Current Placement Process

The Current Process of Pastoral Placement

Churches call their pastors. The typical process currently in place is to form a 'Pulpit Search Committee' when the pastorate becomes vacant. This committee will recruit pastors and begin the selection process, usually by obtaining letters and resumes and requesting recorded sermons. They will interview candidates and make a recommendation to the church. The candidate will be introduced to the church, answer questions from the congregation, and preach one or two sermons. Then the church will vote on candidate.

Item #1 – People serving on a 'Pulpit Committee' are almost always untrained, ill-equipped, and inexperienced. They may be godly people, but, they are asked to complete a task that is vital to the life and ministry of the church that they are not qualified to exercise.

Item #2 – The pool of potential candidates is frequently made up of men seeking to escape a bad situation they currently serve in. This is a formula for disaster.

Item #3 – The primary competence examined is preaching. This is important. However, Character, Leadership, Relational Skills, Previous Ministry Effectiveness must also be considered. When this is not thoroughly completed the results are short term tenures when deficiencies surface.

There is a better way – one that harmonizes with the NT. Contact IgniteUS to consider this process. 800 472 3764 or info@igniteus.net.

Qualitites of A Godly Pastor

Scripture must be our guide when evaluating a young man’s desire for pastoral ministry (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Pet. 5:1–4). This blueprint needs to then be evaluated by the young man’s desire for the work (internal calling), and then by the pastors and congregation of his local church (external calling). Although those Scripture qualities are helpful, they are not exhaustive.

So, here are 10 other characteristics I look for that I believe are very important for pastoral ministry and fall within the framework of the fruit of the spirit in a Christian’s life:

• A deep love and burden for people and their transformation
   
• A clear, personal love for Jesus 
  
  
• A warmth in personality that people respond to well 
  
  
• A unique ability to understand and explain God’s Word*** 
  
  
• An ability to emotionally engage people both public and private
  
  
• A clear communicator***
  
  
• An authentic, honest awareness of his heart and personal brokenness***
  
  
• A humble teachable spirit*** 
  
  
• A clear possession of wisdom and discernment into life and struggles 
  
  
• A strong ability to empathize to a hurting person 
  

Pastors, look for these in the future pastors in your church and consider your own character in light of these qualities.

The *** are absolutely essential!