Churches Seeking Ministerial Leadership

Churches, for assistance with Pastoral or Associate Staff (Ministerial Leader) searches, contact the Region Minister serving your Association. Click here to view a map of all Associations and the Region Minister assigned to each Association.

Soon after making contact with your ABC/IN-KY Region Minister, your church’s Search Committee will take part in an orientation process we offer in assisting/resourcing congregations conducting a Ministerial Search. Another early stage of the “Search & Call” process will be helping to identify the ministry needs and expectations of the congregation.

The primary resource tool that the Region Minister will work through with the Search Committee is called, “Navigating the Pastoral Search Process.” –Through use of this tool and the guidance of the Region Minister, the Search Committee will be able to encounter candidates that are a more likely match for the congregation, based on the candidates’ ministry gifts/specialties and compensation needs.

This is a vital process that seeks to respond to the uniqueness of the needs of each church seeking ministerial leadership. Region staff acknowledge that, first and foremost, the search for pastoral leadership is to be a spiritual process. The consultation framework we provide serves to offer a context within which God’s Spirit connects with the congregation. We serve with a clear commitment to the autonomy of the local congregation and respect that the ultimate decision as to whom is called remains with the local church (in keeping with basic Baptist principles).

In summation, the “Pastor Search and Call” ministry of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky seeks to:

  • Assist the congregation in gaining and articulating a clearer understanding of who they are as a Body of Christ.
  • Identify the expectations and needs of the congregation, which can serve as guidance for the Search Committee.
  • Identify the pastoral gifts and skills which will best serve and lead the congregation.
  • Assist the Pastoral Search Committee in clarifying and communicating its search process for, and with, the congregation.
  • Train the Search Committee in accessing and better understanding the descriptive material made available in Pastor profiles.
  • Offer counsel to focus the church and Pastoral Search Committee toward an eventual candidate.
  • Offer a proven process for focusing on the candidate to be presented to the church.

The Region Minister also can help the church establish well-planned “Transition Ministries” and assist in identifying a Transitional Pastor (aka “Interim”) who might best serve the church as it prepares to/looks for its next ministerial leader.