Pastoral Transition FAQ’S (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why can’t Paul be involved in our church after he retires? What kind of family is this anyway?
What will happen after May 29? Who will be our Pastor?
There will be an Interim Pastor for a period of time (usually 1-2 years) while we do some self-reflection, produce a Church Information Form (church profile) and search for our next Installed Pastor.
How long will that take?
Usually 1 - 2 years between when Paul departs and our next Pastor begins. It should not take longer than 2 years. If it does, we aren’t leading and following well. If we move efficiently and effectively, it will be closer to 1 year-18 months. It all depends on how well we move through the process. Short circuiting a transition can be as damaging as taking too long.
Why don’t we just choose our next installed pastor right away?
Because we want our next Pastor to join and grow with us for a full, fruitful tenure.
Will we lose people and money during our transition?
That depends on our choices. If we choose to engage in ministry and give like the disciples we’ve become and are becoming—we’ll gain ground. We are the rudders of our own ship on this one. If we choose to disengage and pull back, we won’t. Our greatest thank you to Paul’s legacy is that we step up and flourish during and beyond the transition.
Who chooses our Interim Pastor?
The Pastoral Transition Team will conduct the search and present their top candidate to the Session who will approve the contract. The contract requires NPS Presbytery to concur with our choice.
What does NPS Presbytery do for us in selecting an Interim?
Our EP (Corey Schlosser-Hall) and Liaison (Rev. John Mason), working on behalf of the Committee on Ministry, will recommend 3-4 candidates to the PTT whom they think best fit our church and situation AND would make themselves available to serve if we choose them. EP and Liaison will spread the word to the best possible candidates. They also consult with the PTT on developing a position description, and then candidate recruitment, interview, selection, and onboarding.
Who chooses our next installed pastor?
A PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee), elected by the congregation, will conduct the search and nominate a Pastor to the congregation. Congregation elects the Pastor.
Can Kurt be our Pastor? Why not?
No. Not under our current constitution. This may change in the future, but right now it’s not possible. Book of Order, G-14.0503: “The official relationship of an associate pastor to a church is not dependent upon that of a pastor, but an associate pastor is not eligible to be the next installed pastor in a church that they have served together, . . .”
What will happen to Kurt?
He will continue to serve as NCPC’s beloved Associate Pastor.
What can I as a congregant do to help?
Who should I call to give input or ask questions?
Any member of the Pastoral Transition Team: David Eller, Rick Rieger, Pat Sweeney, Renee` Dittman, Karen Butler, Marguerite Witten. Email: NCPCptt@aol.com
NPS Presbytery Committee on Ministry Liaison, Rev. John Mason, Pastor of Mountain View PC in Marysville. 360.659.7777 or pastorjohn@mtvpc.org.
NPS Presbytery Executive Presbyter, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, 425.355.0922 x 1 or corey@npspresbyterians.net.
Why can’t Paul be involved in our church after he retires? What kind of family is this anyway?
- Paul will make a clean separation from NCPC so our next pastor can really become our Pastor and we don’t keep going to Paul for pastoral leadership or care and subconsciously undercut our next pastor. Over decades of observation and study, Presbyterians and other churches have learned that clean separations are best for the future ministry of the church.
- Separation by former pastors is to provide the best possible opportunity for their successor to initiate and build an effective ministry.
What will happen after May 29? Who will be our Pastor?
There will be an Interim Pastor for a period of time (usually 1-2 years) while we do some self-reflection, produce a Church Information Form (church profile) and search for our next Installed Pastor.
How long will that take?
Usually 1 - 2 years between when Paul departs and our next Pastor begins. It should not take longer than 2 years. If it does, we aren’t leading and following well. If we move efficiently and effectively, it will be closer to 1 year-18 months. It all depends on how well we move through the process. Short circuiting a transition can be as damaging as taking too long.
Why don’t we just choose our next installed pastor right away?
Because we want our next Pastor to join and grow with us for a full, fruitful tenure.
