Leadership Transition
The Journey Between
Co-Pastors
Ian has retired, now what?
After twenty years of serving our congregation, it’s safe to say that Pastor Ian’s retirement is a huge transition for all of us. The process of change has started and as we move from the present into the future, new opportunities beckon for Pastor Ian and Montview Church. On this page, you will find the latest details about this pastoral transition and what’s ahead for Montview. Join us as, together, we embark on this new phase of life for our church.
1. Preparing for the Interim Season
Our Interim Co-Pastor Nominating Committee conducted an 18-month search for our next Interim Co-Pastor. We extended a call to an Interim candidate who accepted but then needed to withdraw. In response, the Committee and Session worked with the Denver Presbytery on a different transition model that does not require an Interim Co-Pastor. Our transition model will reorganize ministry responsibilities among the continuing Co-Pastor, Associate Pastors, Executive Director, Ministers and other staff.
Meet Your Interim
Co-Pastor Nominating Committee
Ben Meyerhoff
Mary Jo Starmer
Lorraine Alcott
Sylvia Cordy
2. Transitional Season
During this time of transition, the congregation will reflect on the vision and mission of Montview using several tools, such as surveys and listening sessions in partnership with Holy Cow! Consulting, a firm that specializes in pastoral leader transitions. This will help us clarify what kind of Co-Pastor we are looking for. We will also create a Transition Team who will help shepherd our journey through the transition process and will communicate regular updates.
3. CPNC Nominations
A Co-Pastor Nominating Committee (CPNC) will be recommended by the Session to the congregation for election at a congregational meeting, in consultation with the Denver Presbytery’s Ministry Relations Committee. The CPNC will search for and nominate a candidate for our next installed Co-Pastor.
4. CPNC Season of Work
Once the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee is assembled, they will begin their work of the Presbytery’s 12 questions, the future of Montview and the Co-Pastor job description in light of the congregational assessment work we completed with Holy Cow! Consulting. This will all be done in tandem with the Denver Presbytery’s Ministry Relations Team.
5. MIF/Job Description Posted
The Co-Pastor Nominating Committee will work together to create a Ministry Information Form about Montview and a job description for the next installed Co-Pastor and post it to the PCUSA job board.
6. Co-Pastor Interviews
The Co-Pastor Nominating Committee will sort through all of the applications and start an in-depth interview process with candidates that fit their criteria.
7. Congregational Approval
When the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee decides on their final candidate, they will bring them to the congregation for final approval.
8. The New Co-Pastor
Once the Co-Pastor candidate is voted on and has accepted the position, we will welcome our new Co-Pastor and a new time of onboarding will begin. The Transition Team will conclude their work.
Communication is Key
Communication with the congregation is the most important piece of this whole process. The Transition Team (still to be chosen) will do its best to communicate with the congregation through different platforms with transparency in this process.
- Weekly co-pastor transition updates coming soon.
What Does The Process Look Like?
The Transition Team will work with staff and Session to develop a “Transition Plan,” which will describe how the ministerial responsibilities left by Pastor Ian’s departure will be reorganized among existing and temporary staff. The Transition Plan will also lay out the overall timeline of our transition work such as when we’ll circulate the Congregational Assessment Tool survey, schedule the congregational listening sessions, conduct the leadership retreat and share results of the assessment with the congregation. The Transition Plan will also include timelines for appointing the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee, the search for and calling of the next installed Co-Pastor, and the on-boarding period. We’ll post a link to the Transition Plan as soon as it becomes available.
Denver Presbytery
Throughout this process the Committee on Ministry (COM)/Ministry Relations Team of the Denver Presbytery will be walking alongside of us to make this transition smooth and in order. If you are the type of person that loves to read policies, then you are in luck! Below you can click the button that will bring you to the COM/Ministry Relations Team policy page, and there is a section title: Churches in Transition: Process – Journey Between Pastors. You can find all the helpful documents to help you understand the process of searching for our next called co-pastor.
What Can I Do
As a Montview Member?
Gather
- Participate and be involved with worship, groups and ministries.
- Join the transition teams and committees.
Pray
- Pray that God may give Montview wisdom and guidance.
Learn
- Watch for communications from transition team.
- Learn and discuss the steps of this transition with others.
Serve
- Step up and serve where it is needed.
- Continue your current involvement and financial support.