The Dingman Company Seeks Senior Pastor for United Church of Chapel Hill
October 5, 2017 – Executive recruiting firm the Dingman Company is seeking a senior pastor for the United Church of Chapel Hill in North Carolina.
Rev. Dr. Rich Kidd of the Dingman Company is leading the search. The recruiters will explore a broad network to identify potential candidates, the firm said.
After exchanging preliminary information with Dr. Kidd, potential candidates will have their sermon videos reviewed by the church’s search committee before moving on to the candidate review.
The senior pastor is expected to help interpret and convey to the congregation contemporary dimensions of theology, tradition and biblical interpretation, while honing understanding through personal study, prayer and continuing education, said the recruitment firm. The individual will work with the church’s council, boards and committees to carry out the congregation’s mission, plans, stewardship and programs.
Worship
The next pastor has ultimate responsibility for all aspects of worship, and specifically for offering outstanding preaching and leading creative, inviting worship services, said the search firm. The pastor will officiate weddings and funerals, as requested, for church members and will have discretion to do so for friends of the congregation.
The pastor serves as the primary pastoral liaison to the church council, working closely with the moderators and other church officers. The individual will also be the primary pastoral liaison to the board of trustees, helping guide the trustees regarding capital funding needs as they relate to the church’s strategic direction.
Core Competencies
The recruiting firms said the pastor must be an effective preacher and worship leader who engages intellectually and spiritually with an educated congregation, inspires the congregation to reflect and act on biblical insights, and is comfortable sharing his or her own evolving faith journey. The person must be committed to biblically-grounded social justice, relating the Bible’s teachings to the historical and contemporary social context, and translating this commitment concretely through engagement with the congregation and wider community. In addition, the pastor must be open and welcoming to all who enter into the life of the church, especially those who are marginalized and vulnerable, and actively cultivate members as disciples for the church’s mission in the world.
Office and Work Schedule
This is an exempt position. The church expects the senior pastor to model good work-life balance, working approximately 40-50 hours a week, taking a minimum of one full day off each week, and taking regular vacations. In all cases, the senior pastor will be available and accessible to the members of the congregation in emergencies or ensure for adequate coverage.
The United Church of Chapel Hill was founded in 1957 as the union of several Christian traditions. It has an active and growing congregation of 955 members who come from diverse backgrounds and religious traditions, said the firm, but all are attracted to the church by their passion for biblical truth, social justice and caring for God’s creation. Revenue for the most recent fiscal year was just over $1 million.
The Dingman Company, which has locations in Westlake Village, CA and Virginia Beach, serves both secular and religious clients. They include private schools, colleges, universities and seminaries, missions organizations, broadcasting/media, church and para-church organizations, relief agencies and development organizations, childcare, social services and rehabilitation concerns.
Dr. Kidd, vice president of the firm, has a diverse background that ranges from the business world, across the church community and into Christian higher education. For five years he served as director of campus ministries and adjunct faculty at Regent University in Virginia.
Faith-Based Searches
Hunt Scanlon Media periodically reports on search assignments either underway or completed for faith-based organizations. Here’s a look at a few from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
CarterBaldwin Executive Search placed Larry Griffith as CEO of Corporate Chaplains of America (CCA). The board’s selection comes after an extensive search that involved reaching out to more than 1,000 potential candidates. The assignment was conducted by CarterBaldwin founding partner Price Harding.
Diversified Search placed Sean P. Roddy as chief financial officer for Catholic Charities USA, one of the biggest charities in the country. Nalini Perkins, managing director of the recruiter’s non-profit practice, and Mark Mulvanerty, managing director of its financial officers practice, co-led the assignment.
Vanderbloemen Search Group has been selected by First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro, AR to lead its quest to find a new youth minister. The organization is seeking an individual who is “devotional” and has strong leadership skills. Vanderbloemen has carved out a unique recruiting niche helping churches and ministries find mission-driven leaders.
IES Consulting was recently retained by The Episcopal Church (TEC) in New York City to lead its search for a chief legal officer. Dr. George Conway, IES Consulting president, is leading the assignment. The Episcopal Church is active in 109 dioceses and three geographic regions across 17 nations. It is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
FaithSearch Partners placed Amy King as senior vice president and chief people officer of Denver-based Centura Health, a Christian, faith-based, not-for-profit system co-owned by Catholic Health Initiatives and Adventist Health System. It is the region’s healthcare leader with $3.5 billion in net revenue.
Lochlin Partners placed Anthony Sciacca as chief development officer for Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), one of the nation’s largest charities representing a national network of agencies serving poor and vulnerable people and families. Mr. Sciacca previously served as director of archdiocesan appeals at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
