tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61528383338179659092024-03-13T09:58:48.130-07:00Idlewild Presbyterian Church Pastor Nominating CommitteeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-88893367749879141602020-05-21T04:27:00.001-07:002020-05-21T04:27:47.174-07:00May 2020 update<div align="left" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">Blessings to everyone from your Pastor Nominating Committee (<span class="il">PNC</span>). The past couple of months have been challenging for everyone in so many different ways, but it has been encouraging to see Idlewild continue to answer God’s call, in our transition to online worship, to-go service at More Than a Meal, Mobile Food Pantry distributions, and so much more. We are finding ways to be the church for each other and our community, even in this season of social distancing. Thanks be to God!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">We know many of you are wondering, “How do you conduct a search during a pandemic?” While we’re unable to gather in person, we’ve continued to meet every Monday night online. Fortunately, we had several in-person visits with candidate ministers in January and February. Of course, further travel by our committee and by candidate ministers is currently on pause. Since worship services across the country are being conducted online, it’s not possible to visit and observe candidate ministers in their home church at this time. However, this is actually providing a unique perspective on candidates that we would not otherwise have seen. We are able to observe, unfolding in real-time, candidates’ organizational agility, leadership during uncertain times, and ability to provide a comforting, non-anxious presence during stressful times. These will be important qualities for Idlewild’s next Head of Staff to possess, and we are taking advantage of this opportunity to gain insight on how candidates navigate challenging times with their congregations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">There is a lot to navigate, we know. A number of pastors have, understandably, felt called to focus on their current congregation during the pandemic, asking for some time to get their church back in a more normal environment before turning their attention to Idlewild. We would like to keep the search process on a direct path, but need to find the right balance between our desire to move forward, and giving candidate ministers the space to tend to their current ministry and consider Idlewild with a clear mind and heart. We know that the right person to lead Idlewild is not someone who could leave his or her current congregation during these times without first ensuring that they were on stable footing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">So where does that leave us? We have continued to receive referrals and interest from potential candidates, including over the last couple of months. We continue to research, to consider, and to be in communication with quality candidates who are in discernment with us. In-person visits have proven to be a critical part of the process for us, but we also understand that travel may not be feasible for some time and are making adjustments to shift things online as needed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">We have consistently communicated that we are focused on finding the right candidate, regardless of the time that it takes. Your support and prayers throughout the process have been heartfelt and help provide the <span class="il">PNC</span> with the necessary spirit to find the Head of Staff who is called to Idlewild. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic;">We ask for your continued prayers for our discernment</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">. Please join us, also, in prayers of thanksgiving for the gifted leadership of Anne Apple and Sara Dorrien-Christians during these unprecedented times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact any of us individually or at </span><a href="mailto:pnc@idlewildchurch.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span class="il">pnc</span>@idlewildchurch.org</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;"> .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic;">Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit serving the Lord. Romans 12:11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Betty Louis Sheppard – Chair</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Jeanne Marie Cummings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Albert Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Julie Markham</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Cindy Moore</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Mitchell Redd</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Jeremy Sykes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 13px;">Jeff Thompson</span></div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-68529963895937913382020-02-07T15:26:00.000-08:002020-02-07T15:26:00.337-08:00February 2020<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Greetings from your Pastor Nominating Committee
(PNC). We hope that 2020 is off to a good start for everyone.
Advent season was a very busy time for all clergy as well as your PNC
members. For the PNC, Advent was a time of hope and discernment. We
wanted to make<span style="color: black;"> sure </span>certain candidates
had the time and space to attend to their own congregations’ needs
without too much distraction of a potential new calling. With the
Advent season behind us, we are back in communication with candidates
and we felt the need to update you on the search.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">There continues to be significant interest in
the Idlewild Head of Staff position. While we get to know some
candidates better through calls and visits, we continue to be
introduced to new candidates. Our search is not like those that take
place in the business world where resumes are collected, interviews
conducted, and an offer made to the best available candidate out of
the initial pool of candidates. Our search is continuous, without
specific deadlines for us or candidates. We review and get to know
candidates while continuously being open to new names, not knowing
when the Spirit will present us the candidate who is called to
Idlewild.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">We understand there is a curiosity regarding
our search and what kind of candidates we have prioritized. Will the
new Head of Staff be:</span></div>
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<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">a man or woman?</span></div>
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<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">someone who already has experience as a Head
of Staff?</span></div>
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<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">from a Southern church or another part of the
country?</span></div>
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<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">a graduate of a DMin or PhD program?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">young or old?</span></div>
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<li><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;">married or single?</span></div>
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</ul>
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<span style="color: black;">While those are natural curiosities about who
will ultimately lead the church, in order to discern the best call to
Idlewild we have focused our efforts more on analyzing other personal
characteristics, such as:</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Connects with people</b> – This probably
seems like an obvious characteristic, b<span style="color: black;">ut it
d</span>oesn’t always present itself right away. Some candidates
delivered terrific sermons and spoke with purpose and dedication in
phone interviews, but we didn’t feel a connection once we got to
know him or her better. With others, there may not have been an
immediate connection, but one grew as we got to know them in
different environments. In order to get a better feel for how a
candidate might connect with Idlewild’s congregation, staff and
the greater community, we have to move beyond watching sermons.
