Have you found a pastor?

Good morning.

I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, the head of the Church.

Thank you for reading this and previous posts that have revealed my discoveries, wonderings, and reflections on faith and life as I have served as a transtional minister for St. Thomas Reformed Church (STRC).

If you were to ask me, “Have you (STRC) found a pastor?”, I would likely give the safest, most truthful reply: maybe. We are at a point in time where God is revealing our next steps, so honestly, as I write this at 5:15 AM on Sunday, March 15, we’re still waiting to find out.

This moment is pregnant with opportunity and hope.

The pastoral search committee has done a fantastic job of utilizing the congregational self-study to put together the church profile and post the opportunity online.

We have networked broadly across the denomination (RCA) to highlight the opening.

The Candidate Selection Team has dedicated many hours to sift through applications, have initial screening conversations, and conduct multiple Zoom interviews with various candidates. These have enabled us to survey what we are looking for and clarify what is most important to us.

The Congregational Engagement Team has hosted potlucks where congregants are asked to reflect on their story within the larger story of how God has used St. Thomas Reformed Church to be a blessing. These fellowship nights have brought people together in closer connection and unity.

The Administrative Team has helped us stay organized, focused, and given professional guidance on matters such as background checks and other administrative tasks.

Through all of this coordination, we had a simple task before us: discern who God might be calling to STRC.

Wait? What? Why so uncertain?

We say might be because a call goes both ways, even though it is initiated by the church. The candidates (and their families) have been observing us this whole time. They have been weighing whether or not this might be the right fit for them. (Pastoral Search Page)

They have been looking at this opportunity through their own lens, hoping that we have done our work of congregational self-discovery, of prayerfully envisioning God’s future for this congregation, and of preparing for the next season of ministry with a new pastoral leader.

Our job, good people of STRC, is to trust God when we know that we have done our jobs and done them well. Our call is to lean into God’s grace and forgiveness (for ourselves and with one another) on the parts of our ministry that are still messy, unfinished works in progress. Some call it sanctification.

The pastoral search committee has discerned who God might be calling to serve STRC. We have named that pastor. The consistory has invited him and his wife to St. Thomas for an extensive set of interactions. The congregation was able to hear him preach and interact with us in a Bible study. He spent time with the staff and congregational leaders. There is a lot that has gone into it. Now, today we will have a congregational meeting to discuss the way forward. The question before the congregation members is this: Do you support this person to be the next senior pastor of STRC?

In the Reformed Church in America, our denomination, we utilize this congregational meeting and the Advisory Vote that is taken to inform the consistory as it makes the decision on whether to extend a call to the candidate.

If a call is issued by the congregation, it must be approved by the Classis of New York and accepted by the candidate for it to move forward. But first, on Tuesday, March 17, the consistory will convene for its monthly stated meeting and decide whether it will extend a call to the candidate, based on all of the inputs and knowledge it has of the process thus far. The consistory will also consider our options and plans if this particular finalized candidate interaction does not result in a call, and where we go from here.

It’s an important phase. Nothing to be frightened by—rather trust. Nothing to be anxious about—pray. Ask God to do what only God can do and lead us forward.

In the name of Jesus, the only head of the Church.

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