Dear Church Family,
* A special Congregational Meeting is called for on Sunday Oct. 5, just after the worship service. Please plan to attend. Please read the notice below for further explanation.
* Also, please long on the church's website at www.mideastchurch.org to see important information regarding the Annual Fair and the Family Meeting.
May God bless you all .. Ihab
Notice and Information
Concerning the Special Congregational Meeting
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Fellowship Hall at Calvary Presbyterian Church Following the Worship Service
A Special Congregational Meeting is called by the Session of the Mideast Evangelical Church (PC-USA) for the purpose of receiving the report of the Church Nominating Committee and electing a Pastor Nominating Committee.
The Church Nominating Committee (CNC) was elected by the congregation for the purpose of nominating church members to serve as Elders and Deacons, elected by the congregation. The CNC is also responsible for nominating to the congregation a slate of active MEC members who will form the congregation's Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). The PNC must represent all major groups and ages in the congregation: seniors, youth, males and females, etc. Although the congregation elected the CNC to act on its behalf to nominate individuals for election, it is the right of any active MEC member to nominate other active members from the floor during the Special Congregational Meeting.
After months of prayer and interviews, detailed explanations of the wide scope of responsibility of the PNC, and the agreement by the nominees to serve, the following individuals will be formally placed into nomination by the CNC on Sunday, October 5, 2008:
· Suzanne Abraham (member): Member since 1994. Currently one of the leaders of the Family Meeting. Her main area of interest is marriage and family counseling.
· Sally Eskander (member): Member since 2004. Sally represents the youth of our congregation. She accepted the Lord as her Savior at the age of 12. She served with first-graders at Sunday schools. She wants to glorify the Lord and to live a Christ-centered life.
· John Zaki (member): member since 2005. His vision is for the growth of the church and for the maturity of its members through solid biblical teaching and a life of witness. John believes that the leadership of the church-including its next pastor-should model the life of a true follower of Jesus Christ.
· Remon Attalla (member): Member since 2003. Accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1992. He served among the youth in Egypt. He has led small groups in the past. Remon designed our Church's website and is currently active in maintaining it.
· Michael Bishara (member). Member since May 2008. Accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1987. Has led worship services, and served among the youth in Egypt.
· Ramses Ibrahim (elder): Member since 1994. One of the Founding Fathers of this church. His main area of interest is evangelism.
· Ihab Beblawi (elder): Member since 1994. Currently serves as the Clerk of Session. His main areas of interest are Christian Education and discipleship.
MEC PNC PROCESS,
Presbyterian Church (USA) Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) Process
Many in our church family are asking about the timing and process of finding MEC’s new Designated Pastor. The national average for finding a new Pastor takes between 18—24 months. What follows is an abridged guideline that identifies the steps normally required to select a new pastor. The guideline divides these steps into three phases of work; (1) preparation, (2) search, and (3) selection.
A. THE PREPARATION PHASE
1. The chair of Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry (COM) selects a representative from COM who will act as a liaison between MEC and the COM whose task is to guide the formal process to completion.
2. The session calls a special congregational meeting for the purpose of electing the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). The Officer Nominating Committee of the local church nominates to the congregation one or two representatives from session and other church groups for the Pastor Nominating Committee, composed of active church members representing all age, ethnic, and gender groups. The congregation elects the PNC. A plan is developed by the PNC to keep the session and congregation informed of the progress of the pastor search process.
3. Conducting the Mission Study: The PNC (or a specially assigned Task Force appointed by the session) conducts a mission study with support from the COM. The Mission Study precedes the preparation of a Church Information Form (CIF) which is used by the denomination to assist in subsequent search work. It includes a statement of the mission of the church, including goals and objectives for the next three to five years. When completed, the Mission Study and the CIF are reviewed and approved by the session, and signed by the clerk of session. The Mission Study and CIF are reviewed and approved by Presbytery’s COM.
B. THE SEARCH PHASE (Note: Because of the professional ramifications of candidates, the PNC process is conducted on a strictly confidential basis.)
1. Receiving Personal Information Forms (PIF’s) of potential candidates: PIF's will start arriving approximately three weeks after Presbytery’s approval of the CIF. The COM representative provides training for the PNC in reading and evaluating PIF’s. The PNC establishes procedures for securing and reporting Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity (AAEEO) data and statistics. The presbytery requires reports. The PNC studies and evaluates candidates as reflected in the PIF’s, rating each candidate using criteria based on the Church Information Form.
2. Compiling a Semi-Final List of Candidates: Evaluating all information on the remaining candidates, the PNC narrows the list to the top 5 to 7 candidates. Exploratory visits between remaining candidates and members of the PNC are arranged. These are informal and without obligation to either party. If possible, arrangements are made with the candidates for visits to their churches. The remaining references are checked. The COM representative arranges for a full background check by Presbytery’s Executive Presbyter.
C. THE SELECTION PHASE
1. Compiling a Final List of Candidates: Candidates receive clearance by COM, and are invited to preach in a neutral pulpit. The PNC has face-to-face interviews with leading candidates (usually three). The COM interviews these candidates. The PNC selects their nominee, and ranks the remaining candidates in order of preference. The PNC negotiates the terms of call with the nominee and secures the approval of the session for the terms of call. The PNC meets with the COM to secure concurrence with their nominee and the terms of call (including housing arrangements, if any). The PNC notifies the session of the concurrence of the COM.
2. The Session calls a special congregational meeting to act on the nomination, and the terms of call.
We are called as a church family to boldly dedicate this process to the guidance and mercy of the Holy Spirit. Your prayers for our church, Session, PNC, staff, and the Presbytery representatives are very important.
Faithfully,
Rev. Brad Calhoun
Minister at Large
San Gabriel Presbytery
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