Pastor Search Updates
This is the best place to find info about the process (and progress) of our search for a Pastor of Community & Mission.
Timeline
Pastor Search Committee (PSC) was nominated by the session and elected by the congregation.The committee is comprised of: Mary Lou Dovan, Bret Grieves (sabbatical elder), Sabrina Isenhour, David Layton (sabbatical elder), Micah O’Hare, Braxton Towery (active elder, chair), Brent York (active elder), and Marianne Weatherly.
The new PSC began their work together by reading and discussing, “How to Find a Pastor: A Handbook for Ministerial Search Committees”, by Dr. Joel Hathway. They reviewed the ARP procedures for calling a Pastor and wrote a Procedure and Mission Statement with input from the Staff and Session.
The PSC also took time to discuss their individual church experiences, both in the past year as well as earlier experiences serving at Hope Chapel and other churches. This helped the team develop trust, relationships, and was great preparation for their work together.
Hope Chapel’s session began considering a collaborative leadership model (in contrast to a traditional senior pastor structure). The staff and PSC were brought into the conversation and decision-making process and it was proposed to the congregation
on July 23, 2023, where it received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
PSC sent out a comprehensive survey to the members and regular attenders of Hope Chapel to gain feedback about valued qualities of a candidate for this position.
With input from the elders, staff, and congregation (via the survey), and within the structure of the collaborative leadership model, the PSC develops a job description for the Pastor of Community & Mission. They also create a church profile, which gives detailed information about our congregation’s history, values, beliefs, culture, financial health, and more.
After developing the church profile and job description, the PSC sends these documents to a number of active pastors for feedback, then makes any subsequent edits.
The PSC begins receiving and reviewing applications from candidates.
The PSC begins interviewing candidates, while continuing to receive applications.
The PSC closes applications for the position during the initial interview process.
The PSC selects a candidate subject to the Presbytery’s approval.
The PSC presents the candidate’s name and the congregation votes to call the candidate.