Transitional Pastor - Van Wert, OH
Listed 02-08-2021
Employer
First Presbyterian Church, 110 W. Crawford St., Van Wert, OH 45891 | 419-238-3670 | www.vwpresby.org
Location
Van Wert, OH
Start Date
05-01-2021
Type
Full Time
A ministry opportunity: fraught with hazard and promise.
This is a temporary/transition position. Minimum 7-9 months, possible 2 years.
This position follows an involuntary dissolution of Pastoral relationship. The nominal cause was need for different Pastoral skills. The actual cause was failure of leadership (administration, communication, accountability).
The church was, for years, led in anti-presbytery sentiment by an overbearing Board of Trustees. This was amplified by the Pastor’s sentiments and actions.
The church rolls and member care collapsed from neglect and inattention.
The church has gone through the mainline demographic shift dropping from 100 members in worship to 40 (pre-COVID).
Areas of progress. The current Session has consistently restored relationship with Presbytery and is whole heartedly learning about Presbyterian process and polity.
The current Session has made significant steps in restoring the accuracy of rolls and clarity of member care. The task is not complete.
The Board of Trustees has been successfully folded into the Session in order to avoid 2 governments.
Areas of extraordinary promise. This church has an actual chance of growing due to the Sessions leadership and current plan. The Session benefited greatly from consultant leadership and now is building a program of “connective discipleship”, a program of membership engagement and growth.
This program will require the Pastoral ability to lead small group work, directly applying sermon to real life. Opportunity and challenge.
Tasks. Transition dynamics. Interim tasks partially complete. Administrative repair. Preaching, member care in the midst of COVID.
Regarding COVID-19. The church has been worshipping online (video) March 15 – May 15, In person May 15 to November 15, online November 15 to February 7.
The Session has abided by and been attentive to CDC guidance, while seeking to maintain open status as reasonable. There is an undercurrent of COVID denial.
This position requires a maturity built upon life experience and requires a very clear capability in terms of social process and congregational accountability. The areas of conflict are residual, and present and real. While they are not resolved but are in process, and there is motion.
The preferred candidate will have 5-years experience in management, or group process, or entrepreneurial leadership.
This position has support of the Presbytery through 2 experienced conflict managers with personal experience with the congregation.
This congregation is located 45 minutes from Fort Wayne, IN; 1 hour and 40 minutes from Toledo, OH; 2 hours and 15 from Ann Arbor, MI.
While the congregation is challenged for membership – it has a very substantial endowment.
The position will follow Presbytery guidelines for effective salary which includes the housing allowance, depending on experience and capability. Plus, full Board of Pension participation and Presbytery benefits.
The position is available anytime after March 1. The position will be vacant on April 30. A flexible entry into the position is negotiable.
Position assessment by Rev. David Good, Bridge/Transition Pastor, former COM liaison. mangendave@frontier.com
Contact: Anna Baker, Transition Team, 513-262-6249, acbattle@gmail.com
Description of a Temporary/Transition Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Van Wert, Ohio
At our core, the people at First Presbyterian Church share Christ by:
Generously giving our lives and resources
Fostering healthy relationships
Meeting needs beyond our walls
Offering opportunity for spiritual growth for all ages
Providing a peaceful and loving place of worship
Our strategic focus is to meet the practical needs and be a safe haven for our local community.
Our working priorities are:
Meet the practical needs by feeding our community
Remodel our facilities to be a safe haven for our community
Enhance Sunday morning to be more personal, familiar and child friendly
Communicate who we are through rebranding, website, and social media
In light of the core values, vision and future plans, and after prayerful deliberation, the Session sought a different set of spiritual gifts and skills in order to move forward in the transformation process. By a congregational vote of 34-4, the old Pastoral relationship was brought to a close which brings us to the current situation.
We need transitional leadership as we move forward in a pastoral search for installed leadership.
Expectations:
Lead and coordinate worship service
Develop healthy staff relationships; allowing staff creative freedom without micromanaging
Providing appropriate pastoral care
Moderating Session meetings; attendance and encouragement of committees
Welcome visitors, engage with the congregation, and build community outside the doors
Lead a congregational process which balances the implementation of our values and goals within the limits of our human resources
Since we are in the middle of a transformation, we expect our pastor’s support as we witness and take our mission to our larger community.
If you have the skills for a temporary Pastoral service in this situation, we ask that you please contact committee member Anna Baker, Transition Team, 513-262-6249, acbattle@gmail.com. We look forward to the conversation.
It is noted that this position description was drafted in March and does not describe the changes such as YouTube preaching, and video conferencing which have taken place.
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