ATTRACTING NEW CLERGY CANDIDATES
While the interim usually separates himself or herself from the actual search for the new pastor, the interim can make some valuable suggestions that can assist the search committee.
A major suggestion is to call the attention of the search committee to how their information form will be read by potential candidates. What type of candidate would they like to be attracted to their church? What type of description would spark the interest of that type of person. For example, if the church was looking for a young pastor who had a family to help build that congregation around young families in the community, what would stand out in their description? What if the church ran a daycare center and the church offered free tuition to their clergy family for the first three years? What if they offered a baby sitting fund for the first four months so that the couple could attend events that would introduce them to the church community.
What if the church recognized that they knew the first six months was going to mean an extra stress on the physical health of the pastor and therefore the church was offering a six months membership in a health club or YMCA? Could they expand that to a family membership as an expression for the whole family’s health?
Could the church suggest that it was important for the pastor to build relationships with other pastors in the community and therefore they would arrange for a catered meal for two or three community clergy meetings to be held in the first six months?
If the church was concerned about spiritual development, could they they assist the new pastor in arranging some consulting privileges with someone skilled in spiritual development at a nearby seminary?
The important point is that the interim can help the search committee to see how their information can be seen through a pastor’s eyes. They can also help them see how they are demonstrating a concern for the pastor even as they are articulating their expectation for the exercise of his or her ministry.
Next blog will focus on some specific questions to be considered to express sensitivity to the effect on the clergy health of a demanding ministry.
