Midway Presbyterian Church Pulpit search Committee
Dear Midway Brothers and Sisters,
Welcome to our Pastoral Search Committee's webpage. As our church family embarks on the important search for our next senior pastor, this page will serve to keep the Midway family apprised of relevant and important information regarding our committee's progress. While the contents of this page will not change often, it will be updated periodically as the committee makes steady progress.
Contents of this page will include:
To recap progress-to-date, once the Session learned of Pastor Hall's intent to retire in 2026, the Session called a special congregational meeting on Sunday morning, November 9th, to elect a Pastoral Search Committee. At that meeting, the congregation elected the following seven ruling elders from the Session to serve on the committee: Jimmy Cooper, Paul Fish, Rick Griffin, Scott Keesee, Russ Knight, Brian Washington, and Bob Whitaker. Shortly thereafter, the committee organized itself, with Russ Knight as chairman, Bob Whitaker as vice-chair, and Rick Griffin as secretary. As you have questions re the committee's work, please address them to our committee members or your shepherding elder. With much appreciation in advance for your prayers for this important work and for the man Our Lord will lead to us.
Russ Knight, PSC Chairman
Welcome to our Pastoral Search Committee's webpage. As our church family embarks on the important search for our next senior pastor, this page will serve to keep the Midway family apprised of relevant and important information regarding our committee's progress. While the contents of this page will not change often, it will be updated periodically as the committee makes steady progress.
Contents of this page will include:
- a summary outline of the steps involved in the search process based upon the PCA's Book of Church Order and,
- a Session-approved "profile" of the type of candidates we will seek.
To recap progress-to-date, once the Session learned of Pastor Hall's intent to retire in 2026, the Session called a special congregational meeting on Sunday morning, November 9th, to elect a Pastoral Search Committee. At that meeting, the congregation elected the following seven ruling elders from the Session to serve on the committee: Jimmy Cooper, Paul Fish, Rick Griffin, Scott Keesee, Russ Knight, Brian Washington, and Bob Whitaker. Shortly thereafter, the committee organized itself, with Russ Knight as chairman, Bob Whitaker as vice-chair, and Rick Griffin as secretary. As you have questions re the committee's work, please address them to our committee members or your shepherding elder. With much appreciation in advance for your prayers for this important work and for the man Our Lord will lead to us.
Russ Knight, PSC Chairman
Pastoral Search Committee search process
For your information, below is a summary outline of the process being followed by Midway's Pastoral Search Committee to fill the position of Midway's senior pastor. With minor modifications to fit Midway Presbyterian Church's situation, this outline reflects the basic process provided in the PCA Book of Church Order. We will periodically update this summary to reflect MPC's progress, highlighting the current step in BOLD print below. If you have any questions, please ask any Pulpit Supply Committee member or your shepherding elder. Please keep this work in your prayers.
Summary Steps in the Pastoral Search Process
- Session approves interim plan for pastoral duties/assignments during search process
- Session calls congregational meeting to select Pastoral Search Committee (PSC)
- The PSC organizes itself and its work.
- Work of the PSC:
-- develop "pastoral profile" to guide our committee and inform candidates as we consider them
-- develop description of MPC to provide as info to candidates being considered
-- ongoing communication with Session
-- ongoing congregational prayer support solicited
-- updates to congregation as appropriate
-- obtain names of potential candidates
-- begin candidate evaluations (sermons, websites, bulletins, etc.)
-- narrow field of candidates
-- begin candidate contacts
-- committee visits to hear candidates
-- selection of candidate
-- notify Session of intent to schedule candidate visit
-- report to congregation re candidate and upcoming visit
-- plans candidate visit - Candidate(s) visit to MPC
- The Session calls a congregational meeting to vote on calling the candidate
- PSC notifies the candidate of the vote results and call
- If the candidate accepts, examination by the presbytery is scheduled
- Upon successful presbytery examination, the new pastor is installed, and the PSC is dismissed.
Pastoral Candiate Profile
This section is currently being drafted and discussed by your Pulpit Search Committee.