A book I was reading this morning led to me to think some more of the process of searching for a new pastor, and the fact that it is a process. If I get around to writing my book on the subject, I’m sure this will get in there.
Though the goal to find a pastor, churches should see the process as just as important as the outcome. The process is about time, patience and love.
Some churches don’t give the search the proper time to work the process well. They rush the process instead of seeing it as an important time to understand who they are, where they should probably be going, and how they should probably get there. What often happens is they look for the guy who has the strengths the previous pastor lacked (if it didn’t end well), or a carbon copy of the previous pastor (if the pastor retired or left unexpectedly in a time of relative peace). All this takes time, more than you can do in a 2-3 hour meeting once a week (if you’re lucky). Committees need to invest larger chunks of time to work through these issues, and applicants. I’d suggest Saturday afternoon or morning meetings- larger blocks of time to pray, think and plan.
The process requires patience if it is to be done well. It is not just about sorting through data forms and resumes (largely worthless if you ask me), theologies of ministry (more important), and references (focus on character, not just skills/gifts). I hate writing this because from where I sit most search committees move too slowly. By that I mean they don’t give sufficient time to the process, but try to work a few hours each week.
Then there is love. The process should include the fact that you are to love one another in the process, and love applicants in the process. Funny how the second greatest commandment, upon which the whole law hangs, is to love your neighbor as yourself. I see lots of search committees who must hate themselves because they treat applicants poorly. They don’t acknowledge their submission, don’t communicate the process and timelines, give feedback to help the applicant as they continue looking for a call etc. Yes, it takes time. That’s the funny thing about love- it is inconvenient and time-consuming. But Jesus knows that and will grant the grace needed.
Love also does not treat all applicants the same. It takes their situation into view too. An applicant with a job has more time for the process to take place. An applicant between calls feels greater urgency. Consider the outcome of the committee’s choices. Are we depriving a church of it’s pastor for our own gain (though if he sought out you, there are issues he’s not wanting to address there anymore)? Should we consider someone else who needs a new call that is perfectly suitable as well? I often see the “ripple effect” take place as churches call men from other churches, which churches then call men from other churches, while godly & gifted men in need of a call seem less attractive. We discount God’s care for them in terms of time between calls to be refreshed and prepared (I know I needed this time).
But love among the committee members is important. The author made a note about the difference between consensus and majority rule that prompted this post. Consensus building is more likely to exhibit love by listening to the concerns of others, weighing those concerns together and working through the issue to a mutually agreeable solution. Sometimes a person has a valid point- that point may be important or relatively insignificant. Take the time to hear it out, chew on it, pray about it and talk about it. You may find the concern is more about personal preference or misunderstanding. Help the person see that. In a majority rules situation, it is more about winning the argument. Not as loving and helpful for the process. People’s feelings are squashed, concerns not validated, and the process itself is subverted by the pressure to acheive the goal.
How a church approaches the process says alot about them. Perhaps more than they are comfortable with looking at. But this is part of how God opens our eyes to our weaknesses and faults that we might return in repentance and become more like Him.
Cavman Considers 
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