Associate Pastor Nominating Committee
THE NEXT STEP
Your Associate Pastor Nominating Committee continues to meet weekly as we search for an Associate Pastor of Youth, Young Adults, and Outreach & Evangelism. Since our Church Information Form (CIF) was made public at the end of January, we have received more than 105 Personal Information Forms (PIFs) regarding our opening, and have taken action on more than 70% of them. Action includes proceeding to learn more about a few candidates and choosing not to pursue others.
Currently, we are in the “main stage” of our process which involves heavy multi-tasking. We are still reading and reviewing résumés (PIFs). We have completed initial phone interviews with some candidates, and have identified additional candidates to interview. We are listening to audio recordings of sermons from some of the candidates already interviewed. Based on sermon reviews, we will decide if candidates warrant additional interviews. Reference checks will also help us to narrow our selection.
This is both an exciting and challenging time for us. Please pray for God to continually renew our strength on this journey so that we might “run and not be weary; walk, and not faint.” Most of all, pray that we might listen well to God’s leading through this process.
See the links at the left for more information about our process. The following Q&A also highlights additional details.
What is a Church Information Form (CIF)?
The CIF is a document approved by both our Session and Presbytery that includes the job description, qualifications, and key skills for the associate pastor we seek. It also contains our mission statement, a brief description of our church’s programs, a summary of the gifts and skills our congregation possesses, a statement of key theological issues reflected in our ministry, and some basic congregational demographic information.
What is a Personal Information Form (PIF)?
A PIF is basically Presbytery-speak for résumé or application. However, in addition to listing experience and accomplishments, candidates describe the characteristics of the church they would like to serve, summarize their leadership style, and write how key theological issues shape their ministry. Candidates also have the option to include a Statement of Faith.
How do you find candidates for the associate pastor position?
We receive applications (PIFs) in multiple ways. Our PCUSA demonination has an electronic database which posts CIFs from all churches seeking pastors and PIFs from all who choose to use that system to seek a new call. The software does an automatic match of candidates with our CIF and that is one way we learn about candidates. Prospective candidates may also self-refer either through the demonination’s sytem or by submitting their PIFs directly to the committee via the APNC Chairperson, Pam Leitterman, whose e-mail is provided on our CIF. We are also open to suggestions from members and friends of the congregation. If you know of candidates you think should be considered for this position, do let them know where they can find information about the position on our web site, and encourage them to self-refer. Please remember that our process is confidential, so we are unable to share status about anyone whom you may bring to our attention.
Given all the PIFs you’ve received so far, are you still accepting applications for the position?
Yes! We will remain open to receiving PIFs until we have announced our final selection to the congregation a few weeks before our selected candidate preaches in our church. Sometimes a pastor search committee quickly gels around an early candidate while they continue to compare that candidate with others. Sometimes, the final candidate selected is one of the last to come to the committee’s attention. And there are lots of variations in between. It is a process of discovery and discernment for both the committee and the candidates with whom we interact. Until we and the candidate we call are mutually agreed that God is leading us together, we remain open to receiving additional applications.
When do you think the APNC’s work will be completed?
We don’t know when our work will be completed, but we are confident God does.