Pastoral Transition

We are grateful for our interim pastor Will Jackson and look forward to installing the next installed pastor God will call to lead our church. You can follow our step-by-step progress throughout this transition below:

Congregation Assessment Tool (CAT) Results

The CAT survey is a tool developed by Holy Cow Consulting, using an evidence-based discernment and bench marked data to help our church listen effectively, learn about itself, and make informed decisions as we move forward in out transition to a new installed pastor.

Executive Summary

Read a summary of our findings from the CAT and feedback from our church’s discernment gatherings.

Video: CAT Interpretation Session

In this video an organizational psychologist from Holy Cow walks us through the data we collected and explains how to understand the results.

Full Report Library

Explore all information from the CAT and Discernment Gatherings. View the full length report, age-specific reports, and a Discernment Gathering report. We recommend viewing the interpretation session before reading through the reports.

The Process & Our Progress

  • Phase One: Anticipation of John Seider's Retirement

    ☑ Pastor announces departure and informs the Northern New England Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry (COM).

    ☑ COM instructs Session on process of transition.

    ☑ Session selects a Team for Interim Pastor Search (TIPS).

    ☑ Congregation celebrates Pastor John’s time at WPC on July 27.

  • Phase Two: Search for an Interim Pastor

    Expected to take 1 - 3 months.

    ☑ TIPS develops ministry description to post for interim candidates:

    ☑ Advertises

    ☑ Reviews applicants

    ☑ Selects a candidate

    ☑ Session and COM give advance approval of the TIPS’ actions.

  • Phase Three: Interim

    Expected durations of 6–15 Months

    ☑ Interim leads ongoing ministry

    ☐ Interim helps us to define who we are as a congregation - In Progress

    ☐ Mission Study is completed using congregational surveys - In Progress

    ☐ Session approves benefits package for next pastor.

    ☐ WPC Nominating Committee develops nominations to serve on the Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC).

    ☐ PNC begins organization work, and Session calls congregational meeting to elect PNC.

    ☐ COM approves organization of PNC.

    ☐ PNC prepares a Congregational Discernment Profile, and Session and COM approve.

    ☐ PNC advertises the position of WPC Pastor.

    ☐ The interview process begins: interviewing candidates over video and in person, listening to sermons, and conducting reference and background checks.

    ☐ PNC narrows the search to secondary interviews and checks.

    ☐ PNC selects a candidate and negotiates Terms of Call.

    ☐ COM interviews the candidate and gives approval.

  • Phase 4: Presentation of Candidate to the Congregation

    ☐ Candidate preaches at worship.

    ☐ Congregational meeting and vote held to determine whether to accept the candidate, usually on the same day.

  • Phase 5: Transition to New Pastor

    ☐ WPC celebrates interim pastor.

    ☐ New pastor is installed.