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What’s Next | Search Committee Updates

Published April 3, 2024
The committee will frequently update the church on their progress by utilizing this page, sending email communications, and using Sunday morning announcements.
 
contact: theheights@whbc.org

April 10, 2024

The pastoral search committee would like to offer two additional opportunities for those who were unable to hear the presentation of the Pastoral Search Survey results last Sunday (in ABFs). Please join members of the search committee in the dining room during either the 9 or 10:30 a.m. services this Sunday, April 14. The presentations will take approximately 45 minutes and begin at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m. respectively.

PASTORAL SEARCH PHASES

April 3, 2024 (a pdf of the Pastoral Search Phases is available HERE)

 

Phase 1 - GENERAL PREPARATION

Phase I: Completed Tasks

  1. Search Committee (SC) approved by deacons and presented to the Church, January 2024.
  2. The SC began meeting to organize, select leadership positions, and make initial assignments.
  3. Develop and communicate a church-wide prayer focus.
  4. Create, implement, and analyze the church survey.
  5. Report results of the survey to the church.
  6. Develop and communicate the church-wide communication plan including the “What’s Next” section of the church website.
  7. Create an outline of the phases involved in the search process.

Phase I:  Tasks in Process

  1. Develop a church profile so candidates can get to know WHBC; use this to produce a church brochure/packet to give to candidates.

  2. Develop a pastoral profile/job description based on feedback from church via the survey.

  3. Develop a mechanism for receiving resumes from candidates.

  4. Develop a questionnaire to be used during interview process.

 

Phase II – IDENTIFY CANDIDATES

Examples of tasks likely to be completed during Phase II.

  1. Post Job Opening to various outlets (ChurchStaffing.com; Indeed; Christian University/College job boards; OARBC job board; reach out to contacts in other ministries)

  2. Identify process for evaluating candidates.

  3. Assess resumes and identify candidates to be pursued further.

  4. Communicate with candidates who are in process.

 

Phase III - EVALUATE CANDIDATES

Examples of tasks likely to be completed in Phase III.

  1. Access sermon archives.

  2. Evaluate candidate's role in current ministry.

  3. Send questionaire (Phase I - step 10) to candidates.

  4. Zoom/in-person meetings/interviews.

  5. Contact candidate references.

 

Phase IV – PRIORITIZE CANDIDATES 

Examples of tasks likely to be completed in Phase IV.

  1. Develop process to prioritize candidates.

  2. Pursue top candidate:

    • Visit current ministry.

    • Gather additional reference checks.

    • Perform background check.

    • Make a detailed assessment of all data.

    • Invite candidate to visit with committee.

    • Visit with candidate’s family.

    • Determine if top candidate should be presented to deacons.

 

Phase V - RECOMENDATION/INTRODUCTION OF CANDIDATE TO DEACON BOARD AND CHURCH BODY

Examples of tasks likely to be completed in Phase V.

  1. Recommend top candidate to board of deacons.   If approved, proceed.  (If not, return to Phase IV and search for next candidate.)

  2. Plan and announce an official candidate weekend visit – Possible agenda:

    • Friday

      • Meet all WHBC staff and deacons.

      • Cottage meetings

    • Saturday

      • Meetings with various ministries

        • Worship Teams

        • GO Team

        • ABF teachers

      • Cottage Meetings

    • Sunday

      • Preach both services.

      • Meet with search committee.

  3. If all goes well, present candidate to church for vote by members.

  4. Extend offer to candidate.

  5. If Answer is “NO” (from either the candidate or the church) move to next candidate. Restart Phase IV – Step 2.

Prayer Focus | April

April 3, 2024

Pray for the congregation          

  • Love for God's Word - Please ask the Lord to give us an increasing love for His Word, because through His Word, we gain the understanding we need. (Ps. 119:103, 104)
  • Submission to One Another - As we begin our pastoral search, let us ask the Lord to give us hearts of submission toward one another. (Ephesians 5:21)

Pray for the search committee    

  • Cohesion and Clarity in our Communication - Pray that the Holy Spirit brings a sweet cohesion within the committee and pray that all communication between the church family, the committee, and future pastoral applicants is clear and accurate. (I Corinthians 1:10)
Complete april Prayer Guide is available HERE.

March 5, 2024 - FAQs

A list of FAQs compiled by the search committee.
AVAILABLE HERE

31-Day Prayer Guide

Copies of the prayer guide are available in the foyer and HERE. 
 

Please use this guide, each month, throughout the entire search process. Begin with number one on the first day of each month and continue through the month, praying for one request each day.

Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Prayer Focus | March

Pray for the congregation          

  • Purity and Confession - Let us ask God to purify us as a congregation and as individuals, as we approach His throne, we do so with clean hearts. (Ps. 51:10; Ps. 24:3&4)
  • Reverence for God - Let us ask God to increase our reverence (fear) of Him for He guides those who fear Him. (Ps. 25:12, 14)

Pray for the search committee    

  • Please pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading as the committee develops the church and candidate profiles, based on survey results and WHBC Official Documents. (James 1:5, 6b)
Complete March Prayer Guide is available HERE.

February 18, 2024

  • Q&A Open Forum | Sunday, February 18 at 6 p.m.
  • Complete your survey | February 18 (paper copies due in office); February 19 online deadline.

February 9, 2024

Last Sunday, February 4, we heard from Pastor Dave that it’s time to think about “what’s next” for Washington Heights. If you missed the announcement or didn’t receive your letter you can find all the information below. 

We understand that this transition and the changes related to it can bring many questions to mind. To that end, all are invited to join Pastor Dave and members of the Search Committee on Sunday, February 18, at 6 p.m.in the Worship Center for a Q&A Open Forum. If you have questions or comments for this forum, but are unable to attend, please forward those items to jhoppe@whbc.org or theheights@whbc.org. There will also be a presentation to the ABFs on Sunday, February 25.

Prayer Focus | February

A guide is being developed for us to focus on specific prayer items each week.
This month we’ve been asked to focus on gratitude and thankfulness. Click HERE for the complete prayer guide.

Contact: theheights@whbc.org

 

On February 4, we announced the beginning of our "What's Next" journey, searching for the next lead pastor of WHBC. Our appointed search committee has begun its process of regular meetings, chaired by John Burkard. Each of the committee members has taken on roles that will move the group through the important task of identifying who the Lord will call to be our next lead pastor.

February 4, 2024

Letter to congregation, and WHBC family and friends, marking the beginning of our "What's Next" journey for our next lead pastor.

  • Pray for the appointed search committee. For discernment and wisdom as they meet together, pray, and talk to candidates.
  • Pray for protection of WHBC during the transition time.
  • Pray for the man and family God has called to be our next lead pastor.

Appointed Search Committee

  • John & Barb Burkard
  • Paul & Julie DeLange
  • Gerry & Misti Grimson
  • Justin & Grace Hoppe
  • Tim & Amanda Kwast
  • Phil & Becky LaCasse
  • David & Marlene Williams
Join us this Sunday for worship – 9:00am and 10:30am