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The Ministerial Search Committee is very busy. We’re happy to report we have applicants and, since January 2nd, we’ve each spent about 20-30 hours reading their ministerial records, scheduling and then interviewing them via Zoom, checking their references and meeting to discuss. We’ve each watched more than 20 sermons on YouTube and read almost 200 emails. Whew!

On January 23rd, we will be making offers to three of our applicants to come and visit with us, tour Nashville, view our campus and lead us in a vespers service. These visits will occur during weekends in February and early March. To protect the ministers in search, this process takes place in complete confidence. For this reason, you may be asked to stay away from the campus at certain times. We ask that you honor that request and please don’t ask us for any information on any applicant.

On April 3rd we will choose a final candidate and announce that to you on one of the following Sundays. The candidate will then be here from April 26th to May 4th meeting with the Congregation and delivering two sermons. After the service on May 4, a Congregational Meeting will be held to call the new minister. We hope you agree with us and give the new minister a resounding vote of confidence.

It is possible we will not find the right candidate or that our chosen candidate does not accept our offer. In this case, a new search committee will be formed for the 25/26 search cycle and the Board will look for an interim minister. This is preferable to settling for a minister who does not meet the criteria you set for us in your meetings and surveys.

Finally, please know that we’ve spent a lot of time together since forming back in the summer and we’ve gotten to know one another very well. More importantly, we are working extremely well together. Consensus seems to come easily. We appreciate the trust you have placed in us.

Your Ministerial Search Committee consists of Steve Jones (chair), Carleen Dowell, Jeannie Haman, Bill Latimer, Pat Lynch, Doug Pasto-Crosby, and Jessica Young. If you are new to the Church and want to know more about our search, please email the team and someone on the Committee will contact you