Second Minister Search Committee

The Search Committee has set up a special website for our ministerial applicants. You’re welcome to take a look here. From the website you can download our 270-page Search Packet.

Update March 12, 2009

You haven't heard from us in a while, but it isn't because we've been taking it easy! We are days away from choosing our candidate for Second Minister. We thought you might like some details on the process so far and what happens next.

Since we were charged by the Board in May, we've met every week, been on a retreat, conducted surveys, held congregational meetings, developed a website, published our Congregational Search Packet, attended training seminars and exchanged over 2500 emails. In December, we received over a dozen applications for the Second Minister position. Based on the detailed Ministerial Search Packets
we received, we selected a number of outstanding applicants for hour-long phone interviews. After much deliberation, we then narrowed the field down to three pre-candidates.

We have spent long weekends with each of the final three and have heard them preach. During several meals all together, and in smaller group meetings, each candidate and the committee has gotten to know each other. The good news is that we have very strong pre-candidates for the job. Unfortunately, the board probably won't let us hire them all, so we now have the challenge of discerning which one would be the best person for the job and the best fit for our congregation.

We will reach that decision in the next few days. We will then submit our recommendation to the Board. The board will vote by the end of March whether to accept our recommendation. If approved by the board, we will announce our candidate to the congregation the first week of April. The candidate will then be with us here at the church from April 26 to May 3 for Candidating Week. They will preach both Sundays and meet with the congregation during numerous events throughout the week.

Each one of us on the Search Committee feels the burden of responsibility to do our job well and to serve and represent our congregation as best we can. We have risen to that challenge individually and as a group, and we think you will be as excited as we are about our choice. We're almost there!

Sincerely,
Judy, Julie, John, Kathy, Kevin, Lee, Michael, Patty and Peter