Epsiode 268: How to Call a Pastor 2024Pastors, If you retire or leave a church in a healthy manner, you have an obligation to set up your church for success.

• Are the bylaws up to date, clear, and workable
  • you must follow your bylaws
• Do you have an external contact for your search team. Every search team needs training

1. Move past the human nature side of things...
   1. Know that without guidance the tendency is to swing from extreme to extreme
      1. pastors in the past 
         1. good pastors - what did they do
         2. not good pastors - what did they do
   2. Make preaching the last element you discover about the candidate
      1. The right person is more important than the right preacher
         1. character
         2. leadership
         3. theology
         4. family
         5. emotional intelligence
2. Use a well-stablished process, hopefully you've gotten training
   1. a clear job description
   2. a clear budget
   3. a clear list of qualities
      1. what are the non-negotiables
   4. know where to put out requests for resumes
      1. respond to everyone who sends you a direct resume
   5. Try to avoid going through resumes one at a time; set a date to go through them together
3. Communicate
   1. communicate with your church often
      1. have your church pray for you
   2. communicate with candidates as needed
   3. communicate written and unwritten expectations
   4. avoid bringing in multiple candidates to see "who you like best"
   5. find your one candidate and interview them
   6. Bring them in at the appropriate time

 Keep your search committee together for a year to serve as the mediator with your new pastor

1. meet once a month and talk about how things are going
2. be the first line of defense for your pastor family

 Remember you are inviting a leader to fulfill the church’s vision, not your own.