9 Steps of the Pastoral Transition Process

Step One:       Discuss Transition Plans with the staff.

Step Two:       Establish Transition Plans with the Tillamook board

·       The church board will meet with the DS tonight to discuss and address any issues relevant to where things stand, and what the pastoral search process will look like going forward. In this period, the DS will manage the process of appointing an interim pastor.

Step Three:     Develop Pastoral Profile

·     The Church board will determine a pastoral profile in the next month. (At this point, any member may nominate an ordained pastor in our denomination.)

Step Four:       Identify & Interview Potential Candidates

·      After working with the Church Board to find potential candidates, the DS, or another district representative, will vet potential pastoral candidates and arrange for first interviews with each qualified candidate and the Church Board/Pastoral Search Team via zoom. An onsite interview with the Church Board and meet and greet with staff members is likely prior to a formal recommendation of the candidate to the congregation. Confidentiality during this process is essential for the sake of all candidates and the places they are currently serving.

Step Five:        Church Board Nomination

·      At the end of the interview process, the Church Board, with the approval of the DS, will vote to recommend the preferred pastoral candidate to the membership for a congregational vote. Once a nomination is made, the congregation will be informed.

Step Six:          Congregational Vote

·      The nomination of the candidate will be announced in at least two services before a membership vote takes place. All formal members will be invited to participate in the vote. A favorable vote of at least two-thirds is required. Sometimes church boards desire for all attendees to be able to participate in the vote but with only members votes being counted in the final vote tally.

Step Seven:     Response of the Candidate

·      The DS will contact the candidate with the results of the vote and a response is expected within fifteen days. If the candidate does not accept the call, the DS and Church Board will return to step four. 

Step Eight:      Arrival of the New Lead Pastor

·       Tillamook Nazarene will have the opportunity to celebrate and welcome its new pastor.

Steps Zero through Nine:  Prayer!