I wanted to consolidate all of the PSC posts in one spot in order to impose order on my chaotic posting schedule. Here are the posts for the Pastor Search Committee experience at Lakeview Baptist Church. Once again, I’m certainly not indicating that this is the best way to conduct a search. My desire is simply to illustrate for other committees, or for pastors going through the process, what one search looked like. We dealt with a variety of problems and didn't always make the best of decisions. But it is my hope that others will find our experience valuable and will offer observations, suggestions, or rebukes to our conclusions.
1. Joining the Committee
2. Committee Composition
3. Chairing the Committee
4. Is Unanimity Necessary?
5. Determining the PSC Process
6. PSC as Ministry
7. Initial Contact Questions
8. PSC Covenant
9. PSC Etiquette?
10. War and wiring
11. Update
12. The Macro View
13. Gathering Resumes
14. Initial Contact
15. Checking References
16. Mealtime Interview
17. Meeting the Candidate
18. A Second Meeting and Shocking News
19. David’s Resignation
20. Resignation Aftermath
21. Visiting the Candidate’s Home Church
22. Visiting the Candidate’s Home Church (II)
23. Pastor Search Committee Interview Questions
24. The Theological Interview
25. The Theological Interview (II)
26. Background Checks and Insider Candidates
27. More on Credit Checks
28. The Announcement
29. The Phone Call
30. Phone Calls and Fire Fighting
31. Preparing for the Candidate’s First Sunday
32. In View of a Call
33. Setting a Pastor’s Salary
34. The Business Meeting
35. The Vote
36. The Installation Service
37. Loose Ends
38. Pastor Support Committee
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5 comments:
Taran,
Thanks for writing your experience. I have been both entertained and educated by walking with you through this search. Your considerable effort in putting this together is greatly appreciated.
--Dave
Dave,
Thank you for your kind words and your own suggestions throughout the process.
God Bless!
Seems like you're positioning yourself for a possible book. Would make a good one for lots of people.
Taran,
I've just been asked to serve on our Pastor Search committee. I have never served on a PSC before and am praying for the right decision. I have stumbled over your blog and have taken notes to procedures, etc. What is concerning to me is that our new PSC is replacing a previous PSC that disbanned due to the inability to unanimously agree on a candidate. The previous PSC began work in May and now is turning their work over to the 'new' PSC committee (Oct). My biggest concern is that the 'new' PSC will feel rushed b/c so much time has already gone by without a firm candidate. Your blog has opened my eyes to a lot of the underlying procedures required to call a pastor and if I am to agree to being on this committee, I would hope that the rest of the committee would agree to taking the necessary steps as they come and not rush through, thereby skipping over important steps in order to just 'fill the pulpit'. Thank you for sharing your journey on a PSC and please keep us in your prayers as we search for a pastor. God Bless, Denise
Denise,
I'm glad you've found this blog of value. I would note that 5 months for the old PSC (May to Oct) is not very long! I don't know what denomination you are in, but if there is some outside official who could come to your church and explain the typical search process, it might take some heat off your committee.
Also the church would need to understand that due to the holidays, not much is going to happen between now and January of next year.
And lastly I would note that if you do accept this calling and join the PSC, the new committee will need to constantly communicate with the church body exactly what is going on in the process. Sometimes that can help the church understand that you are making progress even if there is no visible sign of it.
I hope this helps and will definately pray for your church. Please let me know how it goes!
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