In the journey of our pastoral transition here at BPC, we have essentially completed our mission study. Now, as we move forward with our search for a pastor, the Session has charged the Nominating Committee with the task of identifying a slate of candidates for the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). Our presbytery explains in a document called “On Calling a Pastor” that “In the PC(USA) call process, the congregation gives authority to search for a pastor to a PNC.”
The BPC Nominating Committee is beginning its work to compile a slate of nominees for the PNC. When a slate of nominees for the PNC is complete, the Nominating Committee will notify the Session and present the slate to the congregation for election. Then, a special meeting of the congregation for the purpose of electing the PNC will be held.
The Nominating Committee is seeking suggestions for candidates to serve on the PNC. It is important for us to find a PNC that is representative of the whole congregation. We should (quoting for “On Calling a Pastor”): “consider church members of integrity who are:
· knowledgeable about the church and community, Presbyterian theology and government;
· able to make a significant commitment of their time, energy, and very best wisdom;
· willing to accept this as a task of spiritual discernment, not being easily influenced by personal desires or congregational politics, but rather listening for the voice of God; and
· able to honor confidentiality.”
We encourage everyone to prayerfully consider members who you think will be effective contributors to the PNC. Please make suggestions to the Nominating Committee by sending an email to Brad Morrison. Please include the name of the person you would like us to consider and also a few sentences about why you think this person is a good choice, what talents he or she brings to the discernment and search process, or how his or her presence on the PNC will make it a stronger group for our search. We encourage you to suggest yourself if you are interested, and we encourage you to suggest as many names as you care to submit. (If you do not have access to email for whatever reason, please speak with one of the members of the Nominating Committee, listed below, and we will help.) We are especially interested in finding a PNC that can harness some of the rich diversity among our congregation (and community), bring multiple perspectives to their work, and work together in the good service of our congregation and our God.
Yours in prayer,
Your BPC Nominating Committee
Presbyterian Church in Burlington 