PNC Updates

This is your one-stop for all PNC Updates!

If you haven't done so already, take a look at the blog "Big News for Bayside" to meet the members of the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee).

Going forward, any updates the PNC has will be posted on this blog, and an email will be sent to the church.

Please keep our PNC in your prayers as they go about this important work to discern and search for Bayside's next Head of Staff/Head Pastor.

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August 6, 2025

It's been a bit over a month since our last update, so let me fill you in on where we are.

Over the past several weeks the PNC has been working hard on preparing and refining the MDP (Ministry Discernment Profile). This is the document the church will use to search for our next pastor.

On July 13th, during a called session meeting, the session approved the completed MDP and sent it over to the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry for approval.

On August 5th, the Committee on Ministry approved our MDP, so we are now entering the next step (Step 4 below). During this next step, the MDP will be uploaded to an online tool to help match our congregation with pastors looking for a call.

Over the next several weeks, the PNC will be working on steps 4-6 (see descriptions of those steps below). This part of the process is the lengthiest, as the committee will review several resumes and conduct interviews.

As always, if you have any questions on the process or where the PNC is currently in that process, reach out to the members. They will be giving updates here and from the pulpit as they go through these steps.

Continue to keep them in your prayers, and keep our future pastor in your prayers as they go through their discernment process.

Your Partner in Christ,

Emma

June 23, 2025

Our wonderful PNC has been working over the past couple of weeks to get organized so they can communicate with the congregation and move forward on the steps towards our next pastor.

On Sunday, June 22, Tom Winter gave a minute for mission to introduce the congregation to the different steps in calling a pastor. The process is long and detailed. On average, the process takes between 6 and 18 months. Our PNC will work hard and faithfully in hopes that we could be closer to the 6 months rather than the 18. But we need your help! Continue to pray for this team and our future pastor as they discern a new call. We are all Team Bayside!

We want to give you all the information you want; however, as Tom Winter said during the minute for mission, there is a promise of confidentiality to all pastors who are discerning calls. So if you ask a member of the team about candidates, etc., they won't be able to answer those specific questions.

We can share the process of calling a new pastor with you. This detailed process below is also on a board located in the Atrium. We will let you know when we enter a new step here on the blog and the board.

Look below for the detailed steps.

As always, thank you for your prayers and encouragement for this team during this journey.

Your partner in Christ,

Emma

The Steps!

We are currently on Steps 4-6

Step 1: PNC Orientation with COM Liaison

The Pastor Nominating Committee meets with its liaison from the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry. Through this meeting, the PNC learns their responsibilities and the steps for the process of finding a new pastor.

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Step 2: Write Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP)

The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) takes the church-wide Mission Study information to complete five (5) narrative questions about our congregation. In addition, our Clerk of Session provides statistical data about our congregation such as membership, attendance, community and intercultural composition. The MDP also includes our Church Vision Statement and a list of job responsibilities for our Head of Staff Pastor. It also includes minimum effective salary information.

Step 3: MDP Approvals: Liaison, Session, COM

The PNC drafts the Mission Discernment Profile (MDP) focusing on the Five (5) narrative questions. This is shared with our COM Liaison for feedback and approval. The MDP (revised, if needed) is shared with Bayside’s Session, again for feedback and approval. Finally, the MDP is shared with PEVA’s full Commission on Ministry (COM) for final approval. This allows our PNC process to advance to the next step, submitting the MDP to the Church Leadership Connection (CLC).

Step 4: Upload MDP to Church Leadership Connection (CLC)

The Approved Mission Discernment Profile (MDP) is uploaded to the Church Leadership Connection (CLC). The CLC is an on-line tool that is used by PCUSA, churches and prospective pastors to facilitate the process of “fit” that leads to a call. In addition to the MDP input, the PNC must rate 14 characteristics or traits based on its relevance to our Sr. Pastor/Head of Staff position. Each is rated from 0 to 100 (increments of 5) to represent the relative importance of that descriptor to our desired candidate.

Step 5: CLC Matches MDP to Personal Discernment Profiles 

After Bayside’s MDP has been uploaded to the Church Leadership Connection, the CLC opens access to prospective pastors. Much like a “dating app”, the CLC takes our job and salary information and our 14 characteristic or trait descriptor ratings and attempts to match the best candidates for us. Each pastor candidate has previously entered a Personal Discernment Profile, much like Bayside’s Ministry Discernment Profile, to facilitate the matching process.

