Settled Ministerial Search Committee Report – February
The SMSC received names of 12+ applicants at the beginning of the year. We carefully read about the personal and professional experiences that led them to the ministry, examined their education, viewed and listened to them leading services and delivering sermons, read about their work experience and about their hobbies and passions.
We selected seven with whom we had 30-40 minute conversations that further elicited what their ministries with us might be like. We discussed how they would respond to congregation issues and concerns, how they might help us to build on past accomplishments, and how they might inspire and guide us to achieve our goals for the future. When you read this we will have chosen three or four ministers to pre-candidate with us:
They will come to Ventura for a weekend, see what the church and surrounding community is like, participate in a detailed interview session, and conduct a Sunday worship service, attended by the search committee, somewhere in Southern California.
Then the hardest part: selecting just one of these talented ministers to do a candidating week in Ventura. The minister will be with us for two Sunday services and participate in meetings and activities with the committee, board, lay leaders, and entire congregation. This culminates in a congregational meeting with the sole agenda of voting whether to call the selected minister.
The whole process is an awesome responsibility, and the committee is taking that responsibility very seriously. We are having deep sharing about what qualities in a minister would be the best match for our congregation and give us the best chance of going forward with joy and confidence.