Pastoral Search Committee

At-Large Member Call for Nominations

Introduction

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church will establish a committee in 2024 to undertake the search for a new senior pastor. The committee will be a cross section of Nineteenth Street members – representatives of church elected officers and at-large members. To ensure the diversity of voices and expertise, the Transition Committee is recommending (subject to the congregation’s approval at the January church business meeting) that we expand the size of the committee to include four at large members. The at-large members will be nominated in January and elected by the congregation at a special church meeting in February.

Duties of the Committee

The Pastoral Search Committee is charged with the responsibility, on behalf of the congregation, of prayerfully searching for and recommending a minister to become the next senior pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. The committee’s role is to not only seek out a minister who can appropriately fill the position but also, through the search process, to help that minister confirm that God is calling him or her to our church.

Serving on the Pastoral Search Committee is a serious undertaking that requires a commitment of time that can last a year or more. The process includes many steps, including needs assessment, job description development, candidate evaluation, congregational engagement, reference checks, interviews, deliberations, selection, and church approval.

Committee Member Qualifications

We welcome and encourage all church members in good standing to seek God’s direction about serving on this committee. As we begin the celebration of our 185^th anniversary, the calling of our next senior pastor is the highest and most critical priority for our church. The work of this committee will influence the church for years to come.

Although membership diversity, in terms of demographics, professional expertise, abilities, and church tenure, is important to ensure that the Pastoral Search Committee works effectively, all committee members should possess the following qualities and characteristics:

Be committed to seeking and doing God’s Will.
Be committed to the church’s mission, vision, and well-being.
Be committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all search committee work.
Have strong communication skills.
Be able to work collaboratively with others.
Be open minded.
Be able to maintain a fair and unbiased approach.
Have spiritual discernment.
Be free to attend committee meetings and occasionally travel.
Be technologically literate and able to use common platforms (e.g., Zoom, YouTube, email, etc.).

Selection Process

The selection of the Pastoral Search Committee members will closely follow the procedures used for the election of church officers.

Church members may nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who has obtained their permission to be nominated by completing the Pastoral Search Committee Nomination Form. Any church member in good standing who has the desired qualifications may be nominated to the Pastoral Search Committee. Note that two representatives of the Deacon, Deaconess, and Trustee Boards are nominated by their respective Boards to the committee. The Transition Committee is recommending (subject to the congregation’s approval at the January church business meeting) that one associate minister also be nominated by the Ministerial Council to serve on the committee. (Like other members of the committee, the associate minister must be a member of Nineteenth Street. He or she must not be interested in becoming senior pastor.)

Nominations should be submitted to the church Nominating Committee via email at Nominations@19thstreetbc.org or in the church office by January 14, 2024. These nominees will be presented to the congregation at the January 19 church business meeting. Additional nominees may be received from the floor during the meeting. All nominees must then complete a Pastoral Search Committee Application Form, which includes a nominee’s statement of interest in serving on the committee.

After vetting to ensure nominees meet the criteria for election, the Nominations Committee will post the applications of the final group of nominees on a bulletin board at the church for four weeks for review by the congregation prior to election of the at-large members at a special call meeting in February.

Questions

Any questions about the Pastoral Search Committee can be directed to the Chair of the Deacon Board, Deacon Shawn Davis-Wilensky, at Deacons@19thstreetbc.org or sent to the church office (office@19thstreetbc.org).

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