June 11, 2024 - Letter from Session

June 11, 2024

Dear Christ Pres Family,

Our last Sunday with the Germer family was a time of reminiscences, tears, laughter, grief, and celebration.  And now we enter into a transition season.  This will need to be a time of patient trust, waiting, active listening, and growing together in Christ’s love.  As Psalm 62 says, Let all that we are wait quietly before God for our hope is in Him.  He alone is our rock and our salvation, our fortress where we will not be shaken.

Session had our first meeting together with Bob Andrews as moderator and our focus was taking the next steps towards forming a Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC).  In this letter we:

  • outline the process for forming the PNC

  • describe the characteristics we are looking for as we form the PNC

  • let you know about the next steps

Process for Forming the PNC

This is described in our newly adopted by-laws.  In summary, the steps will include:

  • Session will elect an elder to chair the PNC.

  • Session will prayerfully consider potential PNC nominees from available covenant partners and active baptized members.

  • Session will approach potential PNC members to discuss the responsibilities and their availability.

  • A proposed slate of nominees will be sent to the congregation along with at least 2-weeks notice of a special congregational meeting for the purpose of voting on the slate of nominees.

  • At the congregational meeting, members may nominate additional names for the slate.

  • If additional names are nominated, there will be at least a one-week postponement of the vote to allow time for further prayerful consideration.

  • If the final slate exceeds the maximum number set by session (yet to be determined), then there will be a vote taken by secret ballot by the congregation.

Characteristics of the PNC

As we prayerfully consider together who to nominate for the PNC, we are aware that this is a weighty decision.  The PNC will spend many hours meeting together, reading applications, interviewing candidates, and selecting a final candidate to present to the congregation. Note: The congregation will have ultimate say in whether or not the final candidate is accepted. 

We are looking for PNC members who are:

  • Spiritually mature – deeply committed to the Lord and His Word, led by the Spirit

  • Humble and willing to hear and consider the opinions of others

  • Discerning

  • Committed to being a team player

  • Available for meetings and committed to a long-term process

  • Familiar with and committed to the mission of Christ Pres

  • Either a current covenant partner or baptized member (or willing to become one prior to being put forth as a nominee for the PNC). Note: These are the people who, according to by-laws can be on the PNC.

As we consider the bigger picture and the characteristics of our PNC as a whole, we will look for a group that:

  • Represents the diversity of our congregation, including a mix of age, gender, culture, and longevity as a member of Christ Pres, with no more than one member per family.

  • Is unified in vision and purpose while also being willing to express and consider differing views.

  • Can objectively evaluate all candidates who meet the ECO criteria for becoming pastor.


The Next Steps

Thanks for reading this far!  Here are the next steps:

  1. Pray for Guidance: Please join us in praying that the Lord will guide and direct us in choosing the PNC nominees.

  2. Review PNC Characteristics and Responsibilities: Please read over the characteristics of the PNC in this letter and the attached document that explains the PNC Process.

  3. Provide Congregational Input: As Session works to assemble a slate of nominees, we welcome your suggestions. If you have names to propose (either your own or someone else's), we would love to hear from you.  When submitting a name, please indicate if you have approached the person you are suggesting and whether they are willing to serve. Submit your suggestions to Ev Worthington, Clerk of the Session, at eworth@vcu.edu, or provide them to him in writing.

Your input is invaluable in ensuring that the congregation has a voice in the selection process. Thank you for your participation. 

We are blessed to have many capable members in Christ Pres who could serve well in this capacity. Our challenge will be to narrow down the nominees to create a well-functioning group.  We aim to balance having a team that is not too large, to ensure meetings can be scheduled effectively, but not so small that the substantial workload falls on too few people.  We trust that the Lord, our Good Shepherd, will guide us.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you have questions or concerns.  We love you and are committed to praying for you,


CPC Session of Elders:

Karen Carr, Judy Hounsel, Jeremy McEntire, Makenzie Smith, Kathy Wibberly, Ev Worthington

Moderator: Bob Andrews

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