A Note from Dean: Pastor Search

Greetings on this cold, cold day,

            I want to share the search process that the Session and I have learned from National Capital Presbytery leaders, including Rev. John Molina-Moore, the General Presbyter, who knows and loves Western Church.

            First, it may be helpful to list the three major kinds of pastoral relationships/titles:

1.     Installed Pastor – this is a Teaching Elder elected by the congregation for an indefinite term following an open search by a Pastor Nominating Committee elected by the congregation. Rev. Laura Cunningham was an Installed Pastor.

2.     Temporary Pastoral Relationships:

A.    Interim Pastor – this is a teaching elder invited by the session with the approval of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry’s Congregational Transitions Commission. Interims serve for a specified period of time while the church is seeking an Installed Pastor.

B.     Stated Supply Pastor – this is a teaching elder invited by the session and approved by Presbytery as above to fulfill duties for an indefinite period of time in a church that is not seeking an installed pastor.  

3.     Designated Pastor – this is a teaching elder called and installed for a specified term of not less than two years, nor more than four years. All candidates for a Designated Pastor position shall be initially vetted by a team appointed by the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry’s Congregational Transitions Commission (CTC).

The congregation elects a Designated Pastor Nominating Committee that only considers those candidates cleared for review by the vetting team. At the end of the designated term, a congregation may, with the approval of the CTC, renew the relationship for another length of term, call the pastor to be installed, or dissolve the relationship.  

           Your Session has decided, after our consultation with the Presbytery representatives, to seek a Designated Pastor (#3). The Session itself will be the Designated Pastor Search Committee (DPSC). We are to officially vote on them in this roll at our Annual Meeting on January 28th after worship.

            Before the Session can begin to consider any vetted candidates, however, the church is required by Presbytery to take the “Holy Cow” Survey. Elder Susie Farr is our liaison in this process, and I am sure you will be hearing from her soon. The information we glean from the survey will be of good use not only as we consider candidates, but also as we consider new mission and ministry directions for the future.

            Please do not hesitate to ask me questions about this process. Know that the Session, Presbytery, and I are endeavoring to be as transparent as possible. We are learning the way forward together, trusting in the support of the Presbytery, one another, and you. Most importantly, we trust that the Holy Spirit moves in and among us for good. Keep Western in your prayers!

Grace and peace,

Dean McDonald

Bridge Pastor (another name for an Interim Pastor; I bridge the time between Laura’s leaving and the arrival of the new Designated Pastor)