Choosing a pastor

[CyrilSebastian]

In what Protestant churches is the pastor appointed to the church or is the particular congregation able to select their own?

 

[steido01]

In what Protestant churches is the pastor appointed to the church or is the particular congregation able to select their own?

The Lutheran process is much like the Catholic process, only with less “shuffling” - pastors may end up staying their entire lifetimes. And by that, I mean it is both the district/diocese and the congregation working together to find the right pastor.

Typically, the District President/Bishop presents a congregation with three choices from a “call list” of eligible, ordained men (or fresh seminarians certified to be ordained when they receive their call). The congregation may invite them to preach or assist in the Divine Service. Then, the elders generally make a recommendation and vote. Depending on the congregation, it may be more than the elders who vote.

 

[TC2]

Baptist churches call their own pastors.

Generally, a call goes out (not sure if this is an ad, or by word of mouth), and several candidates are lined up to preach on different Sundays.

After they’ve all been heard, some churches will vote by congregation only, some by voting down to two via congregation, and some by elder vote (or a combination).

All of this is prayerfully done, and is not (or should not be) a rush job.

(Others may chime in with different/better info, but that’s my take on it, as I understand it)

 

[FractalFire]

Most pastors in the Presbyterian church are there for many decades and the last major change we had occurred about ten years ago, so I had to look this one up.

From what I gather, the Presbyterian Church in America (my denomination) appoints pastors like this:

Church Membership: Before beginning the ordination process, a candidate must be a member of a PCA church for at least six months.

•Under Care: The next step in ordination is to come under care of a PCA presbytery. This involves providing a testimony, demonstrating a sense of inward calling, and explaining the reasons for choosing the PCA.

•Licensure: Prior to eligibility for ordination, a candidate must be licensed by his presbytery. This requires an examination, including a personal statement of Christian experience and inward call, basic knowledge of biblical doctrine as outlined in the Confession of Faith and Larger and Shorter Catechisms, practical knowledge of the Bible, and basic knowledge of PCA church government as outlined in the Book of Church Order.

•Internship: In addition to licensure, a candidate must serve in an internship. This is a trial period that helps the church judge the candidate’s qualifications for service. The internship must last for at least a year and may occur during the candidate’s time in seminary.

•Receiving a Call: Before a licentiate can become ordained, he must receive a call to definite work. This call comes from a church, presbytery, or General Assembly.

•Ordination: The PCA Book of Church Order defines Ordination as “the authoritative admission of one duly called to an office in the Church of God, accompanied with prayer and the laying on of hands, to which it is proper to add the giving of the right hand of fellowship.” After a candidate has met the requirements for ordination and received a call, he is examined in several areas and then ordained.

•Installation: Once the candidate has been ordained, he is eligible for installation into the office of minister at the church that has called him.

wts.edu/students/services/careerplacementhandbook/ordainedministry/ordinationprocess.html

Generally, the final decision appears to be primarily controlled by the individual churches (which basically means the elders and deacons), with the general assembly merely ensuring that all candidates are qualified. I seem to recall that there is also a vote from the church body involved, but in my church, at least, this is mostly ceremonial (most people vote with the elders anyway, so the vote rarely changes anything). Elders are appointed by the congregation’s vote, though, so ultimately, one *could *argue that the decision is influence by the church body, though in practice it rarely exercises this influence.

Based on the knowledge that the last time our senior pastor left, we were without a head pastor for a full year, I would say this process probably takes a *very *long time (probably because you can’t make a mistake about such a big decision).

 

[Marty100]

In the Bible the appointment of a pastor (Bishop) is as follows:

1 Timothy 3New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
Qualifications of Bishops

3 The saying is sure:[a] whoever aspires to the office of bishop** desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop[c] must be above reproach, married only once,[d] temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.**

 

[twf]

In the Bible the appointment of a pastor (Bishop) is as follows:

1 Timothy 3New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)
Qualifications of Bishops

3 The saying is sure:[a] whoever aspires to the office of bishop** desires a noble task. 2 Now a bishop[c] must be above reproach, married only once,[d] temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way— 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.**

The above passage outlines the qualities a potential bishop should have- not how they are appointed. The Acts and St Paul’s letters are very clear that Church elders were appointed, not elected, by the apostles or those to whom the apostles had entrusted their authority. (St Paul commands St Titus to appoint elders for example (Titus 1:5).

 

[steido01]

The above passage outlines the qualities a potential bishop should have- not how they are appointed. The Acts and St Paul’s letters are very clear that Church elders were appointed, not elected, by the apostles or those to whom the apostles had entrusted their authority. (St Paul commands St Titus to appoint elders for example (Titus 1:5).

Not entirely true. In fact, some of the early popes were elected.

 

[twf]

Not entirely true. In fact, some of the early popes were elected.

I was speaking of the Scriptural account. The first generation of bishops / elders were appointed by the apostles or by those whom the apostles had appointed. This is the only model presented in Scripture.
The Pope is still elected (though by a specific group). Apostolic authority, however, for all bishops, continues to be passed down through the laying on of hands from one bishop to another tracing back to the apostles.

 

[steido01]

I was speaking of the Scriptural account. The first generation of bishops / elders were appointed by the apostles or by those whom the apostles had appointed. This is the only model presented in Scripture.
The Pope is still elected (though by a specific group). Apostolic authority, however, for all bishops, continues to be passed down through the laying on of hands from one bishop to another tracing back to the apostles.