Plan of
Action & Milestones
Pastor Turnover
This covers the broad approach to the turnover business. It
lists major items and events but not details such as who should be on what
committee, though it does include general guidelines. In my experience with the
CPC, pastor turnover has always been something of a surprise. While I don’t
have an exact date in mind, I will plan based on the current calendar year in
hopes of minimizing surprise and turnover turbulence. Concurrently, I ask the
elected elders of the session to review the Turnover List I provided at the
last meeting. Determine session preferences early, realizing that there will
always be some give and take with your new prospect.
Concept
Confirm/Modify the POA&M.
Target: 1 March 2025
Define who we are for those who do not know us. The
vehicle for this is the Church Information Form (CIF). The work that precedes
the form is the time-consuming part of the process. The actual submission of
the form does not need to be made until the search committee is formed, but the
thinking process involved in compiling the form will favorably impact
subsequent steps.
Target: 1 April 2025
Define our expectations of a pastor. Hopefully, the
guides that I gave you for reviewing my contract should put you ahead of the
game if you went beyond days and money. Consider your self-assessment of the
small part of the body of Christ entrusted to your care. What do you think we
need from a pastor to know Him and make Him known? Defining who we are
and what we expect now gives us time for consideration and revision.
Target: 1 May 2025
Budget for Search Committee. Today, long-distance
charges are not really a factor. Email and shared drives have reduced postage
costs. Zoom and other video links bridge distances further. This budget is mostly for travel and lodging
of candidates who are considered worthy of an in-person meeting. This is
usually on our home turf with the candidate taking the pulpit for one or more
messages. Travel has costs. How much do you want to budget?
Most of the travel costs are not forecasted until fiscal
year 2026 (FY 26). Thus, you may have little or no need to modify the current
FY budget.
Target:1 June 2025
Form Search Committee.
The optimal number is Chair/Vice/Sec plus 2-5 others (men
and women, young and old, elders and laypersons).
Notify RRP (Wes Johnson) and the denomination (Mike Sharpe)
that the search has begun. Obtain other contacts.
Request PIFs.
Meet with the Search Committee and define their mission.
Define constraints and restraints. For
example: Should they contact other CP pastors already serving a congregation?
Target: 1 July 2025
Monitor Committee Progress.
Let the committee do its work but stay informed. A monthly
report would be the minimum oversight involved. Including session members on
the committee would also increase session awareness.
The session must know when the committee might be close to a
recommendation. This match-making process should not be rushed by the session
being caught off guard.
Target 1 October
2025
Select a viable candidate.
Reach agreement. Work out a start date.
Or:
Negotiate an extension on the current contract if viable.
Develop pulpit supply plan sans pastor.
Target: 31 December
2025
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