Choosing the Nominee

The PNC should strive to make its decision both unanimous and enthusiastic. Experience has shown that where there is a serious division in a committee regarding a candidate, the same division may appear in the congregation. Bear in mind that each member's integrity and individuality are to be respected and that any reservations he or she has about the candidate selected should be brought to the committee's attention and discussed with candor. If the PNC is not unanimous and enthusiastic regarding the selection, your COM representative should be consulted as to the advisability of presenting the candidate to the congregation.

Extending the Call

When the PNC has reached a final decision and has conferred with its COM representative about its choice, the chairperson or other PNC member should telephone the selected candidate and extend an invitation. Although you will be eager to get an affirmative response from your chosen person, she or he may want some time to respond. If that is the case, ask, "How soon can you let us know?" or suggest a time, such as "We would like to hear from you by two weeks from today. Is that acceptable?" Except for unusual circumstances, two weeks should be sufficient time in which to expect a response.

When the candidate accepts the PNC's invitation, notify your COM and CLC staff. Do not reveal your final decision to the session or congregation until the COM has given its final clearance. This will involve an examination of your new pastor by the COM.

With your chosen new pastor discuss the terms of call, effective date of the call, the tentative schedule for the next steps, approval by the COM and presbytery, congregational meeting to approve the call, dissolution of the candidate's current position, and the installation service. There are additional steps and a longer process if your chosen pastor is a candidate for ministry yet to be ordained. Your COM can help you work out a timeline in coordination with his or her Preparation for Ministry Committee.

Negotiating the Terms of Call

A subcommittee might be named to work out the final terms of call with the candidate. In preparation for that meeting, the entire PNC will want to look again at the financial information of the CIF to set the parameters for the discussion. The PNC is not authorized to negotiate beyond the total amount allocated by the session. If there is a need to do so, session approval must be obtained. Pastors have different needs for the allocation of compensation. If you have questions about compensation, your COM will be able to advise you and your new pastor.

Prior to its meeting with your proposed new pastor, the COM will need to have a copy of the terms of call. (See sample.) Later the congregation will also need to approve the terms of call at the time it elects its new pastor. (G-14.0506)

A Sample —

To be revised as needed in consultation with presbytery committee on ministry. Tax authorities should be consulted regarding any unusual payments for the protection of the church and the taxpayer. The form can be tailored to fit the need of the calling presbytery.

Making Official Decisions

When The Nominee Accepts or Declines the Call

The person whom you have chosen may be ready to respond immediately, or he or she may need time to talk with family and mentors, to consider all of the aspects of this call, and to listen again to the Lord. If he or she asks for this time, it is important to give it. Under normal circumstances, it is reasonable to expect a response in a week or two.

If your nominee declines the call, it is natural to feel disappointed. However, no church benefits from a pastor who does not feel called and is unhappy.

If the nominee accepts the call, these are the next steps:

Notifying CLC of a "Call Pending" - Send an email, hard copy or fax to inform CLC staff of the new pastor's name, name of congregation and the effective date of the call.

Getting Presbytery COM Approval - As the third partner in the call, the presbytery must "examine each minister or candidate who seeks membership in it on his or her Christian faith and views in theology, the Sacraments, and the government of this church" (Book of Order G-11.0402). The COM often does this. The receiving presbytery must also approve the call. This may also be delegated to the COM.

Concluding Your Interim Pastor's Ministry - Be aware of any contractual agreements that your church has with your interim pastor. This may influence agreements with your new pastor. The congregations needs time to say farewell and to thank your interim pastor. It may be helpful to plan a space (using pulpit supplies) between the conclusion of the interim pastorate and the arrival of a new pastor.

Presenting the Selected Pastor to the Congregation

The PNC asks the session to call a congregational meeting to hear and act on the report of the PNC. This meeting usually takes place after a worship service and must be moderated by the session moderator or other minister appointed by presbytery for this purpose. Depending on the historical tradition and preferences of the congregation, the new pastor under consideration may preach and conduct all or part of the service prior to the congregational vote, or the PNC may report and the congregational vote be taken with results being telephoned to the pastor.