Phone calls, dinners with candidates and their family, small group
meetings, and one-on-one interviews have all been useful tools for
us to determine how well a candidate connects with us, with other
ministers, and with their congregations.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Leadership ability</b> – We can sometimes
use past experience and references as a guide, but leadership can
take many forms. There is no bright line test to determine if a
person has the right leadership qualities for Idlewild. Part of
leadership is being able to connect with people, but it also
includes being able to address difficult topics and situations,
providing guidance and support to staff, developing other clergy who
serve Idlewild, and inspiring congregants to serve the church in
different ways.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Enthusiasm</b> – Being the Head of Staff
is a challenging job and requires enthusiasm during both times of
joy and times of trial. Most pastors who we’ve met have
enthusiasm for their preaching and teaching. Those are areas where
most members of the Idlewild community see them in action. But a
successful Head of Staff should be enthusiastic about other aspects
of the job including stewardship, administration, and community
involvement.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Discerning a call </b>– More than any
other quality, we seek a Head of Staff who discerns a call to
Idlewild. All of us have learned much about the holy discipline of
spiritual discernment during our search. We have experienced and
grown in our own collective discernment, and we have also witnessed
the personal discernment of the ministers with whom we have spoken.
Even if a candidate minister possesses each of the concrete
qualities listed above, if he or she does not discern the Lord’s
call to Idlewild or if the PNC does not discern that the Lord is
calling that candidate minister to Idlewild, we move forward in our
search praising God.</span><br />
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</li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: black;">We want to make sure we find the right
candidate for Idlewild and are working to ensure we find the person
who senses a call to our church and has the attributes that will
strengthen and guide the church in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">If you ever have any questions or concerns,
please don’t hesitate to contact any of us by phone, email or in
person.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><i><b>Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the
Spirit serving the Lord. Romans 12:11</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Betty Louis Sheppard – Chair</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jeanne Marie Cummings</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Albert Johnson</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Julie Markham</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Cindy Moore</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Mitchell Redd</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jeremy Sykes</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Jeff Thompson</span></div>
<br />Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-41300692596453740922019-11-26T09:45:00.000-08:002019-11-26T09:45:01.937-08:00November 2019 update<div align="left" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Dear Idlewild members,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Since our last update in early October, the Idlewild PNC has met regularly. We are in conversation with ministers who are discerning whether they sense a call to Idlewild. We trust in the process which has led us to this moment, and we trust our direction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Our PNC meets at 6:00pm on Mondays at the home of our chair, Betty Louis Sheppard. We held our very first meeting in the old Session Room, which is just to the northeast of the sanctuary, but we have met at the Sheppard home since. We always know to expect hors d’oeuvres and a weekly helping of brownies—based on a family recipe—to sate our early evening appetites. The in-home weekly meetings have given us the opportunity to know each other extremely well, but they have also taught us love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Our discussions are productive, and our unity of purpose is genuine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">As to the work of discerning the next head of staff for Idlewild, we are in serious, productive conversations with ministers. We are making progress. Visits to ministers have already occurred, and more will happen in the coming months. We are excited about the possibilities opening to our church in this interim period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Having an interim period between ministers is typical for most PC(USA) churches. For many, an interim minister is needed to bridge the timeline between a senior pastor’s departure and the completion of a new search. For others, an interim minister provides space for the church to grieve after the departure of a pastor and to prepare the congregation and staff for the transition that lies ahead, often implementing administrative and other changes. While potential heads of staff may differ in their opinions on the need for an interim minister, nearly all view the work done during the transition as an important part of having a successful start to their new ministry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">We continue to be grateful for the work Anne Apple is doing in her new role to set the table for our next Head of Staff. Anne’s pastoral gifts and familiarity with Idlewild’s vision and direction are blessings both for our church and for our search. We are also thankful for Sara, Elizabeth, and the rest of our staff’s commitment to our church. Pastors around the denomination have already begun to take notice of our interim period and the good work of transition at Idlewild. We are confident that the Idlewild which emerges from the interim period will continue to be the strong, vibrant church it has always been.