Seeking God’s Call as Pastor
A Guide to the Pastor Referral Network
Dear Pastor,
Thank you for your interest in the Pastor Referral Network, a referral service for congregations in the United Church of Christ and others of Reformed, Evangelical, Congregational, Christian heritages.
Growing numbers of these churches are calling us for assistance in finding evangelical, Biblical, Godly leadership. Because of this need, we formed the Pastor Referral Network. Inquiring churches receive a packet of search aids to help them in the process. This includes a Bible study on the Timothy I and II passages about the characteristics of a Godly pastor, an outline of the search process, and suggestions on where to look.
Pastors register with the Pastor Referral Network by filling out our Clergy Registration Form and returning it with a copy of whatever you are providing to churches to describe yourself. Every month or so, you will receive a list of church openings listed with the Pastoral Referral Network. The descriptions will note a contact person to whom you can send your materials. We keep your information descriptions on file and do not send copies to churches.
Search committees in listed churches are generally used to seeing an extensive amount of descriptive material. If you are not using a UCC form, we recommend that your ministerial information include:
® Summary of work experience
® Educational background
® Statement about your theology and faith journey
® Description of your call and view of pastoral ministry
® Evaluation of your gifts and preaching
® References
We pray and trust that God will lead you to the place where He wants you.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
Elizabeth T. Claver, Coordinator
How the Network Works:
The Pastor Referral Network is not a placement service, but a referral network for connecting pastors and churches of like mind and spirit. Every month or so, we send a list of church openings listed with the Pastoral Referral Network.
There are two sections.
Registered Churches. These congregations have a paragraph description. Those willing to receive profiles directly from pastoral candidates include a search committee contact or other name, address, and phone. If a church requests that clergy information come only through their denominational office, that is the address and phone number given. While we recommend churches do both, it is the search committee’s decision and we ask that you honor it.
Note that some denominations only circulate their own ministerial information forms. Contact the regional denominational office for specifics.
Unofficial Possibilities. This part of the list includes churches that have made an inquiry about the Pastor Referral Network, but there is not yet an official sign-up by the search committee. Some have been searching for awhile and some are just getting a search committee organized, putting together a descriptive information, and are not ready to receive applications.
Denominational Distinctives. Churches of the United Church of Christ and of evangelical, reformed, congregational and Christian heritage are self-governed by local by-laws. Generally, most are community churches with members from a variety of denominational traditions and a range of theological perspectives. Worship style varies from congregation to congregation. Infant baptism is predominate.
Pastor Referral Network
P.O. Box
323
Georgetown, MA 01833