Episodes 19 & 20: Calling a pastor

 

How does your church define the process?

 

Have a meeting to decide some important issues

pastors in the past 

good pastors - what did they do

not good pastors - what did they do

 

The tendency is to swing from one extreme to another

 

Characteristics that you feel are important

Defined by church bylaws

Defined by the search team

 

Character qualities you want to see in the pastor

How does family affirm and support ministry? (Character qualities of wife)

 

Set clear expectations

Are your expectations for a pastor realistic?

There are no 30 year old pastors with 40 years of experience in churches larger than yours

Look the person before you listen to the preacher

Set a clear process you can communicate with all candidates clearly.

Everyone who submits a resume deserves a response

Be clear and gracious to those interested

Eliminate most without asking for additional information

Be careful interupting another church with your search team.

 

Be completely transparent about your church

What are the issues in your church

don't hide things that are going on now or have happened in the past

 

Keep your search committee together for a year to serve as the mediator with your new pastor

meet once a month and talk about how things are going

be the first line of defense for your pastor family

 

Remember you are inviting a leader to fulfill the church’s vision, not your own.