Interim Search Process
Update for the Congregation
Tony spoke in his last sermon about doing things together. Over the next months, we will be "Being Church" in our continuation of worship that feeds and inspires us, running the day to day operation of the church, reaching out with mission work, and planning for new Pastoral Leadership.
I was asked recently if we would "vote on the new minister". Because we are a Congregational Church and our "Polity" structure calls for "bottom up" governance of the church, we have a Congregational Meeting to approve of bylaws, budgets, officers, and the appointment of a new settled minister. After our interim minister is selected, in place, and facilitating our work together, we will be launching a search for a "settled minister". That search will involve the congregation in many ways: sharing our dreams and needs, developing a profile of our church that will serve us in years to come, forming a Search Committee, and ultimately (in a Congregational Meeting after we have been introduced to the final candidate), and (yes indeed) voting on a settled minister. That process has been known to take from months to a couple of years. It will be the job of the interim minister to facilitate the involvement of the congregation in that process.
In the meantime, some matters - for efficiency sake - are under the approval of the elected Church Council. The search/approval process for an Interim Minister is one of those matters. The Elected Church Council will be voting on the Interim Minister.
ACC Bylaws: Under section titled Ministers
Section F. The Interim Period between Pastorates: Upon notice of a pastoral vacancy, the Church Council shall meet within a week to determine the pastoral needs of the church. When those needs require that a Minister be called to fill the vacated pastorate, the Directors shall take two actions:
1. Appoint an Interim Minister Search Committee to seek a candidate for Interim Minister, who shall do the specialized work needed during the interim period between the departure of a minister and the calling of a candidate for the vacant pastorate. The Interim Minister Search Committee shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) active Members.
a. The Interim Minister Search Committee may contact the Northern California Nevada Conference placement officer responsible for interim ministry, for advice and counsel; and shall ultimately introduce a candidate to the Church Council.
b. The terms of the interim ministry contract shall be reviewed and approved by the Church Council.
c. The interim candidate shall be called by at least a three-fourths vote of the Council members present.
2. Begin the search for a permanent minister, by setting in motion the steps in Section C, Calling a Minister. (Section C, will be printed here later.)
The Interim Search Committee (Linda Young, Anita Baker, and Ruth Robinson) continues to move forward. Finding candidates that are qualified for this unique role is not easy, but some promising candidates are emerging. In the meantime, we extend gratitude to Barry, Susan and the whole team that is planning a worship structure and arranging for pulpit support in the weeks to come.
Linda Young,
Interim Search Committee Chair