During August and into September, we held a series of Listening Sessions to gain in-depth insights from members of the congregation regarding what people are looking for in pastoral leadership. In September, we began to familiarize ourselves with the formal materials used by the Presbytery when a congregation is seeking a new pastor. Also in September, we were reviewing materials other similar congregations have used in their pastoral searches.
Our specific charge for the month of October is to work with the Presbytery to complete a Ministry Profile which will communicate externally what our congregation is looking for when we advertise the position externally. The Ministry Profile includes a section where we describe our congregation’s vision for ministry and the community. This is why the feedback you provided in the survey and the Listening Sessions is so valuable. We are taking what we heard from the congregation to complete these sections of the profile. This way, when the profile of our congregation is posted nationally by the Presbytery, the pastoral candidates will be able to learn about who we are as a congregation and what we need most in the future.
Stay tuned as we continue to work this fall and keep our committee and our congregation in your prayers.
—Andrea DeVries
ELPC Pastor Nominating Committee: Doug Booth, Bill Buchanan, David Carl, Andrea DeVries, Jim Eng, Linda Lane (Chair), Rebecca McGregor (Secretary), Polly McQueen, Antwone Wright