Session Announces Senior Pastor Search Process

From the Session of Redeemer presbyterian church

Greetings, Redeemer members and friends,

In light of the upcoming transition of RPC Senior Pastor Tom Gibbs to serve as President of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis this summer, the Session of Redeemer Presbyterian Church has initiated a transition process to begin the search for a candidate who could serve as our next Senior Pastor.

In accordance with the Book of Church Order of the Presbyterian Church in America (BCO 20-2), the Session of Redeemer has called a congregational meeting on Sunday, February 7^th immediately following the 11 a.m. worship service for the purpose of electing members of Redeemer’s Pulpit Committee. The congregational meeting will be in addition to our annual meeting of the corporation scheduled for the same day.

The purpose of the Pulpit Committee is stated in the BCO as follows:

The Pulpit Committee shall, after consultation and deliberation, recommend to the congregation a pastoral candidate who, in its judgment, fulfills the Constitutional requirements of that office (e.g., BCO 8, 13-6 and 21) and is most suited to be profitable to the spiritual interests of the congregation. (BCO 20-2)

The Pulpit Committee shall have the responsibility to consider candidates for the position of Senior Pastor. The Session has approved a Pulpit Committee structure that will have eight members, four men and four women, with one man and one woman serving as co-chairpersons. Five of the committee members shall be appointed by the Session (three men and two women). The three remaining committee members shall be considered at-large members (two women and one man) who are nominated by the congregation. After the nomination period, the Session will consider all nominees and present a slate of eight members for a vote.

Today, January 20, 2021, the Session of RPC is formally opening a two-week nomination period inviting members of our congregation to submit nominees who could serve as at-large members of the Pulpit Committee, specifically two women and one man. Nominations will close at midnight on February 2^nd.  We invite you to join us as we seek to identify men and women whom God has equipped and called to serve in this capacity.

The following process will be employed to determine the slate of nominees to stand for election to the 2021 Pulpit Committee:

• Jan 20 – Feb 2: Nominations shall be submitted by members of the congregation to be considered for the three at-large committee members. The nomination period ends on Feb 2 at midnight.
• Feb 3: The Session shall consider all nominees and create a slate of eight committee members.
• Feb 4: The slate shall be presented to the congregation for prayerful consideration via the Redeemer website.
• Feb 7: At the congregational meeting, the slate is voted on by the congregation.

The 2021 Pulpit Committee of Redeemer Presbyterian Church will have the responsibility for managing the process that will, by God’s grace, find, evaluate, and recommend a Senior Pastor candidate to the Session and congregation. The duties of the committee will include developing search criteria, evaluating many professional and personal aspects of potential candidates, creating documents, managing timelines, attending interviews, and making timely decisions.

Nominations

Nominations can be made in person or online. To submit a paper nomination, pick up a form in the church foyer near the exit doors, fill it out, and place it in the appropriate box. To nominate someone online, click here. The nomination period will close at midnight on February 2^nd.

Church members are invited to recommend individuals for nomination as a member of the 2021 Pulpit Committee whom they believe possess the giftedness, character, and work ethic needed to serve in this important role. In order to be nominated to serve as a member of the 2021 Pulpit Committee, an individual must be a member in good standing at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and would preferably meet the following qualifications:

• Have a visible, demonstrated commitment to the mission and vision of RPC.
• Should embody the ethos/culture of our church.
• Be willing and able to commit fully to the time and workload involved.
• Be known for a collaborative work style in a team environment.
• Dedicated to working humbly and amicably with the entire committee as they follow God’s leading.

Pray that the Lord would give you wisdom and insight as to who to nominate, and pray even now for the work of this committee and for the candidate God has for Redeemer.

Click here to complete a nomination form.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the RPC Session.

Warmly in Christ,

The Session of Redeemer Presbyterian Church