PROCESS FOR CALLING A DESIGNATED PASTOR

OR

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

New Castle Presbytery

G-14.0501g.    A designated pastor, associate pastor, or co-pastor(s) is a minister of the Word and Sacrament approved by the committee on ministry to be elected for a term of not less than two nor more than four years by the vote of the congregation.  The relationship shall be established by the presbytery.   Such a pastor or co-pastor(s) shall be nominated by the congregation's pastor nominating committee only from among those designated by the committee on ministry of the presbytery. The congregation and the minister both must volunteer to be considered for a designated term relationship.  Such a call may be established only with the prior concurrence of the committee on ministry of the presbytery.  The terms of the call shall be approved by the presbytery.  The minister shall be installed by the presbytery.  When the minister is pastor, he or she shall be moderator of the session.  The sections on calling and installing a pastor shall apply. (G-14.0502-.0507)  (See G-14.0501a.)  If there has been an open search process conducted by the committee on ministry and after two years of the designated pastor relationship, upon the concurrence of the committee on ministry, the designated pastor, and the session, acting in place of the pastor nominating committee for the single purpose of calling the designated pastor as pastor, a congregational meeting may be held to call the designated pastor as pastor.  The session, with the concurrence of the committee on ministry, may call a congregational meeting to elect a pastor nominating committee to conduct a full pastoral search or to prosecute the call to the designated pastor to become pastor.  The action of the congregation shall be reported to the presbytery.  If the congregational action is affirmative, the presbytery, after voting to approve the new pastoral relationship, shall install the designated pastor as pastor.

1.    The congregation completes a mission study, votes to establish a designated pastor or designated associate pastor position, and elects a DPNC (Designated Pastor Nominating Committee) or an DAPNC (Designated Associate Pastor Nominating Committee).

2.    The Committee on Ministry approves the Mission Study and concurs with the will of the congregation to seek a Designated Pastor or Designated Associate Pastor.

3.    The DPNC or DAPNC completes a Church Information Form and following the approval of the Committee on Ministry, files it.  Dossiers come, not to the search committee but to the Presbytery.

4.    The role of the Pastor when seeking a Designated Associate:

       a.    The Pastor is not a member of the DAPNC and does not meet with them on a regular basis.

       b.    The Pastor and the Designated Associate Pastor will be working together on a daily basis.  Common sense dictates that they must have a compatible working relationship; therefore, the Pastor needs to have a voice in the final selection of a candidate.  The Pastor and the DAPNC should discuss this before reviewing PIFs (Personal Information Form).

5.   The Presbytery, through its Executive Presbyter and Committee on Ministry Chair, select appropriate dossiers for consideration and give them to the search committee.  (Should one or more PIFs belong to a candidate for ordination, it should be understood that candidates can only circulate a PIF with the approval of their Committee on Preparation for Ministry.  Only when a candidate has received a call can they be examined by the Presbytery for ordination.)

6.  The DPNC or DAPNC selects the candidate from among the PIFs provided.  Should they be unable to find a suitable candidate, they may ask the Presbytery for other PIFs. 

7.  The candidate is examined by the Committee on Ministry, then voted by the congregation. The Designated Pastor or Designated Associate Pastor is installed in a service of worship and celebration by the Presbytery.

8.  The call is for 2 to 4 years, after which time the congregation may choose to elect the Designated Pastor or Designated Associate Pastor to fill the installed position, or the congregation may form a new PNC or APNC to seek a new person, or the position may be abolished.

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