Lead Pastor Search Team
The Lead Pastor Search Team will guide the congregation through a thoughtful and prayerful process to identify our next pastor. Over the coming months, the team will gather input, review candidates, conduct interviews, and seek God's direction before presenting a recommendation to the congregation.
Right Now: SEARCH
The team is currently in the SEARCH phase, actively searching for and receiving applications while prayerfully reviewing candidates.
Prepare
The Pastoral Search Team is formed and begins the important work of prayer, planning, and establishing a process for the search.
During this phase, the team:
- Commits to prayer.
- Organizes and establishes meeting schedules.
- Develops communication plans and timelines.
- Begins laying the groundwork for the search process.
Focus:
The team is organized and beginning its initial prayer and planning phase.
During this phase, the team:
- Commits to prayer.
- Organizes and establishes meeting schedules.
- Develops communication plans and timelines.
- Begins laying the groundwork for the search process.
Focus:
The team is organized and beginning its initial prayer and planning phase.
Discern
Before searching for a pastor, the team seeks to better understand our church's mission, identity, strengths, needs, and vision for the future.
During this phase, the team:
- Seeks God's guidance and direction for Maiden Lane in prayer.
- Meets with church staff, elders, and key ministry leaders.
- Discerns the current and future needs of the church.
- Identifies the qualities, gifts, and leadership skills needed in our next Lead Pastor.
- Develops a church profile to share with potential candidates.
Current Focus:
The team is gathering information, discerning priorities, and building a church profile for potential candidates.
During this phase, the team:
- Seeks God's guidance and direction for Maiden Lane in prayer.
- Meets with church staff, elders, and key ministry leaders.
- Discerns the current and future needs of the church.
- Identifies the qualities, gifts, and leadership skills needed in our next Lead Pastor.
- Develops a church profile to share with potential candidates.
Current Focus:
The team is gathering information, discerning priorities, and building a church profile for potential candidates.
Search
The search team is actively seeking and evaluating candidates.
During this phase, the team:
- Posts and promotes the Lead Pastor position.
- Receives and reviews resumes and applications.
- Prayerfully opens applications to create a candidate pool.
- Conducts initial screenings and conversations.
Focus:
In Search, the team is actively searching for and receiving applications while prayerfully reviewing candidates to narrow the field.
During this phase, the team:
- Posts and promotes the Lead Pastor position.
- Receives and reviews resumes and applications.
- Prayerfully opens applications to create a candidate pool.
- Conducts initial screenings and conversations.
Focus:
In Search, the team is actively searching for and receiving applications while prayerfully reviewing candidates to narrow the field.
Select
The search team will conduct a deeper evaluation of finalist candidates.
During this phase, the team will:
- Seek God's guidance in identifying the best candidate for Maiden Lane.
- Conduct interviews with finalists.
- Check references and complete background screenings.
- Observe candidates in ministry settings when possible.
Focus:
The team will interview finalists and prayerfully discerning God's leading.
During this phase, the team will:
- Seek God's guidance in identifying the best candidate for Maiden Lane.
- Conduct interviews with finalists.
- Check references and complete background screenings.
- Observe candidates in ministry settings when possible.
Focus:
The team will interview finalists and prayerfully discerning God's leading.
Welcome
Once a candidate has been selected by the search team, the congregation will have the opportunity to meet the candidate and participate in the final voting process.
During this phase, the team will:
- Continue in prayer that God will bring the right candidate to Maiden Lane.
- Introduce the candidate and family to the congregation.
- Host a candidating weekend.
- Conduct a congregational vote.
- Assist with the transition into ministry at Maiden Lane.
Focus:
The search team will host a candidating weekend and presents a candidate for congregational consideration and vote.
During this phase, the team will:
- Continue in prayer that God will bring the right candidate to Maiden Lane.
- Introduce the candidate and family to the congregation.
- Host a candidating weekend.
- Conduct a congregational vote.
- Assist with the transition into ministry at Maiden Lane.
Focus:
The search team will host a candidating weekend and presents a candidate for congregational consideration and vote.