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">We invite you all to persist in prayer for our PNC and for our church. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us as a group or individually with suggestions or concerns. We are truly blessed to be doing the work of the church and to be serving alongside one another. Thank you for your continued trust. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-style: italic;">“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">The Idlewild PNC</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;"><a href="mailto:pnc@idlewildchurch.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">pnc@idlewildchurch.org</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, Jeff Thompson</span></div>
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-25867289227504181102019-08-23T14:52:00.002-07:002019-08-23T14:52:46.349-07:00August 2019The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) has been in communication with the Transition
Working Group (TWG) throughout the summer in relation to the timing of our search for
permanent Head of Staff. At the outset of our appointment, we were hopeful to be able to
discern a candidate that could begin this fall after a short transition period following Steve’s
retirement. The PNC is still seeking clarity on God’s call of a candidate to Idlewild and has
communicated that to the TWG in order for the Session to make leadership decisions beyond
the summer’s transition period.<br />
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As we mentioned in earlier communications, the PNC has been committed to finding the very
best candidate for Idlewild regardless of timing and have every faith in that outcome. We
have been encouraged throughout the process by the quality of candidates we have met,
their interest in the Head of Staff position and the importance of Idlewild in PC(USA). As we
continue our work, we ask for your ongoing prayers and support.<br />
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Grace and Peace,<br />
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The Idlewild PNC<br />
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Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore,
Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff ThompsonJeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-76824486391905913212019-04-24T18:02:00.001-07:002019-04-24T18:02:25.606-07:00April 2019 updateDear Idlewild Congregation,<br />
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Your Pastor Nominating Committee continues to be optimistic in our search for a new Head of Staff for Idlewild. As we reported last month, we have been in conversation with prospective candidates and have made visits to some of them. Those visits have proven valuable and we expect to make others.<br />
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From the beginning of the search we were aware that the Idlewild staff could change as the Holy Spirit moves. All of us have seen these changes in the last month. But Idlewild Church is still here—in the Sunday morning congregations, in the Sunday School classes of adults and children, in the choirs, in those who offer hospitality at More Than A Meal, in QUEST and BASIC, in the youth who led the Youth Service so ably, in Presbyterian Women, in CAFÉ, in MICAH, in Clean Water projects, in our strong support and house staffs, in all of us who find ways to show that our worship leads to service. So as we continue our search, we are certain that the next Head of Staff will be coming to a strong and vibrant congregation.<br />
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At this time, as much as we would like to see into the future, we cannot say when a call will be made. Our focus remains on identifying the best candidate for Idlewild, regardless of timing. We will continue to give periodic updates to provide as much clarity as possible, trusting that we are following the lead of the Holy Spirit. As we move forward, we will keep in mind the advice from a seminary president that “you may not yet know the person God has prepared for Idlewild.” For your patient support we are very grateful. <br />
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Please continue to pray for the search, for our faithful Idlewild staff, and for our church as we move forward together.<br />
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“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11<br />
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In Christ,<br />
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The Idlewild PNC<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff Thompson</span><br />
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-6265713558100639162019-03-19T08:07:00.006-07:002019-03-20T19:24:33.384-07:00March 2019 updateDear Congregation,<br />
