May 2020 update

Blessings to everyone from your Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). 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!

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.

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. 

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.

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 PNC with the necessary spirit to find the Head of Staff who is called to Idlewild. We ask for your continued prayers for our discernment. Please join us, also, in prayers of thanksgiving for the gifted leadership of Anne Apple and Sara Dorrien-Christians during these unprecedented times. 

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please contact any of us individually or at pnc@idlewildchurch.org .

Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

Betty Louis Sheppard – Chair

Jeanne Marie Cummings

Albert Johnson

Julie Markham

Cindy Moore

Mitchell Redd

Jeremy Sykes

Jeff Thompson

February 2020

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 sure 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.

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.

We understand there is a curiosity regarding our search and what kind of candidates we have prioritized. Will the new Head of Staff be:

• a man or woman?
• someone who already has experience as a Head of Staff?
• from a Southern church or another part of the country?
• a graduate of a DMin or PhD program?
• young or old?
• married or single?

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:

• Connects with people – This probably seems like an obvious characteristic, but it doesn’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.
• Leadership ability – 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.
• Enthusiasm – 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.
• Discerning a call – 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.
  

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.

If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact any of us by phone, email or in person.

Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

Betty Louis Sheppard – Chair

Jeanne Marie Cummings

Albert Johnson

Julie Markham

Cindy Moore

Mitchell Redd

Jeremy Sykes

Jeff Thompson

November 2019 update

Dear Idlewild members,

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11

The Idlewild PNC

pnc@idlewildchurch.org

Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, Jeff Thompson

August 2019

The 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.

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.

Grace and Peace,

The Idlewild PNC

Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff Thompson

April 2019 update

Dear Idlewild Congregation,

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.

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.

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. 

Please continue to pray for the search, for our faithful Idlewild staff, and for our church as we move forward together.

“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11

In Christ,

The Idlewild PNC

Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff Thompson

March 2019 update

Dear Congregation,

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please continue to pray for the search and for our faithful Idlewild staff.

“Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 

In Christ,

The Idlewild PNC

Betty Louis Sheppard (chair), Jeanne Marie Cummings, Albert Johnson, Julie Markham, Cindy Moore, Mitchell Redd, Jeremy Sykes, and Jeff Thompson

Idlewild PNC update - February 2019

The 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Romans 12:11

Grace and Peace,

The Idlewild PNC

Idlewild PNC update - January 2019

Greetings from the Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee.

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:

1. Preparing the Ministry Information Form to "advertise" the open position on the PC(USA)'s Church Leadership Connection system.
2. Seeking input and referrals from church members, clergy, and staff regarding our next Head of Staff and Idlewild's future.
3. 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).
4. Reaching out to potential candidates to gauge their interest and to ask questions about their background, experience, vision, and current ministries. The potential candidates also asked questions of the PNC in order to learn more about Idlewild.
5. Listening to sermons available online and doing further research about candidates preferred by PNC members. 
6. Taking time to deliberate over the Advent season, we began meeting again in early January and further narrowed our focus on preferred candidates.

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. 

We invite you to continue in prayer for the PNC as we move forward in our work. 

"Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord."

Romans 12:11

Praise be to God,

The Idlewild PNC

A time of reflection in a season of hope

Over 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)!

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):

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. 

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 pnc@idlewildchurch.org.

Jeanne Marie Cummings
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.

Albert Johnson
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.

Julie Markham
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.

Cindy Moore
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.

Mitchell Redd
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.

Betty Louis Sheppard (chair)
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.

Jeremy Sykes
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.

Jeff Thompson
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will our associate ministers be required to resign when a new pastor is called?
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.

Will there be an interim minister?

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.

What are these acronyms we keep hearing?

PNC - Pastor Nominating Committee

CLC - Church Leadership Connection. The PC(USA)'s online matching system which endeavors to match candidates to open jobs in the denomination.

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.

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.

How is the position being advertised?

Our Ministry Information Form was posted on the PC(USA)'s electronic matching system in September. You can read the Idlewild MIF here. 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.

Have you spoken with potential candidates?

Yes. As of late October, we are in the process of reaching out to and speaking with potential candidates.

....can you tell us about the candidates?!?

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.

I have a candidate or resource to suggest, how can I communicate with the committee?
Please feel free to e-mail any suggestions to pnc@idlewildchurch.org
Otherwise, stop us at church and let us know! Just make certain we have a pen and paper handy.

Who are you, exactly, PNC members?
Betty Louis Sheppard (chair) - ESSheppard@gmail.com
Jeanne Marie Cummings - jcmmings1@gmail.com
Albert Johnson - albert@vuconllc.com
Julie Markham - julie.a.markham@gmail.com
Cindy Moore - cmoore@mifa.org
Mitchell Redd - mitchellredd@yahoo.com 
Jeremy Sykes - jssykes@gmail.com
Jeff Thompson - jthompson@martintate.com

How can we help?

Apart from sending us suggested candidates or resources, we invite you to pray for:

1) our church as we enter a season of change,

2) our committee as we speak with candidates, and

3) the candidates as they discern whether they have been called to Idlewild and continue serving in their current roles.

In Christ,

The Idlewild PNC

Open congregation conversation session

The 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.

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. 

Truly, these sessions have been conversations and not merely passive listening sessions. Because of time constraints (and possibly our own gregariousness), 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. 

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:

Idlewild Presbyterian Church is a community in which ...

Jesus Christ 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.

Worship forms 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.

The focus 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. 

Justice speaks 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  

                                  all who enter find a home. 

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.

With gratitude and love,

The Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee

The Idlewild Ministry Information Form

The 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.

You can read the Idlewild MIF here. 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.

Thank you all for your prayers and suggestions. As we begin the second phase of our search, we ask for your continued prayer.

With affection and thanks,

The Pastor Nominating Committee

The Pastor Nominating Committee

L to R: Jeremy Sykes, Jeanne Marie Cummings, Jeff Thompson, Julie Markham, Albert Johnson, Betty Louis Sheppard, Mitchell Redd, Cindy Moore

Greetings from the Idlewild Pastor Nominating Committee

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Thankfully,

The Pastor Nominating Committee (pnc@idlewildchurch.org) Betty Louis Sheppard, chair (ESSheppard@gmail.com)
Jeanne Marie Cummings (jcmmings1@gmail.com
Albert Johnson (albert@vuconllc.com)
Julie Markham (julie.a.markham@gmail.com)
Cindy Moore (cmoore@mifa.org)
Mitchell Redd (mitchellredd@yahoo.com)
Jeremy Sykes (jssykes@gmail.com)

Jeff Thompson (jthompson@martintate.com) On the web: www.idlewildchurch.org/pnc