How To Search For A Candidate

Ministries in Higher Education Communities embrace a broad variety of staffing patterns at the turn of the century; campus ministers, chaplains, pastors serving congregations in or near university campuses and laypersons in congregations that views campus ministry as a mission field. Many employ full-time staff, others engage staff persons part time. Many call a person who holds ordination in one of the participating denominations; some, however, are hiring laypersons. Available and/or realistic potential funding are critical factors in determining staffing needs.

The search for a person to fill an open staff position is an occasion to build into the ministry its hopes and visions for the future, instead of merely perpetuating past experiences. The ECMT PERSONNEL SERVICE denominational leaders in the participating judicatories and experienced campus ministers and chaplains stand ready to assist the local search committee to work through each step in the process of selecting new staff.

TO BEGIN YOUR SEARCH, we recommend that your local ministry board take the followings steps:

step 1
Conduct a thorough review and analysis of the ministry including:

• identifying the primary campus and church communities served;
• clarifying the goals, objectives, strategies, potential opportunities and directions, structures and finances of the ministry; and
• stating candidly the strengths and weaknesses of the ministry.

• the ministry's goals, objectives, and opportunities for expanding the ministry;
• its supporting denominations;
• specific skills and personal qualities sought; and
• salary range;
• identify the time-line for the search giving an application deadline date;
• List the types of initial information requested from applicants (resumes, proposals, responses to specific questions and references); and
• Give the name, address, telephone and e-mail address of the search committee's contact person.