The PSC
reached a decision on Saturday, November 10, 2012 to bring to the Board of
Stewards Joel Lawrence. Looking back, there were a number of steps that led to
the PSC arriving at this decision.
The CBC
Pastoral Profile certainly set the stage for all who showed interest in this
position and it served as one test for those who inquired about the position of
senior pastor. Each component of the profile—Servant Leadership, Preaching,
Urban/Community Focus, and Spiritual Formation—served as the basis for most
every point of discussion. The PSC was very blessed to hear from many great
people throughout the process.
There were
several other documents and steps that aided in this decision making process.
The MIBC was able to provide access to the Ministry Placement Network (MPN)
assessment on those who made it into our top prospective candidate pool. This
document listed spiritual gifts and values as well as a background on the
person and a thorough listing of questions and answers on a number of topics.
One of the
homegrown tools the PSC utilized during the team interview phase of the process
as a series of questions that tied directly to the CBC Pastoral Profile
document. Each person included in this phase was able to answer in writing
questions we asked of them.
The
following items were high on the list of major considerations as the PSC
narrowed the field of prospective candidates based on the pastoral
profile:
- Must evidence excitement for the position and pursue Central Baptist Church and this position
- Must demonstrate what is means to honor the heritage of Central Baptist Church and to build all the generations of those who call Central their church
- Must be able to convey the Gospel message in a way that is real and practical to those who hear it
- Must show a commitment to urban ministry in St. Paul’s Midway community and be able to describe what that would look like
- Must have a heart for deep personal and spiritual development
- Must show the ability to raise the visibility of Central Baptist Church to throughout and beyond our community
- Must hold to an egalitarian framework with regard to women in ministry and leadership in the church
The
following additional items were of major discussion as the PSC narrowed the
focus a select few:
- There was a desire to have a person whose academic background would allow the church to experience an intentional, challenging, and vibrant worship experience.
- There was a belief that the candidate should have a strong commitment to Christian discipleship and Christian spiritual growth. There should be a strong emphasis on prayer and understanding the Bible.
- Growing the church and attracting new people of all generations should be a focus of the next senior pastor. The skills need to include the capacity to be appreciated by younger people and the courage to try different ways of communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ.