Step 6: PNC Screens PDPs of Pastor Candidates 

The Church Leadership Connection (CLC) sends Personal Discernment Profiles (PDP) to the Bayside PNC that best match our MDP. The candidate is presented without a name for confidentiality and equity. The PNC must review every PDP that it receives. The PNC members will review any additional material available and rate each candidate PDP. The PNC must then gain consensus on which pastor candidates we will review further, which ones we are not interested in, and those that we may save for later review.

Step 7: Presbytery to Presbytery Check on Finalist(s) 

Once the PNC has selected one or more finalists based on the screening process, those names are then submitted to Presbytery of Eastern Virginia (PEVA). The Presbytery office has the responsibility to review the candidates and check with their home Presbytery. This process is followed to make sure that there are no issues or important information about the candidates’ practice of ministry that would affect their candidacy. If none, Presbytery gives the PNC permission to proceed.

Step 8: PNC checks references and conducts interviews 

After determining if a finalist is still interested in our position, the PNC will check references the candidate has provided. Selected finalist(s) will be interviewed in person. The interview process will be established by the PNC and will be consistent to ensure fairness. PCUSA believes it is necessary to meet face-to-face, engage in conversation, and participate in worship together with prospective pastors. Invitations to visit our community will include their spouse, if there is one. We are close!!

Step 9: PNC extends offer to finalist with Terms of Call 

After the rigorous interviewing process, with prayer and thoughtful discernment, it will hopefully become clear to the PNC, who God is calling to be Bayside’s next Pastor. The PNC decision should be unanimous and enthusiastic. With Presbytery approval, the PNC will negotiate a total effective salary and invite the candidate to be the nominee presented to the congregation. Our nominee must also discern if this is God’s call for them as well. With an acceptance, a tentative schedule starts.

Step 10: PEVA COM examination of finalist 

Before any Pastor can answer a call in the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia (PEVA), they must be examined by PEVA’s Commission on Ministry (COM). The COM will examine our candidate and review the Covenant and Terms of Call. The COM is responsible for determining if our choice is theologically sound, if there is a good fit between the candidate and Bayside, and approve both the Terms of Call and the Pastoral Covenant. If approved, the PNC can inform Session and ask the Session to schedule a congregational meeting.

Step 11: PNC informs Bayside’s Session of Selection 

Once PEVA’s COM has approved the nominee, the PNC will meet with Bayside’s Session to inform them of the nominee and to ask for a congregational meeting. The Session will be told why the PNC is recommending this person. The recommendation also includes the Covenant and Terms of Call. The PNC will inform Session of the plans for the  congregational meeting. It is relevant to mention that it is neither the PNC nor the Session that approves of the call of the new Pastor, but the congregation.

Step 12: Bayside Members vote to Approve at Congregational Meeting

Following the Book of Order and rules established by the church, the Session calls a congregational meeting. At the Congregational meeting, the PNC chair(s) will present background and personal information about the person to be nominated. The Terms of Call and Covenant are also presented. At that point, the Congregation will proceed to vote by paper ballot. The Chair(s) of PNC and a Session member count ballots. The Moderator announces the results and approval of Terms of Call. Hooray!!

Step 13: PEVA leads Ordination & Installation Service

It is the responsibility of the presbytery (PEVA in our case) to ordain and install pastors. The candidate must be examined (again) on the floor at a stated PEVA meeting. The service is planned by PEVA, the PNC, and the candidate. The service may not be held before 2pm on Sundays so that other clergy and presbyters may attend the service and welcome the new pastor.

What an exciting day this will be for Bayside Presbyterian Church, the PNC, and our new Pastor! Praise God!!

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June 8, 2025

The PNC met for the first time this morning. We had an orientation from the Presbytery's Committee on Ministry, and we picked our officers for the group.

The Co-Chairs for the committee are: George Wong and Peggy Hayes

The Recorder (Secretary) is: Janet Baker

The PNC plans to meet weekly as we assemble our information to search for our next pastor. This team is excited to get started and asks for your continued prayers.

Joyfully,

Emma

Associate Pastor/Staff Liaison for PNC