Diogenes by JHW Tischbein
Loretta Tanner, Jill Stice, Scott Frame, Susan Krotz, David Bell, and Ken Hale comprise the committee that will help First Christian Church Berryville recruit a new pastor to replace John Turner; John is leaving our congregation in April to devote himself to Christview Ministries. Selecting a pastor is an important "family" affair that involves a many stepped process that our Pastor Search Committee is organizing for us.
It is hard to imagine a more difficult job than that of pastor. A powerful and inspiring preacher is the most important quality desired by some members. Other members place a higher value on a pastor's ability to grow membership and run a "tight ship" administratively. Still others seek a pastor who excels at counseling, has a comforting bedside manner, or who can be counted to respond quickly and effectively to spiritual or everyday crisis. No matter what individual skill matters most to us, everyone wants a pastor who is a good and moral person, a good Christian, and a decent human being.
And because we are
Disciples of Christ it is important to find a person who understands our history, our theological culture, and our beliefs and values as a denomination within the body of Christ. Thankfully, our Regional Office is helping us with the selection process and can be relied on to refer candidates who meet our special needs.
Church membership is such a powerful force in so many of our lives. We rely on church, especially in a small town, for spiritual and moral guidance, for opportunities for service, for socialization, and as the source of many of the feelings we have about ourselves, our families, our friends, and the world around us. That's why the choice of a pastor is so important: a good pastor understands that power and does her best or his best to see that it is properly channeled and used.
Sometime in the next few weeks, members of the congregation will be given a survey or questionnaire to fill out that helps them list or identify what is important to them in terms of the skills and qualities we feel we need in a pastor. Filling out and returning the survey is a significant responsibility that every member is encouraged to accept, reflectively and prayerfully. These are difficult times for small churches and much depends on our doing our best as we participate in the search process.
Our Search Committee meets on March 21st to begin the process as a group. Let us hold up our brothers and sisters on the committee in prayer as they complete this important work.
