You can’t have 200 applicants try out, nor can you let a church board/deacon board toss out names because they might toss out names of those ministers they think they cannot control. Just as there have been corrupt preachers, corrupt church boards/deacon boards also exist.
The only solution is to make it known that the position is open and allow at most the first 12 who have applied to each be able to preach one time before the church. That’s Wednesday, Sunday morning, Sunday night - for 4 weeks. The members should be praying, and then decide, with multiple votes possibly being necessary until one gets 50% plus. of the vote.
The only 12 who should be considered are those in good standing with the fellowship, and are either licensed or ordained to preach within that fellowship. If they meet that criteria, one of those 12 will most likely end up being the pastor. No tossing of names then by a board that might toss the names of those ministers they know they won’t be able to control.
Suppose the first 12 are dillheads and #13 was the right one.
No, you review all the applications that arrived within the prescribed time limit.
Of course search boards can make mistakes, they are human. As much as I don’t want a Yes-man to the Board, I don’t want a dictator as pastor either.
Had one...never will again. The Church Board finally booted his behind...and it wouldn’t have happened if the search committee had done their job, checked his references, and not given in to an impatience congegation damanding a pastor NOW.
As Simon Birch said, “what does this have to do with God?” There are much more important issues, such as the color of the carpet or whether to use oyster crackers or Panerra bread for communion. Leave it to Christians to take a simple administrative issue and elevate it to a crisis of faith.
As Simon Birch said, “what does this have to do with God?” There are much more important issues, such as the color of the carpet or whether to use oyster crackers or Panerra bread for communion. Leave it to Christians to take a simple administrative issue and elevate it to a crisis of faith.