Update on the Senior Pastor Transition Process

August 12 , 2008

Transition Team to Begin Next Round of Interviews

The transition team met with the Elder Board on Monday, August 11, to hear the elders' thoughts regarding the next candidate to propose for the senior pastor position. The board decided not to recommend to the congregation the one candidate who was brought before them the previous month.

All members of the transition team agreed to stay on the task and will work with Phil Thompson of People Management to bring forward a new candidate. The team will look for someone who meets the critical ministry requirements which were established when the transition team held focus groups and town meetings in the fall.

The steps in the process will change very little from the first time. They will conduct a telephone interview, have an on-site interview which will expand on the initial interview and then will coordinate the second on-site interview in which the senior lead team and all lay elders will have the opportunity to ask probing questions of the individual. This on-site visit will include a time to hear the individual preach a message and more time for the elders to interact with the potential next senior pastor of the Hershey Free Church.

The elders described some characteristics which complement the critical ministry requirements that they would like to see in this man.  They are:

(1) approachable
(2) winsome
(3) gracious
(4) enthusiastic towards the ministry
(5) one who can get our congregation excited to follow
(6) relational
(7) someone the elders can present to the congregation with joy

The transition team continues to pray and asks the congregation to pray that the Lord will bring the “right” man to them who they can present to the elders and eventually present to the congregation for their approval.

Church Profile

A church profile has been prepared for the candidates so they can know more about us before their next interviews with the Transition Team and Elder Board. Click here to read the profile.

Theological and Philosophical Boundaries

The Elder Board has affirmed a document prepared by the Transition Team that is intended to inform Senior Pastor candidates of the nuances of certain theological positions as they have been taught in the past, and what boundaries exist concerning issues of philosophy of ministry. While not a comprehensive listing of all theological and philosophical standings, it is intended to examine topics that often are sources of debate and disagreement within the Christian community. Click here to read this document.

Senior Pastor Profile

On Sunday, February 24, Art Kline, chairman of the Senior Pastor Transition Team, will describe the Senior Pastor Profile that is being used in the recruiting process. The Team has had the assistance of People Management in the search for our new senior pastor. The profile can be viewed by clicking here.

A flowchart showing the process that People Management will follow is available for viewing by clicking here.

Themes Arising from Focus Groups

Several people in our congregation have asked what information from the focus groups was considered by the pastors, elders and Transition Team as they selected the six points that are called our "spiritual DNA." Click here to read the document prepared by the Transition Team that lists the themes that emerged from the focus groups.

Message from the Eastern District Superintendent

Dr. Steve Musser, superintendent of the Eastern District, Evangelical Free Church of America, was the guest preacher for Sunday, January 13, and delivered the information gathered from focus groups about Hershey Free Church's gifts, opportunities and dreams.

The Senior Pastor Transition Team gathered over 200 comments in each of the three categories. They broke them down to 18 themes, then met with the elders to discuss the themes in order to reduce them to the following points.

  • God has called us to treasure his word and keep it at the core of all we do.
  • God has called us to be a church that genuinely loves, cares and shows compassion to our neighbors and to every brother and sister.
  • God has called us to an increased focus on the young; the college aged, 20’s and 30’s, young couples and single parents.
  • God has called us to devote ourselves to worship and bring glory to his name by being faithful, authentic, and vulnerable.
  • God has called us to be a church that sacrificially serves him in all that we do.
  • God is calling us to open ourselves to an even greater vision as we move into the next chapter of our church’s life.

In his message, Dr. Musser highlighted two points: we are called to be a church that genuinely loves, cares and shows compassion to our neighbors and to every brother and sister, and we are called to an increased focus on the young; the college aged, 20’s and 30’s, young couples and single parents.

If you missed Dr. Musser's message, or would like to hear it again, click on the link below to go the page of sermon podcasts on the church Web site - http://www.hersheyfree.com/sermons.htm

Please continue to pray for the transition process, the transition team, Pastor Dave Martin and his wife, Sharon.