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Your Pastor Nominating Committee continues to be optimistic in our search for a new Head of Staff. We have heard many words of encouragement from around the PC(USA), such as “This is a sacred time for your congregation and your committee” and we are thankful for the loving support and sincere concern from all of you. Indeed, we are all in this search together.<br />
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As we reported in February, we have developed a short list of strong candidates. We are getting to know them by watching livestream services, listening to online sermons, reading their church websites, and looking at their writings as well as their work in their presbyteries and in the PC(USA). We have begun making visits to these selected candidates to get better acquainted in face-to-face meetings and to attend their church services. These visits will continue into April.<br />
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We celebrate Steve Montgomery, his faithful ministry to Idlewild and in Memphis, his guiding leadership in a time of shifting cultures, his loving care for our congregation, and his special tenderness in times of grief. We as the PNC are NOT in a search to replace Steve. Rather, we are charged to search for a new pastor to serve as Head of Staff with his or her own particular gifts. This person will bring new vision, new skills and talents, new leadership, but the same faithfulness to Christ and his call to love and serve God. We trust that we are following the leading of the Holy Spirit to the person that God has prepared for Idlewild.<br />
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We are hopeful that a new Head of Staff can be in place after a transition period following Steve’s retirement. The Administrative Leadership Team, chaired by Mitchell Redd, is working on the specifics of a transition plan. We plan to give another update at the April Session meeting and will provide as much additional clarity as possible at that time. We are grateful for your patience. We are at work and will continue to make regular reports.<br />
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Please continue to pray for the search and for our faithful Idlewild staff.<br />
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<i>“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 </i><br />
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In Christ,<br />
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The Idlewild PNC<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff Thompson
</span>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-85040326759164094842019-02-21T08:24:00.002-08:002019-02-21T08:24:47.555-08:00Idlewild PNC update - February 2019The PNC is optimistic about the search for a new Head of Staff. During our conversations with the exceptional women and men of the PC(USA), we have heard comments such as: “Idlewild is the conscience of Memphis” and “Idlewild is the tall-steeple church of the Mid-South.” We have been humbled and thrilled to discover the high regard for Idlewild found throughout the denomination.
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Since posting our Ministry Information Form (MIF) in late September 2018, we have received referrals from members of the congregation, contacts throughout the PC(USA), other ministers, and matches with our MIF through the Church Leadership Connection system. In total, we have received referrals for over 100 potential candidates. Since about mid-October, we have been in contact with many of these candidates, have reviewed their Personal Information Forms (PIF), have listened to online sermons, and have conducted limited phone interviews.
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Most candidates we’ve contacted were aware of Idlewild’s Head of Staff search and were honored to be contacted. After consideration and discussion, the PNC determined that some candidates were not a good fit for Idlewild while others advised us that they were unable to consider a move at the current time.
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As of February 2019, the PNC has identified several strong candidates and is in the process of more thoroughly vetting their qualifications and fit for Idlewild. This will include making in-person visits for church services and getting to know them better on a personal level. The PNC expects these more detailed conversations to take place over the next several months prior to making a call. Our focus has been, and will continue to be, on finding the best Head of Staff for Idlewild, regardless of timeframe. The PNC will continue to provide the Session regular reports on the status of the search to assist with the planning process.
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One of the many things the PNC has learned is that a thriving ministry is taking place all across the Presbyterian Church. It is a joy to hear that a pastor feels there is “more call” where he or she is currently serving. For this and for the continued support of our Idlewild congregation we give thanks. We are all in this together.
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As always, feel free to reach out to members of the PNC with questions or concerns about the search, or e-mail us at pnc@idlewildchurch.org.
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<b>Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.
