Senior Pastor Search

Updates Concerning Our Senior Pastor Search

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Senior Pastor Referral Form

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Ministry Opportunity Profile

FAQ Search Overview

2/22/2009	Jeff Lind presents an update during the business meeting. The search team continues to interview candidates. A time of Q&A followed.
1/25/2009	Jeff Lind, Elder and chairman of the Senior Pastor Search Team, provided a status update. Jeff reviewed the search process. Over 95 applications have been received from a variety of sources including several seminaries. The team has interviewed the top 10-12 candidates as it continues to look in depth at the top 3 candidates at any one time. The candidates have ranged in age from mid 30's to mid 50's and have led churches ranging from 400 to 5500 people. Jeff asked for continued self examination and prayer. He concluded by leading the congregation in a reading of Ephesians 3:20-21
11/16/2008	Jeff Lind, Elder and chairman of the Senior Pastor Search Team, provided a status update. Jeff gave a brief summary of the process and timeline that has brought us to this point. Currently, over 75 applications have been received. The Pastor Search Team uses the guidance of the Ministry Opportunity Profile to identify the top 3 candidates. A period of focused examination on these 3 men then follows via reference checks and interviews all measured against a set of criteria that considers their experience, preaching and interviews. During this process, the Pastor Search Team may determine that a candidate is not the right fit for Grace, the candidate might determine he is not the right fit or the candidate might accept another opportunity elsewhere. In any event, when a top candidate is dropped from consideration, the Pastor Search Team identifies a new top candidate from the existing pool of candidates or from new applications that are still being received. This careful examination of the top candidates is a time consuming process due to the intense mutual scrutiny by both the Pastor Search Team and the candidate and the fact that candidates are busy men who are currently actively engaged in ministry elsewhere. Jeff concluded by saying that we could be very close to finding our next Senior Pastor or it could be months away. He asked for prayer in our continuing search for God's leader for Grace.
9/21/2008	Jeff Lind, Elder and chairman of the Senior Pastor Search Team, provided a status update. The Search Team is continuing to process the applications, talk to candidates and listen to sermons. At least one candidate has made a visit to Grace to observe the ministry here.
8/24/2008	Jeff Lind, Elder and chairman of the Senior Pastor Search Team, provided a status update. Approximately 60 applications have been received for Senior Pastor and the Search Team has reviewed each application and are currently interviewing several of the candidates. Jeff noted that as we are evaluating the candidates, the candidates in turn are learning about Grace to confirm the calling God might have for them to come here. The expectations are that this process could take several months or longer.
7/27/2008	Elder Chairman Tom Montgomery introduced Dr. Mark Belokonny as our Transitional Senior Pastor for the interim. Mark preached this day and is scheduled to start full time at Grace on August 25. He will serve until our next Senior Pastor is selected. Mark has been in pastoral ministry for 28 years and holds a Masters from Western Seminary and a Doctorate from Biola University.
5/11/2008	Elder Chairman Mark Peterson gave a brief update on the status of the search for a Senior Pastor. A church profile has now been produced that will be used to present our church to potential candidates. (A limited number of this publication are being printed, but it will be available soon on this website.) Mark also announced that the Elders have decided to begin looking for an Interim Pastor. The Interim Pastor will provide support and coaching for the Elders, Pastors and the Search Team. He will also join the teaching team and will preach approximately 50% of the time. Whomever is selected as the Interim Pastor will serve only until a new Senior Pastor is found and hired (Our constitution prohibits the Interim Pastor from becoming a candidate for the Senior Pastor position.)
4/30/2008	The results of the Pastor Search Team survey can be downloaded by clicking here.
3/16/2008	Mark Blaisdell, a member of the Pastor Search Team, provides a status update and presents a survey for the congregation to respond to. The response period will end on March 30, 2008 and a summary will be provided shortly after that.
3/12/2008	The initial draft of the Church Profile is complete and undergoing review.
2/17/2008	Jeff Lind presents a PST update during the business meeting. A time of Q&A follows.
1/6/2008	The Pastor Search Team is introduced to the congregation and Jeff Lind provides an update on their progress (A Church Profile is being created)
11/4/2007	Training is conducted for the Pastor Search Team and they begin their work in earnest.
10/15/2007	The Pastor Search Team is selected and notified.
10/2/2007	Interviews are conducted for the final candidates for the Pastor Search Team.
9/30/2007	Senior Pastor Ben Cross delivers his final sermon at Grace. An all church reception is held following the morning services.
9/24/2007	Interviews are arranged for the final list of Pastor Search Team candidates.
9/1/2007	A list of potential Pastor Search Team (PST) members have been identified. Initial phone contacts are initiated.
7/22/2007	A congregational meeting is held to discuss the resignation of Senior Pastor Ben Cross. Participants included Ben Cross, Brian Doherty and the Elders.
7/19/2007	The Elders appoint Jeff Lind as the chairman of the Pastor Search Team (PST) and charge him with the initial task of forming the team. A process is begun to determine the qualifications and criteria for members of the PST. Then, the list of Grace members is examined to identify a pool of candidates who are qualified and available to serve on the PST.
7/16/2007	A packet is mailed to the congregation announcing the resignation of Senior Pastor Ben Cross. This packet included a cover letter from Executive Pastor Brian Doherty, a letter to the congregation from Senior Pastor Ben Cross and a message to the congregation from Elder Chairman Mark Peterson.
7/3/2007	Senior Pastor Ben Cross submits a resignation letter to the Elders and it is accepted. The effective date is determined to be September 30, 2007.
6/14/2007	Senior Pastor Ben Cross notifies the Elder Board of his intention to resign. A period of prayer and reflection follows. An official resignation letter is not yet offered and a timeline for the announcement and the effective date of the resignation is not determined.