The committee might include people of both genders and varying ages, but it ought to be because they meet the more significant criteria. Know how the suit is to be worn When I finally start looking for a new suit and shirt, I look for one that will accomplish what I want it to accomplish for me in my work. I know that no one suit of clothes will work for all the tasks I must perform in a normal week's work. I want to find the right one to complement my current responsibilities. It's really a lot simpler to search for pastoral candidates when the committee knows what bill to fill.
Prayer is critical.
But in your prayers, ask God to help you see clearly so you can read resumes that will actually help you accomplish the work you have laid out for your church in the next three to five years. When I finally buy that suit and shirt the sale is usually final. So I spend quite a bit of time in the dressing room, fitting, trying on more than one, making sure that the seams and length are marked just right. More than one visit also helps. Those visits should not be conducted with single issues in mind, but they should be weighted by the new or revised mission statement.