Pastor Nominating Committee Update
Update 7
The Pastor Nominating Committee would like to joyfully share the news that we have unanimously chosen a candidate and announce that Session has approved a congregational meeting to be held in the sanctuary on Sunday, February 16 immediately after the 10am Worship Service with the purpose of voting on our candidate for Senior Pastor / Head of Staff.
We would like to take a few moments to explain how we got here and what to expect in the upcoming weeks. Prior to the creation of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), the search for a new Senior Pastor began early last year with a mission study.
This study documented information about our church, our mission, ministries, demographics, and our community. This was done to inform the soon to be developed Pastor Nominating Committee and enable them to share this information with candidates as well as level set on qualifications for a new Senior Pastor. We would like to thank Vera Coniglio, Bob Freed, and Bill Gilbert for their significant efforts on this.
After approval of the mission study, last May, the congregation approved the creation of our Pastor Nominating Committee, and we appreciate your trust and faith in us. You elected us to do this important work together and with prayerful determination we have been diligent, mindful, and listened for God’s voice throughout this process. We have:
Each of us is confident our candidate has the experience, skills, and personality to lead Worthington Presbyterian Church at this particular time.
Our committee prioritized fourteen different criteria that were used in our discernment to identify our candidate. We all believe our candidate:
Our pastors and staff, who would be direct reports, met with our candidate and all were very positive in their feedback. Staff and PNC quotes include:
We are excited to introduce you in the days ahead! Out of respect for our candidate and their current church, we will share only high-level details initially. As you learn more, we ask that you be discreet and allow our candidate to share with their church at the appropriate time.
Here is what to expect over the next two weeks leading up to the congregational meeting on February 16.
Information will continue to be posted on the Pastor Nominating Committee portion of our church website. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the “Meet & Greet” on February 15 as well as Worship Service and the Congregational Meeting on February 16.
May God bless each of you, our candidate, and our church!
With gratitude and joy,
Noel Abrokwa, Josh Bodnar, Duane Cable, Bill Gilbert, Elizabeth Jewell Becker, Tracy MacDowell, and Ryan Mehl
WPC’s Pastor Nominating Committee
We would like to take a few moments to explain how we got here and what to expect in the upcoming weeks. Prior to the creation of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC), the search for a new Senior Pastor began early last year with a mission study.
This study documented information about our church, our mission, ministries, demographics, and our community. This was done to inform the soon to be developed Pastor Nominating Committee and enable them to share this information with candidates as well as level set on qualifications for a new Senior Pastor. We would like to thank Vera Coniglio, Bob Freed, and Bill Gilbert for their significant efforts on this.
After approval of the mission study, last May, the congregation approved the creation of our Pastor Nominating Committee, and we appreciate your trust and faith in us. You elected us to do this important work together and with prayerful determination we have been diligent, mindful, and listened for God’s voice throughout this process. We have:
- Utilized the PC(USA)’s Church Leadership Connection national database
- Ran an advertisement in Presbyterian Outlook
- Solicited referrals from Seminary Presidents and other church leaders around the country
- Examined and discerned 90 candidates from across the nation
- Listened to the sermons of more than 20 candidates
- Conducted many interviews with a variety of candidates
- Decided unanimously on our candidate
Each of us is confident our candidate has the experience, skills, and personality to lead Worthington Presbyterian Church at this particular time.
Our committee prioritized fourteen different criteria that were used in our discernment to identify our candidate. We all believe our candidate:
- Has the personality to engage with current and potential membership, connect with all ages, bridge generations, and has the ability to grow our church family
- Is a gifted preacher who delivers relatable messages from the pulpit, connecting the Bible to our current lives and situations
- Will serve our congregation and staff with compassion and empathy, is a good listener, and is an extremely thoughtful human being
Our pastors and staff, who would be direct reports, met with our candidate and all were very positive in their feedback. Staff and PNC quotes include:
- “engaging, gives off feeling of being centered in Christ, peaceful, caring, someone you would want to spend time with”
- “so relatable and real; values connection, is authentic, and speaks so earnestly of the boundless love that God has for each one of us”
- “is always present, prayerful, forward thinking, creative, and very personable”
- “is focused on being with Jesus, becoming more like him and doing what he did"
We are excited to introduce you in the days ahead! Out of respect for our candidate and their current church, we will share only high-level details initially. As you learn more, we ask that you be discreet and allow our candidate to share with their church at the appropriate time.
Here is what to expect over the next two weeks leading up to the congregational meeting on February 16.
- On Wednesday February 5, in a special church-wide email, we will share a video from one of the candidate’s references. This video will also be played in the Hazelton Fellowship Hall following the February 9 Worship Services.
- On Wednesday February 12, in a special church-wide email, we will share a video from our candidate’s family and you’ll hear firsthand why our candidate feels God’s calling here.
- On Saturday, February 15 from 2:00-4:30 pm, a “Meet & Greet” will be held in the Hazelton Fellowship Hall for all members to meet and visit with the candidate.
- On Sunday, February 16, at the 8am and 10am worship services, the candidate will deliver the sermon, pastoral prayer, and benediction. Immediately after the 10am worship service, a congregational meeting will be held in the sanctuary where we will conduct a vote.
Information will continue to be posted on the Pastor Nominating Committee portion of our church website. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the “Meet & Greet” on February 15 as well as Worship Service and the Congregational Meeting on February 16.
May God bless each of you, our candidate, and our church!
With gratitude and joy,
Noel Abrokwa, Josh Bodnar, Duane Cable, Bill Gilbert, Elizabeth Jewell Becker, Tracy MacDowell, and Ryan Mehl
WPC’s Pastor Nominating Committee