What to Look for in a Pastor: A Guide for Pastoral Search Committees (Ministry and Mission) (Ministry Mission)
Perhaps no process in all of church life is more fraught with pitfalls and hazards than the task of choosing a new pastor. Pastoral search committees often consist of marginally-equipped lay people who are utterly inexperienced when it comes to examining a pastor and evaluating his giftedness. In many cases, members of search committees themselves could not pass the most elementary doctrinal exam, and they are often totally clueless about how to choose a pastor to lead and feed the flock. What to Look for in a Pastor is filled with sound advice and solid help for churches seeking pastors. Brian Biedebach's book fills a void that has needed to be addressed for a very long time. I'm very grateful to DayOne for publishing this book. --Phil Johnson, Executive Director, Grace to you, USABrian has written a resource that will be helpful for churches for years to come. --John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, CaliforniaI've just come out of a pulpit selection process in which I have been quizzed and questioned by people who knew what their church believed and were anxious to know whether what I believe measured up to their doctrinal position. They pulled no punches as they probed my answers, listened to sermons, and read my responses in order to make sure there was unity in the truth. Would that this was always the way it was but I can assure you that they are the exception rather than the rule. In other words their process is so unlike the 'beauty pageant' that often passes for pulpit selection in many 'evangelical' churches today. Brian's work will serve the churches by providing a model of how the enormous responsibility of seeking an undershepherd of the flock of God should be carried out. With a faithfulness to Scripture and a freshness of style, 'What to look for in a Pastor' hits the proverbial nail on the head. May the Chief Shepherd use it for His glory and His church's good. --Liam Goligher