Pastor Nominating Committee
PCCH’s Pastor Nominating Committee, representative of the whole congregation and elected by the congregation, convened in October, 2023 with the purpose of discerning God’s purpose in calling the right candidate to lead our congregation forward with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. The PNC meets weekly and will continue work with all due deliberation and discernment until the right candidate is found, seeking to hear the call of Christ and “to participate in God’s own choice” for our next pastor.
The Pastor Search Process
PCCH’s Pastor Nominating Committee
Listen
To the congregation and prepare the Mission Study, and elect the Pastor Nominating Committee.
Prepare
The Ministry Discernment Profile for approval by our Session and by the Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry, and develop a process for identifying and evaluating candidates.
Search
By reviewing Candidates’ Personal Discernment Profiles, listening to their sermons and published materials, checking references, and conducting a series of interviews to determine whether there is a mutual fit between the Candidate and PCCH.
Nominate
A candidate to be our next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff, and present them to the Commission on Ministry, and then to our Congregation for approval.
Support
The new Senior Pastor and Head of Staff by warmly welcoming them and integrating them into the life of our church.
How can you help?
- Identify potential candidates for the PNC
- Review updates from the PNC
- Ask questions, understanding that the process is confidential
- Pray for the PNC
- Be patient as God’s will makes itself known to us
Current Process Status Update – September 18, 2024
The Pastor Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that after an 11-month search, we have made an offer to a candidate to become the next Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, and our candidate has been enthusiastically approved by Presbytery. We couldn’t be more thrilled with the candidate we have found, and think you will share our excitement!
This milestone is the culmination of the committee’s painstaking screening of close to 75 candidates as we read resumes, listened to sermons, interviewed applicants by video and in person, and worked closely with a small number of the most promising candidates. The Session was informed of our decision at its meeting on September 17, and has called a Congregational Meeting for after worship on October 6, details of which you will find in the bulletin and e-news.
There is more you would like to hear and more we would like to tell you about both the candidate and the schedule of transition ahead. However, there are required steps to be taken in our Presbytery and in the Presbytery of the candidate, whose church must also be informed at the right moment. We must respect these steps and maintain confidentiality.
By late September, these steps will be completed and you will be given information about the candidate, who we feel will lead us with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. For now, plan to be at the service of worship on Sunday, October 6 when the candidate will preach. A meeting of the congregation will follow the service when you will discuss and vote on the call of this person to be the next minister of PCCH.
We must stress the need for confidentiality about the identity of the candidate, even after you receive their introduction materials, until the candidate has had the opportunity to notify their current congregation.
In the meantime, we ask for your continued prayers now for the candidate and the candidate’s church, as well as for our church.
David Thornburgh and Katie Connelly
Co-chairs, PCCH PNC
