Pulpit committee?

Our pulpit committee, we call it Pastor Search Committed, asks for tapes of sermons. If they like what they hear they will go to the church to attend a service, but walk in separately and sit in different parts of the congregation so as not to draw attention to themselves. I do not know if they ask permission to attend or not. I could argue both side of this issue ... seeking or not seeking permission to attend.

 

Are you interested in moving on would be the first question to ask, if not then why waste their time.

Asking is polite and not usually done that I know of but would agree with Crabtownboy (YIKES DID I REALLY SAY THAT??) on the ask them to sit in separate spots.

I've seen committees just send one or two members to sit in which helps a little if you have a small church.

Whatever, someone will think it was wrong :tongue3: pick your poison.

Never saw the asset of listening anyway, one of our candidates preached the best sermon I had ever heard when candidating and never heard another good one out of the guy :BangHead:

 

It is never a good thing when a pulpit committee comes to hear a preacher who already has a congregation. Instead of sheep stealing they are attempting to steal the shepherd! I have seen it done too many times, though, and it is always ugly.

 

Just to inject a little levity into this ... the church I served as pastor was 90+% African, African-American, and Caribbean. So when five white people walked in and sat together in a pew one Sunday, they were very, very obvious! Got several inquiry phone calls about that.

And no, didn't go, didn't get called, the committee was dissolved! Many awkward things happen in this call process.

 

Gub,

Have you sent them your resume and are you an actual candidate? How far into the process are you? Have they interviewed you yet?

 

My experience with pulpit committees is that they do not ask to be invited to attend your church and neither are they announced. What better place to hear you preach?

Sometimes a man is invited to preach for a call. He goes to the inviting church and preaches. All the other details happen then and there.

I haven't a clue how things are handled in the USA.

Cheers,

Jim

 

Same here. Unless the congregation knows the pastor is leaving, the sudden unnanounced arrival of a pulpit committee can open a can of worms and wreak havok, causing rumors and speculation, not to mention resentment and hard feelings.

 

I don't think it is normal, nor is it not normal, just something that goes on. If you feel they are out of line tell them so and give them your reasons. If they do not follow your lead, then will they follow your lead as pastor?

 

First: Pray! Make sure God is the One controlling this process. Not them.

Second: it is OK for a pulpit committee to come by....but the only problem is this: you know what they look like already.

Third: maybe they can come hear you at a revival at some place other than your church?

Fourth: they should already have your preaching on tape/CD/DVD.

Fifth: Have they asked you for a back ground check? When I served on the pulpit committee, I took A LOT of flack from my wonderful Christian brothers and sisters for taking the time necessary to do an adequate criminal history check and credit check on the prospective Pastor BEFORE I let him come to our church and preach. My point is this: BE PATIENT! Let God lead the process. And don't let Men bully you around.

That's my job!

Sixth: I forget where it is, but there is a list of questions out there that a prospective Pastor should ask the Pulpit Committee (name and number of the last 2 pastors? Why did they leave? How many professions of faith last year? How many people are actively involved in the visitation ministry? What is this local body's greatest weakness?Etc.) You need to ask the hard questions.

 

Greetings Brother,
Let me start by thanking you for your service to our Lord. I have a good friend who is going through this as well. The pulpit committee, rather a few committee members, showed up unannounced to hear him preach. They were very discreet; he even thought that they were visitors. They simply whispered it to him on the way out. He was very thankful for their discretion. For your info., they were a couple that sat together and another individual in a different section. I think that this is the right way to handle it.
I know of one case where the committee made itself very obvious...all sitting together. The sad thing was they didn't call him and ruined his ministry at his current church...I would suggest you mention to them your concern in this regard. If it is a loving church, they will understand...if it is not, well you know where I am going with this. You will be in my prayers.