Episode 20: Calling a Pastor, Pt 2

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 

1. good pastors - what did they do
2. 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

1. meet once a month and talk about how things are going
2. 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.