Romans 12:11</b>
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Grace and Peace,
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The Idlewild PNC
Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-64951733918303340442019-01-16T06:57:00.002-08:002019-01-16T07:59:41.101-08:00Idlewild PNC update - January 2019<div dir="ltr">
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Greetings from the Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee.</div>
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The PNC made significant progress during the latter part of 2018. We are currently meeting weekly to continue our work. Thus far, our tasks have included the following, among other steps:</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Preparing the Ministry Information Form to "advertise" the open position on the PC(USA)'s Church Leadership Connection system.</li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Seeking input and referrals from church members, clergy, and staff regarding our next Head of Staff and Idlewild's future.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Reviewing Pastor Information Forms (PIFs) received from candidate ministers, and seeking input on potential candidates and referrals from pastors, seminary presidents, professors, and other contacts within the PC(USA).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Reaching out to potential candidates to gauge their interest and to ask questions about their background, experience, vision, and current ministries<wbr></wbr>. The potential candidates also asked questions of the PNC in order to learn more about Idlewild.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Listening to sermons available online and doing<span style="color: black;"> further res</span>earch about candidates preferred by PNC members. </li>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 15px;">Taking time to deliberate over the Advent season, we <span style="color: black;">began meeting again in early Ja</span>nuary and further narrowed our focus on preferred candidates.</li>
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That brings us to today. As of mid-January 2019, the PNC is in active communication with candidates who have expressed interest in Idlewild. Our next steps will involve a more thorough vetting process which includes formal interviews. Please keep in mind that our work is and must remain confidential, as candidates may be actively engaged in ministry at other churches. </div>
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<span class="im">We invite you to continue in prayer for the PNC as we move forward in our work. </span></div>
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<span class="im">"Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord."</span></div>
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<span class="im">Romans 12:11</span></div>
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<span class="im">Praise be to God,</span></div>
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The Idlewild PNC</div>
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Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-39046933664614204642018-12-08T07:01:00.000-08:002018-12-08T07:15:43.119-08:00A time of reflection in a season of hopeOver the last two months, members of the Idlewild PNC have spoken with a number of well-qualified and impressive ministers of the Gospel. We are grateful to God for the ministries of each of those with whom we have spoken, and we ask that the Church remember them in prayer. Regardless of whether we have spoken with the next Head of Staff for Idlewild, we have been excited to experience and see the work of God being accomplished in communities across the country through God's ministers. Truly has the Lord poured out blessings on the PC(USA)!<br />
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The PNC is currently in a time of reflection and discernment. We have had conversations, listened to sermons, and researched candidate ministers, but we know our task has only just begun. Difficult decisions loom, but so does hope for the future of Idlewild. How fitting that we approach this hope, then, in the season of Advent as we profess hope for the blessing of peace through Christ. We are inspired by this excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 96):<br />
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In Advent we expectantly wait for the One who has already come. We anticipate the promised justice of God’s new world, yet we praise God who raised the “righteous branch” to rule with justice and righteousness. We hope for the restoration of the afflicted, the tormented, and the grieving, yet we delight that healing has come in Christ. We long for the beating of swords into plowshares, yet we rejoice that the Prince of Peace has appeared. We yearn for the barren deserts of our inner cities to flourish, yet we laud the desert Rose that has bloomed. We dream of the land where lions and lambs live in harmony, yet we acclaim the child born to lead us into the promised land. </blockquote>
As always, do not hesitate to contact any member of the PNC with a suggestion or request. We are grateful for our engaged and thoughtful congregation! Our email addresses are linked below, along with a short bio about each of our members. You can also reach us collectively by e-mailing us at <a href="mailto:pnc@idlewildchurch.org">pnc@idlewildchurch.org</a>.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:jcmmings1@gmail.com">Jeanne Marie Cummings</a></b><br />
Jeanne Marie Cummings is a lifelong Memphian and a child of Idlewild Presbyterian Church. She is the daughter of Lee and Lucy Cummings and the older sister of DC Cummings. She works for Welcome To Memphis, the training subsidiary of Memphis Tourism and is the President of the Kemmons Wilson School Alumni Chapter at the University of Memphis. Jeanne Marie is also involved with Pinecrest Conference and Retreat Center leading ropes courses when needed and leading recreation at Presbyterian Youth Conference every year.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:albert@vuconllc.com">Albert Johnson</a></b><br />
Albert Johnson has been a lifelong member of the church and grew up in the recreation department. He has coached various sports and put on numerous basketball camps in the past. He recently served as the chair of the house and properties committee. His grandfather was an associate pastor at Idlewild in the 1960s and his mother and late father have been longtime members. Albert is married to his wife of 10 years, Trinh Johnson, and has two children: Levi (9) and Beklin (7). Albert works for local civil construction company, VuCon, as a Project Manager.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:julie.a.markham@gmail.com">Julie Markham</a></b><br />
