Mark Elliott has written a wonderful, practical resource for AMSs to use to train and coach Pastor Search Committees. He has over 40 years of ministry experience, including serving as a DOM/AMS since 1993. He has just concluded 21 years of exemplary service leading the Heartland Church Network, Omaha, NE.
This book is a major editing and expansion of the process Mark has used for two decades assisting churches in transition. It includes the practical application of the principles he found in scripture and examples from several churches whose search teams have used the more robust process these principles helped him to define.
This book is a major editing and expansion of the process Mark has used for two decades assisting churches in transition. It includes the practical application of the principles he found in scripture and examples from several churches whose search teams have used the more robust process these principles helped him to define.
Mark says, “The best leadership transition examples in the Old Testament are between Moses and Joshua, and between Elijah and Elisha. In both cases, God’s divine hand is clearly manifested in multiple ways and the successor is intentionally mentored by his predecessor for a significant period of time.”
Here are more book excerpts:
To be effective in the pastor search process, you and your church have to have a clear understanding of who you are (your church’s unique culture) and who God has called you to reach (the culture of your community).
What Moses and Elijah did by preparing their successors for success can happen in the twenty-first century as well! They carefully listened to God to see who He was raising up, they began to mentor/equip/teach/disciple them, and they were willing to invest in them for a significant period of time.
Using the Early Church’s Process
Here are the Chapter Titles:
Leadership Transitions
Identifying Your Current Reality
Identifying Your Candidate Qualities
Creating Your Criteria Grid
Developing Your Candidate Questionnaire
Gathering Names, Prioritizing Candidates, and Making the Initial Contact
Going Deeper with Your Top Candidates
Getting Focused – One at a Time
Finishing Well
In addition, there are several appendices with many helpful sample templates.
I highly recommend this resource to Associational Mission Strategists across the SBC.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
Quotable Quote: “My primary prayer is that churches will get back to a Biblical model for making disciples, which is another topic worthy of discussion. As they do, they will raise up their next pastor from their own harvest field. But until that happens, I pray that this resource will help churches identify the right leader – the one God has been raising up through the faithful work of men and women who have and are serving in sister churches.”
Mark Elliott, Pastor Search
Here are more book excerpts:
To be effective in the pastor search process, you and your church have to have a clear understanding of who you are (your church’s unique culture) and who God has called you to reach (the culture of your community).
What Moses and Elijah did by preparing their successors for success can happen in the twenty-first century as well! They carefully listened to God to see who He was raising up, they began to mentor/equip/teach/disciple them, and they were willing to invest in them for a significant period of time.
Using the Early Church’s Process
- Acknowledge the Need
- Define the Criteria
- Identify Qualified Candidates
- Bathe the Process in Prayer
- Make the Choice
Here are the Chapter Titles:
Leadership Transitions
Identifying Your Current Reality
Identifying Your Candidate Qualities
Creating Your Criteria Grid
Developing Your Candidate Questionnaire
Gathering Names, Prioritizing Candidates, and Making the Initial Contact
Going Deeper with Your Top Candidates
Getting Focused – One at a Time
Finishing Well
In addition, there are several appendices with many helpful sample templates.
I highly recommend this resource to Associational Mission Strategists across the SBC.
To the praise of His glory,
Ray
Pr. 3:5-6
Quotable Quote: “My primary prayer is that churches will get back to a Biblical model for making disciples, which is another topic worthy of discussion. As they do, they will raise up their next pastor from their own harvest field. But until that happens, I pray that this resource will help churches identify the right leader – the one God has been raising up through the faithful work of men and women who have and are serving in sister churches.”
Mark Elliott, Pastor Search
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