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Someone recently emailed us asking if we have any articles on how to find a pastor. Uh, I don't think we do. Seems like a significant hole in the topics we try to cover!
So what do you non-connectional church guys think--what advice would you give a church on how to go about finding a pastor? Advertise in Christian publications? Ask any denominational agencies for a list of resumes? Ask your old seminary profs? What?
The 9Marks blog aims to stimulate a helpful conversation among pastors, church leaders, and Christians about life together in the local church.
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When it comes to churches finding pastors, it seems that most churches really do not know what they are doing. It would be good if the SBC could publish some type of guidelines as to how to find a pastor. I know some churches have essentially try outs while others speak with one man at a time. It would be good to have some type of help without completely systematizing the process.
Posted by: Charlie Wallace | Jun 23, 2008 5:58:24 PM
Authority should only be vested in men in whom the congregation and the other leaders recognize the biblical qualifications for church office, 1 Tim. 3:1-15. Though exemplary leaders have not achieved sinless perfection, they are to be clear examples of what God intends others to become in Christ. All church leaders, whether they be Elders or Deacons, must be far enough along in the process of personal sanctification that the congregation can safely give heed to their Bible teaching and follow their example in all areas of life.
A year ago at a SBC pastor’s conference in Texas, Voddie Baucham dropped the hammer on the attending pastors about the way that they had been selected for the office of Elder: http://www.gracefamilybaptist.net/GFBC_/Podcast/Entries/2008/1/11_The_Centrality_of_the_Home.html
He says that for most pastors in the SBC they were never scrutinized in light on the biblical text but rather the guy preached one time and the congregation voted on him.
How can you assess whether a man is in good standing within the community through an application? Or through an internet posting? Also, the Bible requires that a pastor have 2 skills, many character qualifications, but only 2 skills. He must be able to teach and he must manage his household well. How can you tell whether a man manages his household well through an application or an interview or even 5 interviews? It seems that the current system of hiring pastors from far away, rather than rising up leaders amongst us, is problematic. Instead of following the text, we are filling slots with men that interview well, have letters like “M.Div” after their name, and can preach a sermon well.
Posted by: Matthew Cunningham | Jun 23, 2008 6:29:32 PM
Brothers:
The first thing is for the churches to study and understand what an elder/pastor is and what God told Paul to write about them. Second would probably be to work in networks of churches. Having been in an ARBCA church before, though spread about, they have much more fellowship between them and their pastors than I detect in most SBC churches. They networked well and really tried to help each other find and or develop the proper men for their leadership.
Grace Alone,
Greg
Posted by: Greg | Jun 23, 2008 8:51:26 PM
How about posting to the comments section on blogs?
Harvest Bible Chapel in Peoria, IL is looking for a preaching pastor.
Come to Peoria and help us!
Posted by: Jay | Jun 24, 2008 12:41:56 PM