future. This needs to accurately articulate our vision, so we can find God’s match for us in our future pastor. We need to fully define, “Where we are going as a church,” before we start reviewing resumes to accurately discern God’s choice for us, and to articulate to the candidates who we are at First Baptist. Continue in prayer for our work. ***************************************************** The Pastoral Search Team has just had its second meeting. We have begun to better define the task set before us. We ask you to continue in prayer for our church as it seeks God’s choice for our next pastor. Transformation Ministries has provided a wealth of information on the process of selecting the next pastor, and has developed a handbook to help guide churches in this time of transition. Their title for the manual is Seeking God’s Best for Your Future, Transforming the Search for a Pastor into an Opportunity for Discovery & Vitality. It outlines a process of self examination, and an examination of God’s will. One of the key words that Transformation Ministries uses in the process is “discernment.” We as a team are committed to “… the discovery of God’s will in the calling of a pastor…” It will not be a simple task, and as we study the material in the handbook, we have come up with more questions than were raised at the Business Meeting. The handbook describes in detail a seven step process in finding a pastor. That process as outlined at the Business Meeting on December 16 consists of the following steps: 1. Moving Toward Closure & First Steps. 2. Getting Organized – Search Team Startup 3. Preparing the Search Team & Church 4. Conducting the Actual Pastoral Search 5. Making Sure Interviewing & Screening 6. Presenting & Approving the Candidate 7. Completing the Process This team meeting was conducted to review where this church is in this process, and to chart our path forward. (That is the end of step 2.) Next month, I hope to summarize our progress in the first three steps. Right now, team is preparing itself by studying the CALL report in detail along with the church constitution and a few other documents in an effort to discern how God has built this church, and where He wants to take it. We covet your prayers. -Joe Schroeder ***************************************************** Dec. 3rd. from Dec. 9th. Bulletin On Monday, Dec 3rd, the Pastoral Search Committee had its first organizational and training meeting. Bruce Schipul provided the team with guidance on how to set up the pastoral search process. Additionally, the team established it's organization and has begun training with its next meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Dec 18th. Please be in prayer as we strive to discover the Lord's will for our church's future. ***************************************************** *Please return form to the Welcome Center or
Church Office by ***************************************************** OVERVIEW OF THE PASTORAL SELECTION PROCESS I. Selection of an Interim Pastor II. The Role of
Transformation Ministries III. The Pastoral Search Process IV. The Pastoral Selection
Committee V. Calling A Senior Pastor
***************************************************** Looking Forward As we look forward to calling a new senior pastor, we are
fortunate to have capable associate pastors, leaders and staff who will continue
to lead and minister. Our Constitution and Bylaws will be followed in this
process as well as assistance by Transformation Ministries. We have not been idle; much has taken place since Pastor Rob submitted his
resignation. Already discussions are in place to evaluate an Interim Pastor. The
goal is to have an interim pastor in place by mid September. The Interim Pastor
will not only fill the pulpit, but help us in a self evaluation and lead us in
making basic changes to prepare us for a new pastor. The Board of Ministries
will recommend the Interim Pastor. The Interim Pastor will not be considered as
a candidate for the pastorate of the church. The next step will be the selection of a pastoral search committee (Pulpit
Committee): A pastoral search committee is a group of individuals with the task
of selecting a pastoral candidate for recommendation to the church. The purpose
of the Pastoral Search Committee is to discern the best candidate for the
position and to recommend that person to the congregation. This will typically
take 12 to 18 months. The Board of Ministries will select this committee from a
cross section of the congregation. Please be in prayer as we move forward. And as Pastor Rob has admonished us “to keep our eyes on the Lord”. |
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