Selecting leadership is basic, and essential to creating an effective ministry.

Tom Faggart                         Home

Nominating Process

"I dread this time of the year because we have to elect officers.  Most of my officers have been in their jobs for years, and what we do is a farce."   "We don't have many people in our church who can lead so we have to give a few members many jobs in order to fill our positions."  "We just don't seem to be able to find people who are willing to work in our church."

These are statements I've heard over 45 years among my colleagues.  Most of them have been in the ministry for years and are still serving at the same level.  Most of them are overly frustrated with their job.

Break out of your prison!  Become a real leader among your people.  It starts with the nominating committee. 

Never under estimate the value of the Nominating Committee.  It needs to be one of the strongest, and creative committees in the church.  It is going to determine where the church will go in ministry. In the United Methodist Church clergy chair the committee.  That does not mean they make the nominations. It does mean they set the agenda, and method by which the committee with function.  "To order the life of the church" ... is one of our ordination charges.  Neither your superiors nor your members will fault you for doing a good job at this point.  In fact this is one of the places you earn the right to lead in your church.   Sooo,  take charge!

The attitude of the minister will go a long way in establishing the atmosphere in this committee.  Secure ministers know that the lay people have an investment in the elective process and want to make good nominations.  Once in a while power groups will arise in the church and try to take over.  However, most of the time lay members will work as a team with the minister in selecting the best leadership possible.

Clergy need a good process to allow laity to select good leadership, and at the same time subtlety control factions in the church.

Years ago I developed a program, which I believe, accomplished this goal.  I have used it in small churches, and in some of the largest churches in Eastern North Carolina.  It worked in Textile Mill churches, large suburban churches,  old mother churches of the inner city, churches serving academic communities, and county seat churches.

Here goes ...

I.  The chairmen establishes two meeting dates, and admits one clean up meeting may may be necessary.  .  However, I found most years we completed the work in two meetings.  Plan for 2-hour meetings.  Tell the people up front to prepare for  the two hours.  

    A. The first meeting.  (Build a master list of prospects to nominate)

Send out a personal letter to each member of the committee to announce your first meeting about a month before the meeting.  Instruct each member to bring a list of 10 persons they feel ought to be involved in leadership in the church.  Please do not include persons who already have such a role with time remaining on their terms.  At the first meeting each person will be given an opportunity to submit their names to the group.  Names will be submitted one at a time.  The names will be put together to compile a general list of names from which the nominations will be made.  Ask them to come prepared  to introduce their suggestions by telling something of the academic, professional, work, family, and leadership backgrounds of the people they want to put on the list.  

Preparing for First meeting

In preparing for the first meeting have the following resources available:

 1. current list of members

2. list of officers of the church

3. list of positions to be filled for the new year

4. some lead pencils with erasers

5. plenty of writing paper

6. A  Discipline or set of the rules of order of the church

7. Information about the expectations of all the positions for which people are to be nominated.

First Meeting

At the first meeting  each person will be given the opportunity to submit their names using the following process.  

Operate like you do when you play a hand of cards.  The first name will be submitted by the person on the left of the chair.  They will be followed by the person next to them adding their first name, and so on until everyone has submitted a name.  This includes the chairperson.  Then the second name will be submitted.  On and on, around and around the table until everyone has given their names.  As names are submitted ask the people to tell the positive things about their candidate that would qualify them for a position in the church.

Several things will be discovered:

 1.  Some names will appear on every list.

2.  You will discover people with abilities you never knew.

3.  A synergy will develop within the group and names will emerge which are not on any list.

Do not allow the group to make motions to fill available jobs in this first meeting.  Center all of your time on making your general list.  Compile a list including every name submitted.  Include notes of backgrounds, and where they may be able to serve.  People will give unsolicited opinions about this as you make the list.  At the end of the session give everyone a copy of your list of names with notes.

"A success hint"

As clergy and leader be smart enough to include the power people of your church on your list.  Opportunity will present itself to help new people on board toward the end of the process.  Be well assured that what happens in this meeting will be whispered among the congregation.  Never, never say anything about anyone that you do not want to meet coming back.  Leaders who have been in position a long time are always interested in the names the preacher places on the list.  If you do not see them as leaders they will feel threatened and troubles will come.

Before the group breaks up give each of them a list of positions to be filled.

Send the committee home to think about the jobs, and the people.  Tell them that at the next meeting they will nominate people they think will fit the positions.  When they are convinced they have a good candidate they can ask the individual for permission to submit their name.  They should tell the person that others may submit names of other people, and their submission may not actualize.  Give the committee two weeks to work before the next meeting.

II.  The Second Meeting:

At the second meeting the chairperson will open the floor for nominations beginning at the highest job to be filled.  Each position open will be placed before the group.  They will choose their nominee. As chairperson I never nominated an individual for any position.  I discovered that a passing comment during the creating of the general list was usually all that was needed to plug the person I felt should be considered for a certain job. If you feel you should be more direct ... Remember you also have a chance to submit names.  

As people are nominated by the group keep a record of who nominated each person selected by the group for each position.  After every position is filled  the nominees have to be contacted and agree to serve. Assign the person who nominated the winner of each position to ask them to serve.  

Before the group leaves assign members of the committee nominees to contact to assure you have their permission to nominate them for the job.  Assure the group that if everyone will be faithful to the process another meeting may not be necessary.  

Establish a date when each member should have the results of their contacts presented to you as chairperson.  Clergy should personally contact all members of the Staff Parish Committee, Trustees, and major chairpersons.  One of the best ways to establish your leadership in the Administration of the church is by making a good approach to these people.

When your committee members report you are going to be surprised that only one or two places did not hold.  As leader you may call another meeting, or poll the members about a couple of possibilities for each position and them call them yourself.  This process really works!