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SUMMARY OF PASTOR TRANSITION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(As printed in the church bulletin per the date indicated)
Pastor Transition Q&A (5-3-09)
Now that Bro. John has relocated, what happens next?
First a team of deacons will ensure pulpit supply for Sunday services and for Wednesday nights. The current calendar on back shows the Sunday and Wednesday schedule for May.
The next major step will be to recommend the church select an Interim Pastor. The Pastor Transition Study Team which has been meeting for several months has recommended a special type of Interim Pastor called a Transitional Pastor. A Transitional Pastor is an experienced Interim Pastor with additional training to assist churches in addressing transition issues they may have by working to bring out the positives of the church.
Why do we need a Transitional Pastor?
When a church loses a pastor who has served for many years, it is common that they act too quickly to fill the pulpit. The church’s culture has been significantly influenced by the long term pastor. Far to many examples exist of new pastors finding it difficult to adjust to these situations, becoming “unintentional interims,” and staying only a short time. Experience has shown that with effective transitional leadership, this situation can be avoided.
The goal would be that the period between pastors be very productive – a time of growth in personal and congregational awareness, renewal and celebration; and a time when people are attracted by congregational worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and personal and family ministries of the church.
How do we go about finding a Pastor?
The church will meet in business session to elect a 7 member Pastor Search Team. The team will seek candidates and narrow the list down to a very short list for consideration. The candidates will then be assessed according to a set of criteria that will be developed in the transitional period. The final candidate will be introduced to the congregation in as many venues as possible before being asked to vote on whether to extend a call.
What can I do to help?
The month of May will be a time of prayer renewal for FBC LJ as we introduce the transitional pastor search process. During each Sunday morning service, we will call the congregation to prayer for the transition. In addition to prayer, everyone can help by being faithful in their attendance, service, and financial support. The ministry of the church continues in this interim time and without a pastor we need everyone to step up and take individual responsibility for their individual walk with the Lord and for helping keep our church healthy.
Pastor Transition Q&A (5-17-09)
I’ve heard we are going to have a business meeting and elect a search committee. Can you explain further?
The Pastor Transition Study Team recommended that First Baptist Lake Jackson call an experienced Interim Pastor with additional training in leading churches through Pastor transitions and addressing transition issues, such as healing, re-establishing church direction and preparing the church for the process of finding a new pastor.
In the upcoming weeks, several things will take place toward accomplishing the recommendation of the Pastor Transition Study Team. First the Leadership Team met on May 14 and discussed the recommendation and will bring forward a proposal to the church at the business meeting on May 31. The deacons will also review the Leadership Team proposal tonight at their meeting prior to bringing it to the church. In order to have a search team election on May 31 by the church, nominations for the team will be open beginning today. The nomination form is on the back of this document.
The morning speaker today will be Tommy Harrell, an experienced transitional pastor. He is coming to explain what transitional pastors bring to churches in transition. Tommy will also host a Q&A session for interested church members in the sanctuary today at 4:30 pm. He will also preach in the evening service and meet with the deacons in their meeting tonight to answer additional questions.
Search Team nominations will be for a Transitional Pastor Search Team. The Transitional Pastor Search Team will be elected by the church on May 31 from a list of those nominated by the membership. A list of those receiving a significant number of nominations from the members will be on the ballot. We are planning to have 7 members on the Search Team and hope to have 14 candidates available for election. A committee of deacons will choose the 14 from among those receiving a significant number of nominations.
Isn’t taking nominations for an election premature since the church has not yet approved the process?
Yes, it appears premature. However, the church will be deciding whether to have a transitional pastor or a conventional interim, so a search team will be needed either way. Recognizing that we need a search team and beginning the nomination process to allow an election at the next business meeting is being efficient with your time.
Why didn’t we start this process in April? Why have we wasted a month?
Bro. John was still our Pastor until May 1. It would have been inappropriate to begin the process to replace him before he left.
Pastor Transition Q&A (5/31/09)
What is going to happen in the business meeting tonight?
There will be several important votes by the membership. First the church will make decisions regarding the Pastor Transition Study Team recommendations which call for a Transition Team and for utilizing a Transitional Pastor as our Interim Pastor. The recommendation is to task our existing Leadership Team with the responsibility of also being the Transition Team. Next, the church will vote on whether to utilize a Transitional Pastor or to go with a standard Interim. Based on the outcome of that election the church will then vote on June 7 for the members of a Search Team for either the Interim or Transitional Pastor. A number of nominations for a Search Team have come in over the last few weeks and the church will select 7 Search Team members from the list of candidates. The candidates were chosen solely based on their number of nominations by the deacon officers. The election will be a secret ballot, tallied by a team of deacons. A permanent pastor search team will be elected at a future date.
It seems like a lot of stuff is happening at First Baptist Church and I am excited about what I see, but can this level of activity keep up for a year or more as we seek a new pastor?
The ministry of the church continues in this interim time, and there is an intentional effort by leadership to make this time exciting and fulfilling. The interim time between pastors can be a very productive time of growth in personal and congregational awareness, renewal, and celebration. It can be a time when people are attracted by congregational worship, evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, and personal and family ministries of the church. The pulpit supply committee has chosen several outstanding preachers to fill the pulpit until an interim or transitional pastor is on the field. In addition, special speakers, like Dr. Gregory Frizzell, will come to focus on specific areas to help prepare the church for the transition. Dr. Frizzell is recognized for his work emphasizing increased prayer seeking God’s will for churches in transition. The Lord has provided numerous exciting opportunities during this period for our church and we look forward to what He will bring as we go through this transitional journey.
First Baptist is an older church. Are we going to move toward a younger congregation at the expense of our older members?
Part of the responsibilities of a Transitional Pastor are to help the church define for itself what it wants to be in the future. People have differing opinions, but we need to be in prayer to determine what the Lord wants us to be. The Pastor Transition Study Team used a phrase in its report about ministering to the current generation while reaching out to the next generation. Everyone must recognize that change is inevitable to remain healthy, but change does not mean that we abandon our base. The Lord will show us the way if we pray with humility, seeking forgiveness and direction.
Pastor Transition Q&A (6/14/09)
Church Recommendations discussed and voted on at 5/31 Business Meeting (Note: Wording of recommendations has been shortened for this publication)
PASSED - Recommendation 1 - To have a Transition Team available to address transition issues that may arise, and further to expand the responsibilities of the Leadership Team, such that the Leadership Team will also be the Transition Team.
PASSED - Recommendation 2 - To call a specially trained and/or experienced Transitional Pastor.
PASSED - Recommendation 3 - For the Chairman of Deacons to supervise an election by the church of a Transitional Pastor Search Team by secret ballot.
PASSED - Recommendation 4 - To disband the Pastor Transition Study Team since their task has been completed.
PASSED - Recommendation 5 – In the absence of a Pastor, for the Chairman of Deacons and the Associate Pastor to jointly nominate the members of the Committee to Nominate Lead Teams to the church for approval.
PASSED - Recommendation 6 - That the current Nominating Committee be extended for an additional year, and all other teams will be staffed as normal.
Transitional Pastor Search Team Election Results
There were 275 ballots returned.
Those elected (alphabetical)
Bonnie Brumbelow
Debs Cofer
Beth Dauer
Jim Huffines
Dennis Leveron
Katy Wallis
Harold Wood
Alternates
1st Stephen Davis
2nd Mark Damron
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