One at a time?

Our church had almost 400 candidates (total) asked to be considered for our senior pastor position. It was narrowed down to about 80, then 10 and then 3. During this process, one more was eliminated and the two were approached. Both had received other offers! So, back to the drawing board.

I would think if a pastor knows he has 'made the cut' and is seriously being considered for a position, he should 'hold himself open' for a time.

Oh the other hand, I'm very sure that none of those men were the man God had chosen for our church. That man and that lesson is still out there.

Diane

 

Aren't we supposed to 'know those among you' or recognize the ones in our congregation who labor in the Word? We are to take note of the ones in our fellowship who have been gifted to lead. How can it be that a church in Maryland can 'know' or 'recogize' such a man who from a church in Florida?

It just seems to me to have become more like a business where 'candidates' give forth their resume in hopes of landing a job.

 

Would you clear this up for me? Can you show me with Biblical accounts?

 

You can say Timothy was pastor of the church at Ephesus based on 1 Tim 1:3? Could have been, I reckon. Seems to me that he was there to set things in order; to give instruction. That's the purpose of the letter. Paul was to join him later. I don't know if he stayed and "became the pastor."

How about 5:17?

I don't know if Titus was a native of Crete. But his purpose in being there is found in the letter:

5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee

Titus was there for a specific purpose. He was then called to join Paul in Nicopolis.

In any event, these are accounts of the establishment of the early church. They sent men to set things in order so that they would know how to function as a NT church. There is no evidence for a calling 'candidates' as we have today.

Granted, there may be rare occasions where this may be neccesary, but it should not be the norm.

 

It is the responsibility of the church and men involved to "discern" where and who the Holy Spirit has set as pastor. It doesn't matter whether this is one, ten, or a thousand people under consideration. The only reason for limiting candidates or churches is to make it easier, not more accurate.

BTW, since when is it the responsibility of ANY pastor to "ordain elders in every city"?

 

In our association, when a pastor is available for a call, he submits his name to the secretary. Local churches will often use this registry to consider men for a call. Seldom will a local church go out and call men randomly.

We receive an invite to preach for a call. This gives the church an opportunity to hear the preacher. The administrative part is already done. How many candidates? At most I have known of three candidates at any one time. Seldom do we apply to a church for consideration. Students do this and are rarely successful.

I smile at the number of candidates I have seen in some situations. What is the matter with men to-day that there would be 100's of candidates for a pastoral vacancy? Some spiritual development is definitley in order somewhere.

Cheers,

Jim

 

What would you have us do? I am currently in the process of finding another church. I pastor a small church in a small community. No one is beating down my door to have me come candidate. I know it is time to leave, and sending resumes is the only thing to do. If there is any spiritual development needed it is in church boards who are in small churces but are looking for the next Criswell or Stanley instead of hearing from God and giving us "small" pastors a chance!!!!!!

 

Amen, Bishop. If you are new to the ministry, or are the pastor of a small country church, you can almost forget it as far as most churches are concerned.

 

For a church to receive resumes does not make them all candidates. A candidate is one who comes to the church and preaches in view of a call.

For a Preacher to send a resume does not make his action candidating. When he is asked to come in view of a call, then he is a candidate if he agrees to go.

If the church asks a preacher to come, and he agrees to go, at that moment all other prospects and possibilities should be put aside from prayerful consideration.

Pastor Brian Tousley

 

One of my pet peeves over the years has been when a church narrows down their search to final three and then doesn't notify the 2 prospects they haven't "called". On the other hand, last month, I received a letter from a church, who 4 months earlier, told me that I was still being considered and their search had narrowed to two men. What is a good balance? What is a churches responsibility? What is the candidate's responsibility? I truly believe that it's a matter of courtesy to promptly communicate by both parties when decisions have been reached.
WallyGator

 

I have quit sending resumes. If a church wants to talk to me, they can call me in.