Pastor Search

Your pastor search will determine the quality and direction of your church for the next 10-15 years. What an incredible opportunity! What an awesome responsibility!

We all know about churches that were near death before they called their current pastor. Now they have two services and a vibrant ministry in the community. That's what you want for your church.

But, unfortunately, we also know churches that were doing just fine before their last pastor rolled into town. Now they are once again on a pastor search, hurting from three years of frustration and disappointment. That's what you want your church to avoid.

There are three rules to follow when on a pastor search. Use these as basic guidelines as you are choosing a pastor.

• Be Patient


• Be Thorough


• Be Intentional

Be Patient

In circumstances like this, it is natural to want to get a new pastor as quickly as possible.

Resist This Impulse!

Far too many churches have lost valuable years of ministry because they chose a pastor that did not fit their church. They acted too quickly.

Yes, there are churches that take too long. The search drags on for years without any real progress. However, in my opinion, it's better to take too long than to act too quickly.

If you make a mistake, be too patient.

Be Thorough

Wrong!

I'm not suggesting that pastor search committee members lie to candidates. Nor am I hinting that pastor search candidates lie. But a pastoral search process is a time to get to know the person who might be your future spiritual leader.

During candidating both sides have their best on display. Neither churches nor candidates present portfolios of the skeletons in their closets despite the fact that every person and every church has them.

In addition, our natural tendency is to see and hear only what we want. When a candidate says he is a strong leader a pastor search committee member interprets this in terms of his own experience of what strong leaders are like. But what the candidate meant and what the member heard may be two completely different things!

To avoid this, make sure you:

• Check references
• Do a criminal background check.
• Visit the candidate where he lives now...where he ministers now.
• Talk to as many people as possible who know the candidate.
• Have the candidate visit your church at least three separate times.
• When the candidate is at your church involve him in as many different ministry settings as possible.

In order to be thorough, make sure you do the following.

• Decide if you will use an interim pastor.


• Establish pastor search committee guidelines. Two excellent resources that will help you get started are, In Search of God's Man: A Help for Pulpit Committees By Douglas E. DeVore; and Work of the Pastoral Relations Committee By Emmett Johnson.


• Decide on an appropriate pastor salary and benefit package.


• Determine the criteria for annual pastor performance appraisals.


• Write out a pastor job description.


• List the pastor qualifications that you require, and the ones you desire.


• Determine whether or not you will use a pastor contract.


• Find multiple sources of pastor resumes.

In doing these things you will ensure that you are thorough.

Be Intentional

What does it mean to be intentional? It means two things:

1) Write down a clear picture of your church ...its needs, its culture, the "look and feel" of what your church is like, the future you desire.

2) Write down a clear picture of the pastor you want.

Conclusion

Be patient.

Be thorough.

Be intentional.

If you do these things well in your pastor search you will lay the foundation for 10-15 years of ministry success at your church.