The PNC has continued to meet weekly throughout the summer. In the past few months we have reached out to seminary presidents and faculty, Presbytery executives, and friends of St. Philip and asked for the names of promising candidates. We have also received recommendations from members of the congregation. We have sent letters to potential candidates inviting them to send us their Pastoral Information Form (PIF). So far we have received over 70 PIFs from interested pastors and we continue to receive more each week. The PIFs have come from pastors who have been recommended to us, pastors who have been “matched” with our Church Information Form by their Presbytery, and from pastors who have reached out to us on their own.

 

Our process is to review each PIF and determine as a group whether the pastor appears to be a good fit for St. Philip. When we find candidates who appear to meet our requirements we study them more closely: reviewing their current church’s website, listening to or reading their sermons if they are available online, and in some cases having introductory conversations with them.

 

We also continue to get the word out about St. Philip. Last month James Cooper was at the Big Tent conference in Indianapolis where he attended a “meet & greet” event for churches seeking pastors and pastors interested in a new call. You may have seen our advertisement in the Presbyterian Outlook this month; it is also on their website. We have even received one PIF as the result of a former staff member posting something about St. Philip on her Facebook page.

 

As we move forward we will begin checking references, working with New Covenant Presbytery to arrange opportunities to hear our candidates preach, and interviewing candidates. We will continue to leave the door open for new candidates as well. We appreciate the congregation’s prayers and support of our work.

 

In Christ, The Pastor Nominating Committee: Cathy Patterson, Co-chair; James Cooper, Co-chair; Don Barker; Skip Britton; Mary Grace Carter; Fort Flowers; McNair Johnson; Jenilee Simmons; Randy Steward; and Al Waldrop.