Dr. Julie Markham was born and raised in Virginia, trained as a neuroscientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and was an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore before her husband Brent’s job at St. Jude brought them to Memphis in 2012. She planned a brief hiatus from her career to accommodate the move, which turned out to be so delightful and fulfilling that she decided not to run from happiness; six years later she continues to embrace life as a self-styled “family manager”. This shift has allowed her to be more present in the lives of their boys Aiden and Miles, now 11 and 7, and also to become engaged in the life of their faith community at Idlewild. Julie was ordained as a deacon in 2016, and has enjoyed facilitating Lenten Lectionary small groups, leading workshops on prayer practices, serving on the planning committee for a Sunday school class (Faith and Function: Ancient Texts and Today’s Questions), and chairing the Congregational Care Committee.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:cmoore@mifa.org">Cindy Moore</a></b><br />
Cindy Moore is long time member of Idlewild. She has served on various committees in the church, and she has served as both a deacon and an elder. Cindy was Idlewild's director of Outreach Ministry in the 1990s. She is now the director of development at MIFA. She and her husband, Scott, have two daughters, Isabelle and Lucy.<br />
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<a href="mailto:mitchellredd@yahoo.com"><b>Mitchell Redd</b></a><br />
Mitchell and Mary Katherine Redd joined Idlewild in August 2000. He is currently a member of the Budget & Finance Committee as well as Chair of the Administration Ministry Unit. He previously served on the Stewardship Committee and the Board of the Children’s Center/Kindergarten as well as both a deacon and an elder. He has three children – Josephine, Katherine and John – all of whom were baptized at Idlewild. The girls are in their senior and sophomore years at Hutchison School and John is in 6th grade at Presbyterian Day School. Mitchell is a Senior Vice President for FTN Financial Capital Assets, a loan trading and advisory subsidiary of First Tennessee Bank.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:ESSheppard@gmail.com">Betty Louis Sheppard</a></b> (chair)<br />
Betty Louis Sheppard moved to Memphis in 2002. After many years in the Mid-South Presbytery, she knew that Idlewild with its traditions of fine preaching, community outreach, and commitment to the PC(USA) would be her home. Her primary interest in church life is worship and music, which is where the congregation gathers together to prepare and be inspired to live as daily Christians. Music as an integral part of worship gives voice to faith through the singing of hymns, psalms, and liturgy. Betty Louis have four children who grew up in the Church, all of whom are grown with families of their own. She is fortunate to have one daughter as a member of Idlewild, along with a son-in-law and their two children.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:jssykes@gmail.com">Jeremy Sykes</a></b><br />
Jeremy Sykes is a lifelong Memphian with deep roots, both family and professional, in the area. He is a graduate of Rhodes College and the University of Memphis' Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He and his family joined Idlewild in 2015. Jeremy is married to Jenna. Their twins, Eden and Reid, are first graders. Jeremy is self-employed as an immigration attorney in private practice and serves as a volunteer youth soccer coach. He previously served as an immigration adviser to the Office of Multicultural and Religious Affairs for former Memphis Mayor A.C. Wharton.<br />
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<b><a href="mailto:jthompson@martintate.com">Jeff Thompson</a></b><br />
Jeff Thompson has been a member of Idlewild for more than forty years. He has served two terms each as a deacon and an elder and has served on various committees of the church. He is married to Nancy, and they have three adult children. Jeff is in the private practice of law.Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-84198189183101452382018-10-23T19:02:00.002-07:002018-10-23T19:02:38.285-07:00Frequently Asked Questions<b>Will our associate ministers be required to resign when a new pastor is called?</b><br />
No. Our associates are called to their positions at Idlewild. They are free to make their own choices with regard to their futures at Idlewild.<br />
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<b>Will there be an interim minister?</b></div>
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The Pastor Nominating Committee has been charged with seeking a new Head of Staff for Idlewild. We are focusing on this goal. The question of whether to call an interim minister during the transition period is outside the scope of our charge.</div>
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<b>What are these acronyms we keep hearing?</b></div>
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PNC - Pastor Nominating Committee</div>
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CLC - Church Leadership Connection. The PC(USA)'s online matching system which endeavors to match candidates to open jobs in the denomination.</div>
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MIF - Ministry Information Form. The PC(USA)'s version of a job advertisement. Ours has been posted in the CLC since September after approval by the Session and Presbytery.</div>
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PIF - Personal (or Pastor) Information Form. Function as both resumes and job applications for potential candidates. The PNC receives PIFs in response to our MIF which is posted on the CLC.</div>
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<b>How is the position being advertised?</b></div>
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Our Ministry Information Form was posted on the PC(USA)'s electronic matching system in September. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://drive.google.com/open?id%3D1sIZEOX0MlFuJPvdcSlNHOGq78jFJIuvZ&source=gmail&ust=1540429600678000&usg=AFQjCNF1TyOQD9nqHH4ZpbAd5s1q3DL4kQ" href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sIZEOX0MlFuJPvdcSlNHOGq78jFJIuvZ" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">You can read the Idlewild MIF here</span></a>. We have also spoken with PC(USA) leaders, pastors, and contacts in affiliated seminaries for direction and suggestions regarding our next Head of Staff. Finally, we sincerely appreciate the suggestions we have received from members of our congregation, and we welcome further suggestions.</div>
