Baptist General Convention of Missouri

Search Committee Services

Churches Seeking a Minister

Leadership is the key to the health of any organization or institution. The Baptist General Convention of Missouri is committed to assisting local churches as they seek God’s will in calling pastors and staff members. We also realize the process of calling a new pastor or staff member is not an easy task. We are partnering with MinistryConnect to assist in providing these services.

Why MinistryConnect?
Leadership is the key to the health of churches. When right leaders are in the right place at the right time, church health can and does occur. MinistryConnect provides a uniquely professional system for pastoral calling. It is based on the premise that effective ministry matching occurs when there is comprehensive information and analysis. Learn more about MinistryConnect at www.ministryconnect.net.
 


What Makes MinistryConnect Unique?
The MinistryConnect process along with their experienced coaching provides churches the best opportunity to experience a ministry match that glorifies God and grows the Kingdom. In coaching there is no substitute for experience and expertise. The MinistryConnect team is well-trained with a wide range of experience in assisting churches. Led by Dr. Verlyn Bergen and Dr. Roger Hatfield with over 70 years combined experience in ministry to hundreds of churches, MinistryConnect will provide your search committee with the help it needs to be exceptionally successful.

What Will It Cost to Use MinistryConnect?
BGCM pays the initial costs to MinistryConnect, and churches may choose to reimburse BGCM for a portion of the expense upon the completion of a successful process.
 

Our Ministry Goals

1. BGCM is committed to helping churches with the “calling” process.
Our conviction is that most people have not had an opportunity to serve on a search committee for any minister for their church. We want to provide a clear process and the resource materials needed to assist search committees as they lead their congregations to call a pastor or staff member.

2. BGCM is committed to helping churches and ministers find the right match.
We also believe that churches can become healthier when they are successfully matched in as many areas as possible with their ministry staff. These areas include: doctrine, ethics, issues affecting the church, marital and family issues, temperament, leadership style, gifts and values, financial understandings, and others. This is not just about placement, but matching.

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri and our partner MinistryConnect believe that one of the greatest needs for congregational health is the right leader in the right place at the right time.

 

Our Services

The BGCM is available to assist local churches and ministers in several specific ways:

First, the BGCM recommends that local churches provide training and orientation for their search committees. The BGCM will provide someone free of charge to assist your committee with this initial training. 

In addition, in partnership with MinistryConnect, the BGCM will provide the following services:

  • Pastor Search Guide Professional Notebook [hard copy in notebook]

  • Church Staff Search Guide Professional Notebook [hard copy in notebook]

  • Pastor Search Guide Professional Notebook [download]

  • Church Staff Search Guide Professional Notebook [download]

  • Pastor Search Survey – online

  • Church Staff Search Survey - online

  • Church Profile Matching Report

  • LaySHAPE© for five committee members (Extras available at $10 each)

  • MinisterSHAPE© for final three candidates (Extras available at $40 each)

  • Unlimited Minister Profiles on the final candidates the church expresses strong interest

Healthy Partnerships Needed

The foundation of healthy partnerships between ministry leaders and churches is complete, comprehensive information disclosure from both entities. This is the reason we recommend the Pastor Profile/Staff Profile and the Church Profile. The Pastor Profile/Staff Profile and Church Profile are designed to complement each other in such a way that real matching can occur.

Description:  Different sections are included in the Pastor Profile.

  • Personal Information

  • Doctrine

  • Philosophy of Ministry

  • Ministry Experience

  • Financial

We recommend that once a candidate is being seriously considered by a search committee, the candidate be asked to complete the Ministry Match. This service provided by MinistryConnect and will provide a more comprehensive analysis of the candidate’s compatibility with the congregation.  Send an e-mail to search@baptistgcm.org or contact the convention office to request assistance for your search committee. 

Sources for Resumes for Churches Seeking Pastors and Staff

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri and MinistryConnect are often asked for resumes in the search processes. Out of respect for the matching principle, neither of us supply resumes en masse to churches. Why not? Because we believe that there is a much better way that will provide more success to churches honestly seeking the best fit for their congregation.

We strongly suggest that search committees start asking a basic question, “Who do we know and trust to provide us with names that we know are the kind of candidates that we would want to consider?” This could be a former, trusted pastor or another pastor you know well.  Members of the search committee will know individuals to whom they can turn for recommendations. The question many churches ask first is, “Where can I get names?” We believe the more basic question--Who could provide us with a recommendation?--is a better place to begin.

Search Committee Network

The Baptist General Convention of Missouri also has a Search Committee Network. This is an email network of Baptist pastors, staff members, and lay leaders from across the state. Once or twice each month we share information regarding churches seeking pastors and staff members. Search committees have the opportunity to share specific information regarding their congregation and their search priorities. We can also provide specific contact information for your search committee. This allows the Network members to share recommendations through the convention or directly with your search committee. We have found this process to be very helpful in identifying possible candidates for Missouri congregations.  If you would like to share information about your search process with the Search Committee Network send an e-mail to search@baptistgcm.org.  The BGCM is also willing to suggest other possible sources of resumes with your search committee, if they are needed.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact either of the following:

Baptist General Convention of Missouri –www.baptistgcm.org
Dr. Jim Hill, Executive Director, 1900 N. Providence, Suite 301, Columbia, MO 65202, 573.441.2574, or jimhill@baptistgcm.org.

MinistryConnect – www.ministryconnect.net
Dr. Verlyn Bergen or Dr. Roger Hatfield, Co-owners and Co-founders, PO Box 105285, Jefferson City, MO 65110, 573.556.5565, or info@ministryconnect.net