Search & Call Update – A note from Conference Minister Rev. Dr. Tony Clark
Dear Folks:
What a blessing it was to spend the weekend with you celebrating Pastor Lynne’s retirement! Your love for her was evident in the laughter and the tears, the music and the prayers. While I was there, the search committee asked me to meet with them. Of course they are concerned about who your next pastor will be. With no candidates, it might feel like staring into a void. They asked if they should do something different with the local church profile, and I assured them that they don’t need to do that just yet.
I have been reaching out to clergy with profiles listing Montana-Northern Wyoming as a place they’d consider serving. I will continue that until there is a good candidate; however, also know that there are very few clergy with open profiles, and all Conferences are struggling to fill their pulpits. You are in my prayers, and I trust that the absolute right person will be with you as God wills it.
Although a healthy separation from Pastor Lynne was planned, it was hoped that there would be someone in place by the New Year. It seems God has other plans. In the meantime, pulpit supply has been arranged through December, and I will join with you to lead worship and preach in January. You are smart, faithful people, and some of you might want to share a bit of your faith journey to help fill the pulpit.
A thing about call is that timing is in the mix. Candidates enter the profile system as some churches are wrapping up their searches, others are settled into a rhythm of waiting, and then there are the ones that are recently in the search. You are still early in the search (the local church profile has been listed for 6 months). Most churches receive a resignation 60-90 days before the ministry ends, and then they form a search team and write a profile and begin engaging candidates. It often takes 18-24 months for the process to work itself out and a pastor is called and settled. Often this time is with an interim, yet they are also scarce these days. You were able to get a little ahead of things because you had so much lead time. And, it has been 10 months since I met with the search committee for the first time, so do not despair!
Churches are strongest overall when the congregation owns its mission and purpose. First Congregational UCC/Christ UMC is not Pastor Lynne’s church; it is first and foremost God’s church, and you, the congregation are the manifestation of that. You are in a good place financially and missionally. You seem to enjoy being together, stronger together than apart. You have good leaders and staff. God sees that, God knows that, God has someone in mind for you. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. I wish blessings on you as the holidays approach. And I look forward to seeing you in January.
Rev. Dr. Tony Clark, Conference Minister