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<b>Have you spoken with potential candidates?</b></div>
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Yes. As of late October, we are in the process of reaching out to and speaking with potential candidates.</div>
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<b>....can you tell us about the candidates?!?</b></div>
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With apologies, no. Among other reasons, the PNC must maintain confidentiality to avoid impacting the candidates' relationships with their congregations. This does not mean that we will tell you nothing, however. We represent you, and we intend to continue to update you about our search progress. That said, we will be unable to mention names, locations, or even the genders of our candidates.</div>
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<b>I have a candidate or resource to suggest, how can I communicate with the committee?</b><br />
Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions to <a href="mailto:pnc@idlewildchurch.org">pnc@idlewildchurch.org</a><br />
Otherwise, stop us at church and let us know! Just make certain we have a pen and paper handy.<br />
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<b>Who are you, exactly, PNC members?</b><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Betty Louis Sheppard (chair) - ESSheppard@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Jeanne Marie Cummings - jcmmings1@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Albert Johnson - albert@vuconllc.com</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Julie Markham - julie.a.markham@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Cindy Moore - cmoore@mifa.org</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Mitchell Redd - mitchellredd@yahoo.com </span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Jeremy Sykes - jssykes@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Jeff Thompson - jthompson@martintate.com</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 6px;"><b>How can we help?</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 6px;">Apart from sending us suggested candidates or resources, w</span><span style="text-indent: 6px;">e invite you to pray for:</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 6px;">1) our church as we enter a season of change,</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 6px;">2) our committee as we speak with candidates, and</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 6px;">3) the candidates as they discern whether they have been called to Idlewild and continue serving in their current roles.</span></div>
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In Christ,<br />
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The Idlewild PNCJeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-40307406205468121282018-10-02T16:37:00.000-07:002018-10-02T17:03:57.848-07:00Open congregation conversation session<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">he Pastor Nominating Committee invites the congregation to an open conversation session on Sunday, October 21 in the chapel following the 11:00AM worship service. All are invited to inform us about what qualities you may like to see in our next pastor. We are also interested in your vision of Idlewild's future.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are sincerely grateful for the thoughtful suggestions, comments, and questions we have received in our listening sessions so far. You may have participated in a session already, perhaps in Sunday School, or in our conversations with staff and clergy, or in our exchanges with the diaconate and Session. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Truly, these sessions have been conversations and not merely passive listening sessions. Because of time constraints (and possibly </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">our own gregariousness)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, we may not have heard every voice. Perhaps you had more to say and did not have the opportunity, or perhaps you have given the future of Idlewild additional prayerful thought in the interim. Some may not have been able to participate at all. Whether you want to follow up on a prior conversation or speak with us for the first time, October 21st will be your opportunity to engage the PNC regarding our shared future. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you contemplate the work God will do at Idlewild under our next pastor, we encourage all to remember our vision statement, which has formed the foundation of the PNC's work thus far:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><b><i>Idlewild Presbyterian Church is a community in which ...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><b>Jesus Christ</b> is the center; The mighty voice of God inspires us to love; the Spirit joyfully sustains and nurtures seekers of every age, stage and circumstance.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><b>Worship forms</b> the core of community life; prayer binds our brokenness and connects us in Christ's love to God and to one another; music, poetry and art flourish in gratitude to our Creator; the beauty of creation is treasured and preserved; all the members of the church are ministers.</i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><b>The focus</b> is scripture and its meaning for today; faith is formed and spirits nourished through reflection, practice and shared learning; the wisdom of other faith traditions is respected; and a diverse membership enriches and unites us. </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><b>Justice speaks</b> loudly and peace is our aspiration; all voices are heard; recreation and play are a wellspring for fellowship, celebration and growth; the love of God guides our minds and spirits, leading us to right action in our hearts, our homes, our community, our nation, and our world; and </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;"><i><b> all who enter find a home. </b></i></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">Please continue to keep the PNC, the church, and the potential candidates in your prayers. We look forward to hearing from you on the 21st.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">With gratitude and love,</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">The Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee</span><br />
