Below is a quick response to some frequently asked questions about the pastoral transition:

1. How long will it take to find a new senior pastor?

It takes most churches about one year to find a pastor. This varies greatly from church to church and circumstance to circumstance.

2. Who will preach and lead until a new senior pastor is secured?

The existing pastoral staff will handle the majority of the Sunday morning messages supplemented by occasional guest speakers. The elders will assist our executive staff in providing leadership for ministries.

3. What happens to all the existing ministries of Community Church?

They continue. We are blessed with a large gifted staff and many committed volunteer teams. We have no intention of stopping or slowing ministry due to pastoral transition.

4. Will we be "assigned" a pastor by our denomination?

No. In the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, each church has the right to choose its own pastor. We get to decide who our next pastor will be.

5. How will we decide?

The elders will nominate a Senior Pastor Search Committee that will be given the task of pursuing and interviewing qualified candidates. When the search committee agrees on a candidate that they feel led of God to recommend to the congregation, a church- wide meeting will be held to meet the candidate and the entire congregation will vote.

6. How will we be involved in the search process?

Unlike other church employees, the senior pastor is hired directly by the congregation. Members will be asked to vote for the Senior Pastor Search Committee and, later, to vote for the pastor and compensation. Members will be invited to provide input and ideas to the Search Committee as they develop a list of qualities to be included in the Sr. Pastor Position Profile.

7. What role does our denomination play in the search process?

The Senior Pastor Search Committee will work in consultation with the Ministerial Committee of our Presbytery. Our choice of senior pastor must be approved by the Presbytery, who has the responsibility to ensure that the candidate's beliefs are in keeping with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

8. When does Scott leave?

Scott's final Sunday is January 18.

9. I've heard that in some churches, when the senior pastor resigns the assistant pastors must resign too. Is that true at Community Church?

Not at all. Each staff member is independently contracted with our church. We hope that our pastoral staff will stay at Community Church for many years.

10. Will one of our assistant pastors be "promoted" to Senior Pastor?

Presbyterian policy makes it difficult, but not impossible, for an Associate Pastor to succeed a departing Senior Pastor. The Senior Pastor Search committee will conduct an exhaustive nation-wide search, but will consider all candidates who apply.

SESSION NOTES

A Summary of the Transition Plan as discussed at the December 15 meeting of Session

The entire Session (also called board of elders) will be available to address congregational questions and concerns and will coordinate congregational communication.

A Transition Team of four elders (Dan Boge, Tim Driessnack, Jim McBryde, and Tim Hall) will assist our executive staff in providing leadership for the day-to-day ministries of the church.

Brian LaMew will serve as Associate Pastor and acting head of staff.

Jim McBryde will serve as the moderator of Session.