Position Announcement
Church of the Nazarene, a multi-campus congregation located in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, invites applications for its Lead/Senior Pastor position.
We’re a church family with roughly 1000 average attendance from three campuses on a typical Sunday morning with a staff of 24 working together to manage the ministry. In addition, we have two affiliated ministries – a community food pantry, clothes and furniture ministry called Hope Distributed as well as a Daycare ministry, Kid’s Harbor. The Lead Pastor provides general oversight to all three campuses, each with its own campus pastor, as well as the two affiliated ministries.
There is an English-speaking campus as well as a Spanish-speaking campus in Harrisonburg, with an English-speaking campus in Elkton, Virginia and a burgeoning Spanish-speaking campus planned for Waynesboro, Virginia.
The successful candidate will be just our third Lead Pastor since 1994 and will have the following qualifications: First, the individual will be a passionate lover and follower of Christ who is called to lead our church and who holds appropriate credentialing with the Church of the Nazarene. He or she will be a proven leader-shepherd with evident gathering and interpersonal skills as well as a high level of emotional intelligence. The person will be a lover and effective teacher of God’s Word and someone who turns to prayer first, leading others in that pursuit. The spiritual gift mix should include leader, pastor, and teacher.
The church is one guided firmly by the Holiness tradition with a heart for evangelism. The mission, transformed by God to bring hope to others through Christ, isn’t just a statement for us, but the way God has called us to live and minister. So, the successful candidate will lead us forward in the spirit of that mission. Among other things, candidates will be asked about their understanding of Holiness and their commitment to evangelism.
COTN is headquartered in Harrisonburg, Virginia a diverse city of 51,800 people – over 40 different cultures are represented at the local public high school. The surrounding area includes Rockingham County, an agri-business-based region with a population of 83,700. There are four universities/colleges in the area.
Applicants must pursue the position by contacting Dr. Phillip Fuller, Superintendent of the Virginia District at phillip@vanaz.org. They shouldn’t contact the church. However, research may be conducted by visiting cotnaz.org. The search process will be confidential, with only the District Superintendent and Church Board knowing the identities of applicants to be considered, until the final phase when the person is identified to the congregation.
The Search Process
The District Superintendent, Dr. Fuller, leads the Church Board through the pastoral search process and the decision is made collaboratively between the District Superintendent, the Board and the voting-eligible members congregation.
1. Dr. Fuller will develop a list and research potential candidates based on our local church profile.
2. At this stage, the process is very confidential.
3. The District Superintendent alone will be responsible for contacting candidates, leading research efforts on those candidates and extending invitations for interviews.
4. Dr. Fuller will lead the Board through the interview and nominating process. As he presents the nominee, an initial Zoom interview may be held.
5. To approve a candidate for movement on to the congregational vote, a two-thirds vote of the Church Board by ballot is required. Results are reported to the District Superintendent who communicates the vote to the candidate. The candidate accepts or declines to allow his/her name to be presented to the congregation for a vote.
6. A candidate who is considered by the Board to be very well qualified will have an in-person interview with the Board and may be asked to deliver a sermon during a Sunday morning service.
7. Announcement of the congregational vote will be made for two weeks prior to the vote. Detailed information about the candidate will be provided to the congregation. A two-thirds favorable vote by ballot of church members of voting age (15 and older), present and voting, is required to extend a call.
8. If the vote is affirmative, the Church Board will develop a package of compensation and benefits to include in the communication to the candidate.
9. The candidate has 15 days to decide whether to accept the call. His/her acceptance will serve as the final confirmation that we have been led by God in our decision. A declined invitation will indicate God calling us to make a correction in our decision, and the process will go back to the District Superintendent and Church Board.
10. The Board and District Superintendent will work with appropriate church staff on the details of the new pastor’s move and starting date. The district superintendent will conduct a formal pastoral installation service.
See the 2023 Nazarene Church Manual, focusing on ¶117 for a more detailed explanation.
Current Update
We are currently in Phase 2 of the search. Applicants are being invited to contact District Superintendent Dr. Phillip Fuller at phillip@vanaz.org.
When a highly qualified candidate with an apparent calling is seen, Dr. Fuller will forward that person’s information on to the Church Board for the next phase in the search.
Progress
Dr. Fuller met with the Church Board on Sunday, March 3 to have initial discussions regarding the search process and possible candidates.
A second meeting was held on Thursday, March 21 and the discussion of potential candidates was held.