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</span>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-19043386049940888122018-09-10T19:25:00.000-07:002018-09-14T07:34:45.394-07:00The Idlewild Ministry Information FormThe Idlewild PNC is pleased to announce the final approval of our Ministry Information Form (MIF). The MIF has been submitted to the PC(USA)'s Church Leadership Connection system. We expect to begin receiving matches very soon, which means that we may have started reviewing candidate submissions by the time you read this update.<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1sIZEOX0MlFuJPvdcSlNHOGq78jFJIuvZ"><span style="color: blue;">You can read the Idlewild MIF here</span></a>. It is the result of dozens of hours of contemplation, prayer, discussion, and drafts by members of the PNC. We hope that you come away from reading the MIF and agree that it speaks to the essence of Idlewild. Our sincere goal during this portion of the process has been for the MIF to effectively represent the church by describing both who we are and what we stand for.<br />
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Thank you all for your prayers and suggestions. As we begin the second phase of our search, we ask for your continued prayer.<br />
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<b>With affection and thanks,</b><br />
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<b>The Pastor Nominating Committee</b>Jeremyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17326882473274036819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152838333817965909.post-69102550972817307862018-08-06T09:48:00.000-07:002018-10-24T08:33:47.788-07:00The Pastor Nominating Committee<h3 style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">L to R: Jeremy Sykes, Jeanne Marie Cummings, Jeff Thompson, Julie Markham, Albert Johnson, Betty Louis Sheppard, Mitchell Redd, Cindy Moore</span></div>
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<em>Greetings from the Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee</em></h3>
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<em>The Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) was elected by the congregation on May 20th, 2018 to call our next pastor/Head of Staff. Since that date, the PNC has been meeting regularly, and we are actively working toward securing Idlewild’s future following Steve Montgomery’s retirement in the Spring of 2019.</em></div>
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<em>In the PC(USA), a PNC serves as a type of search committee, and it is our job to bring a pastor nominee to the congregation for your vote. Our PNC is made up of church members from different walks of life, and all us have distinct connections to both Idlewild and Presbyterianism. In the diversity of our perspectives but unity of our goal, we find strength and confidence in our direction.</em></div>
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<em>The PNC’s first major task was to complete a Ministry Information Form (MIF), which is submitted to the denomination’s matching system following approval by the Session and Committee on Ministry. Potential candidates are matched to Idlewild by completing a Personal Information Form (PIF). In essence, the MIF is a job advertisement, and the PIFs are resumes or CVs. A suggested or recommended candidate would also submit a PIF just like a candidate who had been matched through the system. We sincerely appreciate the suggested candidate names we have received so far, and we encourage you to contact us with any additional potential candidates who might possess the gifts we need in a head of staff. We will be holding listening sessions at the church in the coming weeks, and we invite all church members to make their voices heard with the committee at these sessions.</em></div>
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<em>The PNC takes the confidentiality of our work seriously. While we can discuss elements of process, we will be unable to discuss people. Thus, we ask for your trust and for your patience. We ask for you to trust the process, to trust the committee, and to trust God’s plan for the future of Idlewild.</em></div>
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<em>We intend to provide regular updates on our progress on this page. Contact information for individual PNC members and for the committee as a whole can be found below. Please remember to include the PNC in your prayers. We look forward to hearing from you.</em></div>
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<em>Thankfully,</em></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #20180c;">The Pastor Nominating Committee </span></strong>(pnc@idlewildchurch.org)<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Betty Louis Sheppard, chair (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ESSheppard@gmail.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Jeanne Marie Cummings (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">jcmmings1@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Albert Johnson (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">albert@vuconllc.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Julie Markham (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">julie.a.markham@gmail.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Cindy Moore (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">cmoore@mifa.org</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Mitchell Redd (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mitchellredd@yahoo.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jeremy Sykes (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">jssykes@gmail.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 4.5pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">) </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-38fc7916-7fff-60e3-5583-332e3ab51141"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeff Thompson (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">jthompson@martintate.com</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 10pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">) <span style="color: #20180c;"> On the web: www.idlewildchurch.org/pnc</span></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com01750 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, USA35.1359885 -90.003069.6139540000000032 -131.311654 60.658023 -48.694466000000006