- Longer term pastorates (7 years or more) are highly correlated with effective ministry, growth, and health in congregations. Short-term pastorates (5 years or less) are not as likely to lead to stability and growth. Over decades of observing pastoral transitions in Presbyterian and other denominations which function on a more democratic form of Christianity (rather than having bishops appoint pastors) if we don’t have a clear transition, with an interim pastor to help us see ourselves and our mission more clearly, come to terms with our history, and claim a sense of direction for our future, it’s very likely (greater than 50 % probability) that our next pastor will be a short timer (less than 5 years). This is especially true following long-term pastorates and founding pastorates. We’ve been blessed with a long-term (29 years) founding pastor—praise the Lord!
Will we lose people and money during our transition?
That depends on our choices. If we choose to engage in ministry and give like the disciples we’ve become and are becoming—we’ll gain ground. We are the rudders of our own ship on this one. If we choose to disengage and pull back, we won’t. Our greatest thank you to Paul’s legacy is that we step up and flourish during and beyond the transition.
Who chooses our Interim Pastor?
The Pastoral Transition Team will conduct the search and present their top candidate to the Session who will approve the contract. The contract requires NPS Presbytery to concur with our choice.
- Interim Pastor is a temporary relationship between Interim Pastor, NCPC Session, and NPS Presbytery.
What does NPS Presbytery do for us in selecting an Interim?
Our EP (Corey Schlosser-Hall) and Liaison (Rev. John Mason), working on behalf of the Committee on Ministry, will recommend 3-4 candidates to the PTT whom they think best fit our church and situation AND would make themselves available to serve if we choose them. EP and Liaison will spread the word to the best possible candidates. They also consult with the PTT on developing a position description, and then candidate recruitment, interview, selection, and onboarding.
Who chooses our next installed pastor?
A PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee), elected by the congregation, will conduct the search and nominate a Pastor to the congregation. Congregation elects the Pastor.
- NPS Presbytery exec and liaison consults with the PNC, vets our finalists, and concurs (or not) with our selection. Calls in the PC(USA) are 3-way calls—Pastor, Congregation, Presbytery must all concur that they sense the Holy Spirit is calling pastor and congregation together in ministry.
Can Kurt be our Pastor? Why not?
No. Not under our current constitution. This may change in the future, but right now it’s not possible. Book of Order, G-14.0503: “The official relationship of an associate pastor to a church is not dependent upon that of a pastor, but an associate pastor is not eligible to be the next installed pastor in a church that they have served together, . . .”
What will happen to Kurt?
He will continue to serve as NCPC’s beloved Associate Pastor.
What can I as a congregant do to help?
- Pray. Connect. Be a wellspring of peace and courage. Christ is the Head of the Church and the Head of NCPC!
- Engage—don’t be a fair-weather Christian. The most significant “thank-you” you can give to Rev. Strawn is your commitment to Christ and Christ’s church that Paul encouraged you to commit your lives to.
- Grieve completely. Let your good-bye be a “good“-bye . . . in May.
- Embrace the opportunities and newness that will arise.
- Step up when asked.
- Step down when asked or when you sense you’ve been leading for so long or are so involved that it is time for new leaders to step up.
- Participate in conversations to help shape NCPC’s mission and future. Contribute and let go of the result. Watch expectantly for what sticks.
- Be confident, trustful, faithful more than anxious, worried, and fearful. Both trust and worry are contagious . . . choose wisely.
- Honor the leadership of Interim Pastor and new installed Pastor. Ban expressions like, “Well Paul did it this way, why don’t you?”
Who should I call to give input or ask questions?
Any member of the Pastoral Transition Team: David Eller, Rick Rieger, Pat Sweeney, Renee` Dittman, Karen Butler, Marguerite Witten. Email: NCPCptt@aol.com
NPS Presbytery Committee on Ministry Liaison, Rev. John Mason, Pastor of Mountain View PC in Marysville. 360.659.7777 or pastorjohn@mtvpc.org.
NPS Presbytery Executive Presbyter, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, 425.355.0922 x 1 or corey@npspresbyterians.net.