 Pastor
Nominating Committee
Whenever there is a vacant Pastoral position within a Presbyterian
Church, the congregation elects a Pastor Nominating Committee
(PNC) whose responsibility it is to find the person that God
is calling to lead and serve the congregation.
About Our PNC
In September 2005, FPC elected a
PNC to fill the Senior Pastor position left open by the departure
of Dr. David Jones. The members of the PNC are:
• Doug Ivester and Harrison Williams (representing the
session);
• Randy Evatt and Susan Merrick (representing the board
of deacons;
• Doug Allen, Trevor Jordan, K.K. Petit, Libba Schell,
and Bob Stephens (representing the congregation-at-large);
and
• Elder Charles Frew of the Eastminister Presbyterian
Church as its COM liaison to this committee.
The current PNC has organized itself
as follows:
• Chair – Harrison Williams
• Vice-Chair – Bob Stephens
• Recording Secretary – Doug Allen
• Corresponding Secretary – Libba Schell
• Coordinator – Trevor Jordan
The PNC of First Presbyterian in Marietta consists of:
• two Elders who are members of the Session when
elected;
• two Deacons who are members of the Board of Deacons
when elected;
• and five active members of the congregation
who are not members of the Session or the Board of Deacons
when elected.
In addition to the nine members, The Presbytery’s Committee
on Ministry (COM) assigns a liaison who will work with
the church through the entire pastor-selection process. The
COM liaison calls the first meeting of the PNC.
In September 2005, following the resignation of our Senior
Pastor, First Presbyterian Church elected the current PNC
to locate our next Senior Pastor.
Our first task — after meeting with the COM —
was to organize ourselves and begin the spiritual journey of
finding a new Senior Pastor. The PNC and leaders of the church
began this process by reviewing our history, assessing current
missions, and setting our sights toward future ministry.
The PNC meets regularly to work on the search process. We
proceed carefully and diligently while moving as expeditiously
as good order and discipline allow. We pray (and covet your
prayers) that the Holy Spirit will lead us throughout the
process.
A major task for the PNC is to produce a true and thorough
Church Information Form (CIF). This form serves as a “window”
into First Presbyterian. It is designed to give a valid description
of First Presbyterian Church to prospective ministers and
to outline the requirements for the pastor position. The crucial
importance of this brief document is to accurately portray
FPC to prospective ministerial candidates. This is the initial
instrument that communicates and attracts a potential candidate;
therefore, accuracy and truthfulness are critical to ensure
the correct response. The CIF is reviewed and approved by
both the Session and the Presbytery COM before being published.
Next, the CIF is published on the PC(USA) Church Leadership
Connection website. Through the website, available pastoral
candidates are able to express their interest in the position.
The PNC will collect and screen profiles from interested pastors.
We will follow up on referrals from members of the congregation,
Presbytery and General Assembly offices. Each pastor
interested in the open position will furnish a Pastor Information Form
(PIF) outlining his or her resume.
As the list of candidates is narrowed, the PNC begins the
process of listening to tapes, reading resumes, checking references
and speaking with candidates. Selecting candidates through
this process, the PNC will interview potential pastors. This
interview process includes attending worship led by candidates
and visiting with final candidates and their families.
After prayerful consideration, a decision will be made to
extend a call (or offer) to the chosen candidate. When the
candidate accepts and the terms of the call are agreed upon,
the candidate meets with representatives of Presbytery’s
COM for approval. The candidate and terms of call are then
presented to the Session. The Session will be asked to approve
the final terms of call and to call a congregational meeting
for the purpose of receiving and voting upon the report and
recommendation of the PNC and the subsequent dissolution of
the PNC. At the congregational meeting, the PNC makes a formal
motion for the call of the candidate and the congregation
approves the call and its terms. At the next Presbytery meeting,
the pastor-elect is examined and approved for installation.
After these examinations and approvals the pastor-elect and
family arrives and is welcomed.
A great milestone for the church and pastor is the installation
worship service by the Presbytery held at FPC. This is held as
soon after the pastor arrives as scheduling will permit.
The new pastor and the congregation begin working together
to serve Jesus Christ, and to grow together spiritually.
Stay up-to-date on the activities of your PNC by stopping
by our bulletin board located in the gathering space outside
of the Officer’s Mail Room. If you have comments or
questions or would like to make a pastoral referral, please
take advantage of our secure Communications box in front of
the bulletin board. |
