Presbytery of the James Interim

Ministry Resource

COM Mission Study Guideline for Calling a New Pastor

The Presbytery of the James assists congregations in their search for a new pastor. It has proved to be effective and important for the congregation to engage in the process of a mission study before the PNC is formed. The Committee on Ministry provides this guideline for several reasons:

1. The departure of one pastor and the search for the next installed pastor is a great time to discern God’s vision and mission.
2. If a Session assigns this task to the new PNC, then the mission study tends to become a task by a few rather than a congregation-wide effort led by the Session.
3. Related to this, the PNC membership should be representative of the whole congregation and reflect the priorities set forth in the mission study.
4. If a congregation is making a pastoral transition after conflict and/or a long-serving pastor’s departure, it is important that the Interim Pastor have time to help the congregation deal with grief and other feelings from the past before the Session sets about looking to the future mission of the congregation.
5. The Mission Study normally takes at least 3 - 9 months to perform and should begin after the Interim Pastor has been at the congregation for at least 1 - 3 months.