 Pastor
Nominating Committee
Whenever there is a vacant Pastoral position within a Presbyterian
Church, the congregation elects a Pastor Nominating Committee
(PNC) whose responsibility it is to find the person that God
is calling to lead and serve the congregation.
About The PNC
In January of 2011, FPC has nominated members to serve on a
PNC to fill the Senior Pastor position left open by the departure
of Dr. Sam henderson. The elected members of the PNC are:
For the Session:
- Robert Harper (Chair) has been a member of FPC for 27 years. As both a deacon and an Elder, he has chaired the Youth and College Council and Congregational Life and Church At-Large Committees, as well as served on Worship, Administration, and Mission Councils. He has chaired two capital fundraising committees and most recently served on the Sanctuary Restoration and Debt Retirement Commit-tee. In addition to serving on multiple Presbytery committees, he has taught both adult and children’s Sunday school classes.
- Paul Phillips (Vice-Chair) has been a member of FPC since 1983, and is currently serving on the Session as chair of the Mission Council. He has previously served two terms as Deacon and two as Elder, and has chaired the Diaconate Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, and the Worship Council. Paul has been involved with the Gift Trust Fund since its inception, currently serves as its chair, and has more recently volunteered as a Shepherd.
For the Diaconate:
- Tom Higgins has been a member of FPC since 1996 and is active in Adult Bible Study I. He is a leader in the Alpha course and has participated in the Bethel and Disciple Bible Studies. He and his wife Bonnie have one daughter, Lauren. Tom is retired from the Cobb County school system and currently works for the Professional Standards Commission in Atlanta.
- Becky Wright is a longtime FPC member who attends Adult Bible Study I and New Directions classes, and formerly taught Sunday school and VBS. She is active with Mission Council and chaired the Missions exhibit for the 175th Anniversary celebration. She has been to Mexico with the Youth and leads a small group for the communicant’s class. She and her husband Brian have three chil-dren.
For the Congregation At-Large:
- Rachel Byrd has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for over 25 years. She and her husband, Jeff Byrd, who currently serves as a Deacon for FPC, raised three children at the church – Dan, Molly and Ryan. Over the years, she has served in various capacities including Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, Board Member and Chair of the Weekday Preschool, and volunteer for Club 3:30. She has also traveled on numerous mission trips, most notably to Mexico with the youth for several years.
- Allison Gruehn has been a member of FPC for 20 years and has served as a Children's Sunday School Teacher, VBS Leader, and Meal Coordinator for Martha Ministries. She is a member of the Summit Sunday School class and serves on the Chancel Guild. Outside of FPC, she serves as Treasurer of Bible Study Fellowship and is on the Board of Trustees of Cobb Landmarks and Historical Society. She and her husband Chris have two children: Allen (7) and Cate (5).
- Helen Hines has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for 37 years. She has served on the Diaconate and was a member of the Planning and Building Committee for the Speed Building. She has been a longtime member of the Worship Council and Flower Guild and started the Chancel and Funeral Guilds. She has served as a circle chairwoman, Women of the Church officer, taught Sun-day School, Bible School and led Children's Church. She served on the 175th Anniversary Committee and now works with Club 3:30 and the Women's Extension.
- Corey Owen is a life-long Presbyterian who joined FPC in 2008. He and his wife Kelly are members of the Illuminate Sunday School class, led by Tim and Michelle Chamberlin. Corey is a Senior High Youth Advisor, co-leads the Junior D-Group with Keith Gunter, and co-leads a Young Men’s Bible Study with Pat MacPherson. He was a Youth Elder at his home church in Jacksonville, Florida.
- Bob Smith has served as a youth and adult Sunday school teacher. During his term as Deacon, he served on the Interim Pastor Nomi-nating Committee as well as Chairman of the Board of Deacons. Bob was Chair of the Administration Council while serving on the Session. He and his wife Lisa have been members of FPC for 20 years and have 2 children, Robert and Carolyn.
The PNC of First Presbyterian in Marietta consists of:
• two Elders who are members of the Session when
elected;
• two Deacons who are members of the Board of Deacons
when elected;
• and five active members of the congregation
who are not members of the Session or the Board of Deacons
when elected.
In addition to the nine members, The Presbytery’s Committee
on Ministry (COM) assigns a liaison who will work with
the church through the entire pastor-selection process. The
COM liaison calls the first meeting of the PNC.
A major task for the PNC is to produce a true and thorough
Church Information Form (CIF). This form serves as a “window”
into First Presbyterian. It is designed to give a valid description
of First Presbyterian Church to prospective ministers and
to outline the requirements for the pastor position. The crucial
importance of this brief document is to accurately portray
FPC to prospective ministerial candidates. This is the initial
instrument that communicates and attracts a potential candidate;
therefore, accuracy and truthfulness are critical to ensure
the correct response. The CIF is reviewed and approved by
both the Session and the Presbytery COM before being published.
Next, the CIF is published on the PC(USA) Church Leadership
Connection website. Through the website, available pastoral
candidates are able to express their interest in the position.
The PNC will collect and screen profiles from interested pastors.
We will follow up on referrals from members of the congregation,
Presbytery and General Assembly offices. Each pastor
interested in the open position will furnish a Pastor Information Form
(PIF) outlining his or her resume.
As the list of candidates is narrowed, the PNC begins the
process of listening to tapes, reading resumes, checking references
and speaking with candidates. Selecting candidates through
this process, the PNC will interview potential pastors. This
interview process includes attending worship led by candidates
and visiting with final candidates and their families.
After prayerful consideration, a decision will be made to
extend a call (or offer) to the chosen candidate. When the
candidate accepts and the terms of the call are agreed upon,
the candidate meets with representatives of Presbytery’s
COM for approval. The candidate and terms of call are then
presented to the Session. The Session will be asked to approve
the final terms of call and to call a congregational meeting
for the purpose of receiving and voting upon the report and
recommendation of the PNC and the subsequent dissolution of
the PNC. At the congregational meeting, the PNC makes a formal
motion for the call of the candidate and the congregation
approves the call and its terms. At the next Presbytery meeting,
the pastor-elect is examined and approved for installation.
After these examinations and approvals the pastor-elect and
family arrives and is welcomed.
A great milestone for the church and pastor is the installation
worship service by the Presbytery held at FPC. This is held as
soon after the pastor arrives as scheduling will permit.
The new pastor and the congregation begin working together
to serve Jesus Christ, and to grow together spiritually. |
