As you’ve hopefully heard by now, we have entered Phase 2 of the pastoral search process. Phases 2 and 3 are focused on gathering and evaluating candidates, and we encourage you to nominate any pastors you would like us to consider using this form. Nominations are completely confidential and are sent to McGowan, who will reach out to the nominee to discern interest.
Phase 1 centered mainly on creating the church and pastor profile. (You can read the profile here and watch a video from some of the PSC members here).
While creating the profile has been the centerpiece of our work as a committee over the last few months, the other distinguishing feature of this first phase has been the CG Prayer visits.
Paula Sachsenmeier and I visited 15 community groups over the last month or so, to give some information about what the search process will look like and, most importantly, to pray together. I know I can speak for Paula when I say that we were greatly encouraged to meet and pray with so many of you. In a time of Zoom fatigue, it was refreshing to leave so many Zoom meetings feeling, well, refreshed.
During those prayer meetings, we focused on three areas of prayer: Joined Hands, Marathon Feet, and Spiritual Eyes. Joined Hands: for unity and encouragement for the church during this time of transition; Marathon Feet: for patience and endurance for the PSC and the congregation during the search process; and Spiritual Eyes: that we would genuinely sense our need for God and be sensitive in discerning His leading. I would encourage you to continue to pray along these lines, for the PSC and for the congregation as a whole.
But I also wanted to share another resource for prayer. As we were wrapping up Phase 1 and finishing the Church & Pastor Profile, our chair, Gi Yoon-Huang, encouraged us to pray as a group using the profile itself as a jumping-off point. Looking under the “Where We Can Grow” section of the profile, we each prayed for one of the 6 areas of growth listed. And of course, these areas of growth are not the be-all, end-all list for CTK’s future growth - they simply represent some of the common themes that arose from congregational feedback about the challenges and opportunities facing CTK Cambridge. So this list is by no means the end of the conversation for us as a church - rather, it is the springboard for more conversation in the coming season.
Mission & Vision: that we would be unified in purpose and mission, to be a living witness of our savior Jesus Christ to one another, our neighbors, the city, and the world.
Communication & Leadership: for greater transparency and clarity in communication, and, as always, for more and more Christ-likeness in our leaders as they serve the congregation and care for one another.
Discipleship & Care: that ours would be a community continually growing in grace and maturity, discipling one another and being equipped for ministry and service.
Diversity, Hospitality, and Friendship: just as Christ has loved, welcomed, and cared for us, that we would love, welcome, and care for all those who enter our doors, and that CTK would ever more closely reflect the true church of Jesus Christ in all her beauty and variety.
Engaging Cambridge: for our city, with its unique strengths and weaknesses, that we would faithfully seek its welfare and peace.
Engaging the Culture: that we would be able to engage with the culture’s hopes and aspirations while confronting society’s idols; to welcome all and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who walks through our doors.
These are lofty requests, but our calling is from the Lord and he who calls is faithful. Let’s continue to pray for the Lord’s guidance, that he would be the one to build our house on the sure foundation that is Christ and his salvation.