Greetings from the Nacoochee Presbyterian Nominating Committee! We wanted to take a moment to share a bit about the special work we are doing this year. Normally the Nominating Committee is responsible for nominating folks to fill the roles of Elder or Deacon as they rotate off the Session or Deaconate at the end of their terms, or in the event that someone must vacate their position earlier. This year, however, we have an additional task.
As most of you know, our church is about to embark on the exciting and important process of finding and selecting a new pastor. To that end, the Nominating Committee (Karen Brown, Jennifer Herrera, Cheri Luhn, Kathie Meaders and I (Jill Crunkleton) have been tasked with discerning and developing a list of nominees to the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC).
The Pastor Nominating Committee (aka the “Pastor Search Committee”) will be a group of seven church members who have the responsibility of literally searching for a new pastor. That may sound daunting, but there is an established process on how to do this and the “Search Committee” will receive great training from Hillary Shuford, our General Presbyter who will help guide them through the process.
First the “Search Committee” will complete something called the Ministry Description Profile. This profile will be entered into a system called Church Leadership Connection and will match our church with potential pastoral applicants that “fit” what we are looking for based on our answers in the Profile. Once that is complete, the “Search Committee” will begin sifting through resumés of those matched to us and will narrow their selections further through interviews, both virtual and in-person. When the committee has decided on the best candidate, they will nominate that candidate (hence the name “Pastor Nominating Committee”) and then the congregation will vote on whether to hire that person.
Searching for a pastor is no small task. This is a process that we expect will take at least a year, if not more, as it is likely that we will receive up to 200 resumés. The “Search Committee” will meet weekly for the duration of this process. Serving on this committee will take time, energy, dedication, discernment, a mind that is forward-thinking and a heart that is open to the Spirit. Over the next five weeks, those of us on the Nominating Committee will be meeting regularly to develop our slate of nominees for the “Search Committee”.
If you have questions about this process or have an interest in being considered to serve on the “Search Committee”, feel free to speak to me or any other member of the Nominating Committee.
Blessings,
Jill Crunkleton
Chairperson