Vanderbloemen Search Group Seeks Pastor for Christ Church Nashville

January 17, 2019 – Houston-based Vanderbloemen Search Group, which finds leaders for churches and ministries, has been retained by interdenominational Christ Church Nashville in Tennessee to lead its search for a new senior pastor.

The senior pastor for Christ Church Nashville will hold a primarily spiritual office, said Vanderbloemen Search Group. The individual must demonstrate godly character, competence and knowledge of Scripture, and biblical truth in preaching, teaching and shepherding. The senior pastor will be the primary leader of the congregation, influencing the church’s vision, ethics and culture.

Christ Church Nashville wants a senior pastor who will provide spiritual and pastoral leadership to the staff and congregation, said the search firm. Other expectations include: seeking the Holy Spirit actively; a desire to see the church grow in every way, including membership growth; and the pursuit of excellence in all areas.

The senior pastor should be attentive and intentional in addressing those, inside and outside the church, who are investigating the Christian faith, said Vanderbloemen Search Group. The church leader will also be expected to promote and communicate the standard of biblical stewardship and, with a team of leaders, work toward growing finances through the restructuring of debt and steadily paying off the debt; inspire and lead the church toward growth of ministries both on Sundays and throughout the week; and represent the congregation in the broader community by attending gatherings of community leaders and participating in civic life.

High Expectations

The ideal candidate for the senior pastor role will demonstrate value for education and lifelong learning. Each candidate’s specific educational background will be considered on a case-by-case basis, said the search firm. A specific study in theology, ministry practice or a similarly relevant field is strongly preferred.

Candidates should also have diverse experience with a range of churches and a vision for the church, with an ability to lead, said the recruitment firm. The ideal candidate will likely have at least 10 years of ministry experience, training, or senior pastor experience.

Prospects for the role must also be ordained, or willing to be ordained, by a legally recognized Christian body known for fidelity to Christian orthodoxy and for integrity in theological, moral and ethical matters.

Personal characteristics for the role include: a lifestyle that demonstrates obedience to Christ’s teachings, consistent spiritual and biblically-moral character on and off the platform; a pastoral/shepherd heart; a strong faith and commitment to personal spiritual growth; an authentic and genuine personality; a passion for leading and experiencing life with a diverse congregation; and an enthusiasm to lead generosity campaigns, fundraising, and stewardship conversations.

A Unique Culture

Christ Church Nashville, which has a weekly attendance of about 1,500, identifies with and incorporates the three streams of Christianity—liturgical, evangelical and charismatic—as a unified expression of their devotional and missional life. The church has a diverse congregation across vocations, cultures, generations and socioeconomic status. It is committed to teaching and practicing an ancient-future faith, as articulated by the Apostles’ Creed. These core beliefs are expressed through Christ Church Nashville’s unique calling and culture, which consists of their roots in the pentecostal/charismatic renewal, their rich musical legacy, the diverse communities surrounding their campus and the contemporary vision they seek to accomplish, said the search firm.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is a pastor-focused search firm that helps churches and faith-based organizations find mission-driven leaders. It has completed hundreds of searches serving churches and ministries from 70 to 70,000 in size, including nearly 100 denominations and tribes.

The firm was founded in 2010 by William Vanderbloemen, who has combined over 15 years of ministry experience as a senior pastor with the best practices of executive search to provide churches with a unique, and some would say, inspirational offering.

Among its recent placements, the search firm has recruited:

  • Eric Geiger as senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, CA. He succeeded Kenton Beshore, who had served in the role for 34 years and grew the congregation from 250 to more than 13,000 people.
  • Geoffrey LaLone as senior pastor of Brick Church in Burlington, NC, which has a congregation of about 100.
  • Scott Davis as the new head of school for the more than 1,000-student Westminster Christian Academy in Opelousas, LA. The role called for oversight of two campuses and two preschools.
  • Timothy Gallic as principal of St. John XXIII College Preparatory, which has upwards of 400 students grades nine through 12, in Katy, TX. The search was completed in three and a half months.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media

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