From the Transitional Lead Pastor
When a Pastoral Nominating Committee of a PC(USA) congregation enters the final major section of the work of the committee outlined in my last article, it means that they have narrowed their search significantly. All the prior steps of the PNC process including mission study and profile, candidate sourcing, vetting and interviews are complete and the terms of call range has been agreed upon between the Personnel Commission and the PNC. The PNC’s formation, preparation, search and discernment have been accomplished and the PNC’s discernment work with the Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry is finished. Once the PNC reaches a unanimous or strong consensus and narrows the search down to one “candidate nominee,” the next steps include the following:
- extending terms of call to the candidate nominee & negotiating terms
- asking the session to call a congregational meeting to introduce the candidate nominee and take an official vote
- extending an invitation to the candidate to visit the church & city for a “candidating weekend”
- introducing the candidate to the city, church, key staff & leadership
- listening to the candidate preach for the congregation
- voting on the candidate nominee with negotiated terms of call
- transitioning of candidate nominee from current call to new call
- beginning new call
- planning with the Presbytery and completing a service of installation for the candidate to the new call
It is important to know that the PC(USA) at all stages of the PNC process values protection of all congregations, staffs, and candidates involved in the search. This is why the PNC has been doing their work quietly while reporting to the congregation on that which they can report on at any given moment. For the protection of congregations, staffs, and candidates, identities of nominees and/or current calls are not shared until the candidating Sunday. This is, of course, because at any time before the completion of the search process, any of the parties involved (congregation, presbytery, candidates) can opt to step away from the process.
As the CPC PNC gets closer to the end of their process, the session and the congregation will be invited into greater participation. We hope when that time arrives that you will make space in your lives to be able to participate in the ways in which you are invited. You are an integral part in the process. In the meantime, please know that the CPC PNC continues their good work and they remain deeply grateful for all of our encouragement, support, and prayers.