Comments on: Pastoral Search Committees

By: Jacob Newton

Jacob Newton — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:17:06 +0000

When you’re initiated into the pastoral search committee is it Jason Bourne-esque?

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:37:00 +0000

How do you go and try to hire another shepherd and take him away from the flock that he has been given by God above?

No wonder Augustine called the Church “a whore and my mom”.

By: Dark Blue

Dark Blue — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:54:00 +0000

I think your church secretary is the one who TOLD you to make this post…

By: O4

O4 — Fri, 01 May 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Is it wrong that growing up I viewed the PSC something like the general manager of a MLB team and pastors like baseball players? I mean, mega-church, Yankees, same thing right? “Rummer Mill: First Church of the Worship Eagle is said to be negotiating the trade their youth pastor for a new metrosexual worship leader. Stay tuned for Fox’s sermon of the week coming up next!”

By: Courtney

Courtney — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:49:00 +0000

Just wanted to say… loved the A-Team reference. Rock on. –And I’m a college student, so don’t despair for my generation’s lack of culture.

By: JML

JML — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:57:00 +0000

For me, I’ve always seen this as more of a Moby Dick scenario: “We’re looking for a new pastor, men! Bring me my harpoon!”

By: Steph @Red Clay Diaries

Steph @Red Clay Diaries — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:46:00 +0000

Jon, great post. But after reading 41 comments, I have to say that once again, the comments MADE this post. Awesomeness.

Oh, and the last time a church I attended was searching for a pastor, the search committee was definitely NOT more powerful than the church secretary. How do I KNOW this? Because the secretary was ME.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!

By: kathi

kathi — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:09:00 +0000

having read what committees looking for ministers are like in america, i feel cheated.
ours isn’t like that at all!

By: Jim

Jim — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Slightly related story:

In our nomenclature, 'Pastoral Search Committee' was replaced with 'Calling Committee'.

So, when the head of the Calling Committee introduces the new pastor, he says:

"Every Calling Committee is different, and this one was no exception"

Easily one of my favourite moments in church, ever.

By: JC

JC — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:37:00 +0000

I can tell you that as a pastor there is some need for secrecy. Case in point…if a church knows that their pastor is being “wooed” by another congregation – that makes it very difficult for the pastor to be a pastor. Before I became a pastor, I was a youth director at a church in MN. During the service, one member of the call committee stood up during the prayers so that we would pray that Pastor X would come to their church. Problem was…Pastor X has not accepted – and his church found out. He was so mad he left the ministry altogether.

Just playing devil’s advocate here.

God Bless