University Reformed Church will soon be forming a pastoral search committee to look for the church’s next senior pastor. The process can be daunting, but it can also be a spiritually unifying and edifying time for the committee and for the congregation. Thankfully, there are a number of resources out there to help churches set up a good process (and avoid common mistakes).
The best book I know of is When the Word Leads Your Search Committee by Chris Brauns. If you want a comprehensive resource, start here.
Last year I wrote about 7 Common Mistakes Search Committees Make:
Here’s another list of 7 Common Mistakes. This one, put out by LifeWay’s William Vanderbloemen, includes things like: too few or too many people on the committee, not establishing roles on the committee, and not establishing a process for making decisions.
The PCA has a 16-page document laying out a potential search process. And here is a 6-page Manual for Calling a Pastor (somewhat PCA specific). And here’s a brochure on finding a pastor put out by Reformed Theological Seminary.
On the important subject of communication, I’ve written before that search committees should not be stealth committees:
Finally, here are a couple TGC articles on how pastors get hired today and evaluating sermons from potential candidates.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach the pastoral search process, but most articles and books focus on the same important principles: prayer, communication, honesty, follow through, realistic expectations, and hard work. And when in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask other pastors and other churches for advice.