The PNC has the responsibility to share what it has learned about the minister with the congregation. Generally speaking, the more you can do to facilitate these introductions, the more enthusiastic will be the support of the congregation for the PNC's work and the easier will be the minister's transition as he/she begins the work as your pastor.
Prepare a Report to the Congregation - This report might include something of the process the PNC followed, including the number and kinds of PIFs reviewed. A brief biographical sketch of the minister, taken from the PIF with revisions suggested by the minister, will help the congregation to know the new pastor more intimately. The terms of call must be included. It is recommended that this report be mailed to each member of the congregation with the announcement of the call of the congregational meeting. Care should be taken to assure that the identity of the proposed new pastor not be shared with the media or information used in a way that could compromise the pastor with his or her present congregation (which at this point normally will be unaware of the pastor's plans to leave).

During the congregational meeting, the PNC chairperson should prepare a formal recommendation, checking with the moderator and clerk of session to be certain it conforms to provisions of the Book of Order. The chairperson should be ready to present personally or through members of the PNC the reasons for selecting this nominee and something of his or her background, experience, and abilities. On occasion, members of the congregation will raise questions. A PNC that has done its work well will be able to answer these questions with ease. After discussion, a motion should be made that the congregation concur with the report of the PNC. Following the congregational vote in the affirmative, they should then move to dismiss the PNC with thanks.

If there is a significant minority of the congregation opposed to this pastoral candidate, the person under consideration is wise to prayerfully reconsider the call, and the PNC should consult immediately with the COM. In such a case, the PNC should not be dismissed at this time.

Finishing Your Work

Destroy all PIF material including references except for the materials related to the person you have called. Others cannot be reused and should not be passed on to other PNCs. Information and references regarding the incoming pastor should be sealed and kept.

The chairperson should inform the session of any agreements the PNC may have made with the incoming pastor, such as starting date, moving date, special personal or financial arrangements, travel expenses for house-hunting, or planning for redecoration of the manse. Once this information is passed along, the session assumes the responsibility for the ongoing work with the pastor.

In many cases, the session sets up a transition committee to help the new minister in the early phases of start-up. Participants might include a member of the PNC and a member of the session. They should be able to communicate needs or concerns regarding the manse, the church office, other staff of the church, and the church calendar. The transition committee should also include someone who can introduce the minister and family, if any, to community services, schools, and shopping. The transition committee might also assist the new pastor and the presbytery in arranging for the service of installation.

Presenting the Pastor-Elect to Presbytery

The minister-elect will meet with presbytery and be welcomed into its membership. Ministers are members of presbytery and accountable to presbytery for their ministry. It is important for members of the PNC to attend the presbytery meeting as a show of support and an opportunity for celebration of your work. At this meeting, the presbytery will appoint a commission to install the pastor.

Installing the Pastor

On the day designated for the installation, the presbytery or commission appointed for this purpose shall convene and shall call the congregation gathered to worship. The service shall focus on Christ and the joy and responsibility of the mission and ministry of the church, and shall include a sermon appropriate to the occasion. The stages of the installation service are as follows:

Statement of Purpose (by moderator or chair of the Commission following the sermon)

Moderator or chair says something about the theology of call, the process of preparation for ministry, the process of call, and our Presbyterian understanding of the work of the Spirit in this; describes installation as an act of presbytery; and acknowledges the commission-representing presbytery.

Presentation of the Candidate (by an elder, perhaps chair of the PNC)

"Speaking for the people of the church, I bring __________ to be installed as pastor, associate pastor, etc."

Constitutional Questions to the Candidate (by moderator or chair of the commission)

(1) Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the church and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

(2) Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the church universal, and God's Word to you?

(3) Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God?

(4) Will you be a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and continually guided by our confessions?

(5) Will you be governed by our church's polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God's Word and Spirit?

(6) Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?

(7) Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church?

(8)Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?

