Archive for Search Process

A New Testament Purpose – It Starts With A Mission

by Tim Woodroof – In the process of finding a new Senior Minister, most churches are ready, eager, and willing to jump right in. They are keen to start collecting resumes, calling references, and interviewing candidates. So when I suggest they slow down, many churches react with surprise and not-a-little disappointment. “Slow down?” they ask. “We […]

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The Search Process (part 2) – The Right Stuff

By Tim Woodroof   –  “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.” Even the smallest journey begins with a destination. We rarely invest time and energy to travel “spontaneously,” without any thought as to purpose or goal. Rather, with a destination firmly in mind, we get out our map (or […]

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The Search Process (part 1) – You Can’t Get Who You Want Until You Know Who You Are

by Mark Frost  –  Amanda is young, smart, talented, educated, resourceful—and beautiful. A successful career could easily be hers. But Amanda’s deepest aspiration lies in another direction. She would like to meet someone special, get married and have a family. She has caught the eye of two young men, Lance and Clem. Lance tells Amanda, […]

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The Relational Search Process: Part 1 – The Good and the Bad of the Relational Search Process

by Tim Woodroof There are several paths a church can take when searching for it’s next lead minister: Grab the closest available minister and stuff him into the position whether or not he’s a good fit. (“God will make this work,” churches tell themselves, when what they are really saying is, “It will be a […]

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The Relational Search Process: Part 2 – Search Committees and Candidates

by Tim Woodroof Most ministry candidates (and every candidate who has been through a search process before) will tell you they prefer a relational search process. “Don’t judge me by a resume and a sermon,” candidates would assert. “Get to know me. Let me get to know you. Let’s talk … build a friendship.” Until […]

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The Relational Search Process: Part 3 – A Relational Search Process and the Next Generation of Leaders

by Tim Woodroof How does a church raise up the next generation of leaders, train them to think in kingdom ways, and form them into Christ-like servants to whom the future can be entrusted? Judging by our plans (or lack thereof), most churches seem to think the development of future leaders is largely a serendipitous […]

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The Relational Search Process: Part 4 – The Cheerleading Squad

by Tim Woodroof One of the most interesting serendipities of a relational search process is the transformation of the search committee into a cheerleading squad. The committee has spent hours with the candidate and gotten to know him and his family intimately. They have spent hours with other candidates and know how the final candidate […]

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