PNC in Progress: The Search Is On
In May of last year, Fondren Presbyterian’s Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) was installed. In the Presbyterian Church PC(USA), the PNC serves as a type of search committee whose objective is to review candidates and recommend a prospective pastor.
Steps in Calling a Pastor
Congregation elects Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC).
PNC meets with representatives of Presbytery Commission on Ministry (COM).
PNC organizes following Presbytery guidelines, On Calling a Pastor, and So You're on the Search Committee beginning with Bible study.
Gather information for the Ministry Information Form (MIF) from the congregation.
Develop consensus within the committee.
Prepare MIF.
Send MIF to the Session and to the Presbytery for review by the COM.
Presbytery approves MIF and PNC sends MIF to the General Assembly.
Gather names of prospects. [WE ARE HERE]
Review Pastor Information Forms (PIFs).
Establish top candidates list.
Send top candidates list with PIFs and telephone references to Presbytery Executive.
Contact your candidate to determine if still interested and available.
Interview your top candidate, and If YES, then proceed to Step 15. If NO, then return to Step 11.
Contact Presbytery to arrange for a meeting of the candidate with the COM. Presbytery will arrange for the candidate to undergo a background check.
Candidate meets with COM. With approval, proceed to Step 17.
Meet with the Session to call a meeting of the Congregation to hear PNC report.
Contact Presbytery to have a minister moderate the meeting of the Congregation.
Congregation meets and VOTES!
Minister examined by Presbytery.
Minister approved, received, and commission to install approved.
Presbytery's commission installs minister, PNC recognized and dismissed.
Next Steps for Fondren Presbyterian
Over the last eight months, the PNC—Beverly Ray (Chair), Ann Marshall, Stan Wilkinson, Lisa Brown, Jay Woods, and Amanda Tutor—has been hard at work following the process of determining the pastoral needs and desires of the church and composing the Ministry Information Form for the consideration of pastor prospects.
The PNC would like to ask for the congregation’s assistance in taking the next step, gathering prospective pastors. Prospects are found two ways:
They are matched via the PC(USA) Church Leadership Connection (CLC) matching system and their PIFs are sent to the PNC.
They can self refer by:
Using CLC’s Opportunity Search (Fondren’s ministry number is 20289)
Emailing their PIF directly to the PNC at fondrenpnc@gmail.com
Help the PNC spread the news of Fondren’s search. If any members of the congregation know of a likely candidate, please share with them this link to learn more about the church and the call: fondrenpcusa.org/the-call
The PNC deeply appreciates the support from the congregation and asks for continued prayers that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit in this important decision. They understand the future of Fondren Presbyterian will be impacted by the choice of the next called pastor and do not take this task lightly.