(9) Will you be a faithful minister, proclaiming the good news in Word and Sacrament, teaching faith, and caring for people?

(10) Will you be active in government and discipline, serving in the governing bodies of the church; and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

Constitutional Questions to the Congregation (Elder from the congregation)

(1) Do we, the members of the church, accept _________ as our pastor (associate pastor), chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ?

(2) Do we agree to encourage him (her), to respect his (her) decisions, and to follow as he (she) guides us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the church?

(3) Do we promise to pay him (her) fairly and provide for his (her) welfare as he (she) works among us; to stand by him (her) in trouble and share his (her) joys? Will we listen to the word he (she) preaches, welcome his (her) pastoral care, and honor his (her) authority as he (she) seeks to honor and obey Jesus Christ our Lord?

Prayer of Installation (member of commission)

Candidate may kneel or stand (no laying on of hands)

Declaration of Installation

The member presiding shall then say: "_________, you are now a Minister of the Word and Sacrament in and for this congregation. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen." Symbols of office may be offered (Bible, chalice, baptismal bowl, stole, etc.)

Welcome by the Commission (members of the commission greet new pastor)

Charge to the Pastor (by member of the commission)

Charge to the Congregation (by a member of the commission)

Brief Statement and Benediction (by new pastor)

After the service, the officers and members of the church should be invited to come forward to greet their pastor and give him or her an appropriate expression of cordial reception and affectionate regard. The installation of a minister as pastor or associate pastor of more than one church may take place in a joint service, provided each church is present and answers for itself the constitutional questions.

Following Up With Support After Installation

It is critical that the church and pastor make an intentional plan for effective entry and support. The relationship that the PNC has built with the pastor must now be extended to the session with whom she or he will lead the church and with the congregation and community. It is best that the PNC be dissolved after the installation service and the session become the primary group relating to the pastor. This relationship is one of mutual support and care as pastor and session build an effective ministry together.

The presbytery also provides support for the pastor. It may offer orientation programs, peer support groups, and continuing education opportunities. Encourage your pastor to take advantage of these programs. The presbytery also provides pastoral care for ministers. When your pastor is ill, has a special anniversary, or family crisis, alert the presbytery executive or COM.

May God richly bless you
and your new pastor
as you enter a new phase
in your congregational life
and ministry!

PNC Report to Session

Your PNC's been faithful. (No question of that.)
Through forty-plus meetings we've faithfully sat.

We've read two hundred PIFs and we've ordered some more.
(And thinking of them makes my eyeballs quite sore.)

We traveled to Maumee and met Face-to-Face
with ten ministers whom you'll not meet in this place.
We touted our church and our schools and our city:
We told them we're great and this area's pretty.

We've made phone calls to references farther than near,
and spent hours listening with more than one ear.
We've heard good stuff and bad stuff and stuff in between.
Then we've gathered and prayed and said, "What does it mean?"

We drove up to Youngstown to hear a man preach
(though some would rather have a trip to the beach).
We listened to five different sermons that day
one when we got there, and four on the way.
Though five different sermons are tough to remember
we figured they'd do us at least through November.

We heard from three candidates we liked a lot.
We asked them to visit and all said "Why not?"
Some drove and some flew,
some with kids, some just two.
We showed them the church, showed the "Y", the Big Bear.
Showed them Jim Mitchell's house cause it's so nice up there.

But none was just right, none was just the right fit
(though we wavered and argued and threatened to quit).

We've raked up some muck in the midst of our toil.
And we've dealt with issues to make your blood boil.
You bet we have wrestled and struggled and fought.
(If you think this is easy, you've thought the wrong thought!)

We've tried to be faithful.
We've tried to be true.
And patience and prayers are what we need from you.

For there is a minister awaiting our call.
It might be tomorrow. It might be next fall.
The one of God's choosing is yet to appear,
but we'll stop all this PIFing when God's will is clear.
(and not one day sooner)

Respectfully submitted,
Susan E. Roesch Co-chair, PNC
First Presbyterian Church, Marietta, OH
(Used by permission)