Vineyard’S Pastoral
Transition Process
Transitions are always challenging! And they are times when God works in powerful ways to accomplish his purposes, as we trust in and depend on him.
Every transition begins with an ending, and ends with a new beginning. In between is the uncomfortable middle. It’s a time when things feel unsettled and uncertain. Our natural tendency is to try and resolve that tension too quickly, so as to escape the discomfort. But when we instead wait, and pray, and trust Jesus as we allow him to work in and through us, we will be amazed as we experience the goodness of God!
Our Pastoral Transition Team
Our Pastoral Transition Team is the group that is responsible for leading, directing, and managing the transition process as Vineyard searches for our next Lead Pastor. The team is led by Tom Lanham, and includes Rhonda Curran, Sarah Fischer, Tyler Brown, Joshua Abbey, Christina Pattengale, and Pat Mulcahy. Please be praying for the team, for our next Lead Pastor, and for the whole transition process!
While you can of course connect with any of the team members with your questions, ideas, and concerns, Joshua Abbey and Rhonda Curran have volunteered to be the primary contacts. So feel free to inundate them with questions!
Their contact information is:
Our Timeline
Our Non-Negotiables for Lead Pastor Candidates
Serves in a pastoral capacity, and is thoroughly familiar with and committed to the mission and values of Vineyard USA
Committed to the purposes and values of Vineyard Church, including the practices of worship, spiritual formation, and Holy Spirit ministry
Demonstrated ability to think and lead theologically, strategically, and practically
A clear sense of calling to pastoral leadership in general and to Vineyard Church in particular
A collaborative leadership style
Strong biblical teaching and preaching skills
High levels of moral character and integrity
Committed to ongoing personal, spiritual, and professional growth
Core Competencies
Biblical/Theological: Has a solid foundation in understanding of the Scriptures and theology consistent with that of Vineyard USA. Can clearly and convincingly articulate Scriptural/theological truths in a manner that is accessible and relevant to the congregation. Committed to ongoing learning and growing in these areas.
Organizing: Can gather and organize resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; can orchestrate multiple activities at once to accomplish a goal; can use resources effectively and efficiently.
Planning: Accurately assesses the length and difficulty of a project; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into process steps; develops schedules and task/people assignments; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results.
Managing Vision and Purpose: Articulates and supports the vision and mission of Vineyard Community Church; communicates a compelling and inspired vision for ministry; talks beyond the here and now to a larger sense of purpose; creates a compelling vision of possibility, hope, and optimism; helps others to own the vision.
Developing Volunteers: Is able to identify raw talent and recruit capable people into positions of responsibility; provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments for others to do; delegates appropriately; builds people up; maintains open and active dialogue with volunteers; communicates expectations clearly and holds people accountable.
Managing Conflict: Deals with problems quickly and directly; steps up to conflicts, seeing them as opportunities; reads situations quickly; focuses when listening; settles disputes collaboratively and equitably; finds common ground and gets cooperation.
Interpersonal Relationships: Relates well to all kinds of people, inside and outside of the congregation; builds appropriate rapport; builds effective and constructive relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; is regarded as a team player.
Trust and Integrity: Is widely trusted; seen as direct and truthful; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; adheres to an appropriate and effective set of core values during good and bad times; acts in line with those values; practices what he or she preaches.
Our Candidate Evaluation
& Selection Process
The position was posted on the Vineyard USA website on 8/16/23
Candidates submit a resume
Resumes are reviewed, those of interest are requested to submit
Completed application form
Links to podcasts or videos of preaching
The Transition Team will evaluate all applications and make selections for initial interviews
Initial Interviews: Two or more transition team members will conduct a phone or video interview with the candidate. If that interview is positive, transition team members will conduct a second telephone or video interview with the candidate and their spouse.
Reference Checks: At least three professional references are checked for each candidate continuing in the process.
Candidates continuing in the process will submit written essays describing their personal faith journey, their current spiritual practices, and their understanding and practice in the areas of kingdom theology, the Holy Spirit, and the local church and its connection to Vineyard USA.
First In Person Interview: Each candidate still being considered will be invited to come for a weekend. He/She will be interviewed by teams made up of Transition Team members, Board members, staff, and congregation members. The candidate will attend the Sunday worship service, and the congregation will have the opportunity to meet and interact with the candidate after the service.
Second In Person Interview: Each candidate still being considered will be invited to come for a weekend with their family, to be interviewed and guest preach. Interviews will be conducted by teams made up of Transition Team members, Board members, staff, congregation, and Vineyard Midwest North Regional Leader. We will provide the candidate and their family with tours of the area. Following the Sunday service, there will be an opportunity for the congregation to meet and interact with the candidate and his/her family.
The selected candidate must be approved for hire by Vineyard Church Board and Vineyard Midwest North Regional Leader (Dany Mercado.)
The Vineyard Church Board will extend an offer of employment, contingent upon a criminal background check, and personal/psychological assessment conducted by Campion Barrow Associates of Champaign, IL.
FAQ
Who gets to decide who we hire as our next Lead Pastor?
The final decision is made by our Board, and must be approved by the Regional Leader for the Vineyard Midwest North Region. However, throughout the selection process, we will be seeking input from everyone, including board members, staff members, and the congregation. We want to hear what everyone thinks!
What are we doing to find candidates?
The position is posted on the Vineyard USA website, which is where candidates with Vineyard backgrounds would look for open positions. Of course, the position is also open to internal candidates, and Pat is networking with people he knows in other Vineyard churches.
What are our non-negotiables for the person we want to hire?
Please refer to Our Non-Negotiables for Lead Pastor candidates on this website.
What is our interview and selection process?
Please refer to Our Candidate Evaluation and Selection Process on this website.
Will the interview and selection process be the same for all candidates?
Yes
What safeguards will be in place to assure that Vineyard teaching and culture will be continued?
Our entire Evaluation and Selection Process, and the two year transition period are specifically designed to ensure these things.
Will we have an opportunity to meet the candidates and hear them preach?
Any candidates we are seriously considering will spend two weekends with us during the process. On those weekends we will provide opportunities to meet and interact with the candidate, and they will preach during their second weekend visit with us.
How do we know we are not hiring someone with dangerous hidden traits?
Prior to hiring anyone, they must pass a criminal background check and a personality/psychological assessment, which is conducted by a firm with extensive experience in helping churches hire pastoral staff.
What are Pat and Lisa going to do after this person is hired?
Following a sabbatical period to allow the new Lead Pastor to get established, Pat & Lisa will continue being an active part of Vineyard Church. Pat plans to focus on teaching, and on coaching leaders.
Does requiring the person to start as a Sr. Associate Pastor and transition to Lead Pastor over a two year period limit our candidate pool?
Possibly, yes. But this process has been demonstrated to be a very effective way of providing for a smooth, healthy transition, with much less risk of failure than an abrupt transition to a new Lead Pastor. The kind of person we want to hire will be open to this process.
What if we hire someone, and during the transition period we realize they are not going to work out after all?
That is always a possibility. The good news is that Pat and Lisa are not leaving. So if necessary the timetable for Pat’s transition could be adjusted. The same is true if the hiring process simply takes longer than we hope it will.