Lessons Learned from 100+ Reviews
As we mentioned in our update last week, so far we have reviewed more than 100 resumes from candidates interested in CPC’s lead pastor position. We’ve learned a lot through the process that we thought you might find interesting.
- CPC is fortunate that so many candidates are interested in our position. In speaking with PNC members from other churches, we’ve learned that many receive only 20 or fewer inquiries for their positions. We are blessed to have so much interest!
The pool of pastors seeking a call is shrinking! Many factors contribute to this:
1) Since 2000, enrollment at Presbyterian and reformed seminaries has fallen by 58%.
2) Upon graduation from seminary, many look for jobs outside of church.One candidate said half of those in their graduating class chose to seek clinical positions (hospital or hospice chaplain, counseling, or other nonprofit work) rather than a church position.
3) Many installed Presbyterian ministers are at or approaching retirement and are choosing to stay where they are.- Many applicants are second-career pastors. Their first careers ranged from corporate work with large companies to teachers, nonprofit employees, and long-time church volunteers. In these first roles, candidates honed their skills of leadership, organization, and interpersonal communication, all of which serve them well as pastors.
- Applicants are fairly evenly divided between men and women.
- Some candidates love contemporary services, other cannot abide them.
- After spring seminary graduations, we noticed an influx of newly minted M‑Div (Master of Divinity) graduates seeking their first call.
- In one of the sermons we listened to, the pastor referred to the lakes in Wisconsin as “mud puddles.” We sent them a photo of Lake Mendota taken from the Lake Room!
We look forward to sharing more about our search soon!
Martha Nelson and Barbara Johnson
PNC co-chairs