Once the list of applicants is received, reviewed, and additional materials exchanged, the search team is ready to start the initial screening, which will take about a week. A few more applications may be received during this window of time.

• Visual Guide: Release of Ministers’ Names

Screening by Individual Search Team Members

Each individual search team member should read all ministerial search profiles and look at all applicants’ websites and privately note their own initial impressions. While every search team may devise its own screening process, here are a couple examples:

• Each member of the search team asks themselves the question “Could this person be our congregation’s minister?” They then note their simple assessment of yes, no, or maybe for each of the applicants.
• Look at questionnaire answers in your congregational record. Agree to a list of 3 or 4 of the most important qualities wanted in your next minister, then have everyone assess each applicant on each quality (e.g. 5 = strength, 1 = area for growth), then note their results.

Initial Discussion of Applicants by Whole Search Team

After the individual search team members have screened and assessed all of the applicants, you can then all meet together and compare notes of their assessments. Here are some tips for fair and fruitful discussions:

• Discuss one applicant at a time.
• Randomize the order in which you discuss them
• Talk about each applicant without comparing them to other candidates or known ministers.
• Take turns sharing individual assessments and the reasoning behind them (such as using a circle process).
• Be curious about differences in perception and assessment

The search team then decides which applicants they still want to consider as part of their discernment, and promptly notify the applicants which they no longer wish to consider.

Protocol for Dismissing Applicants

At this point in the search process, the search team can use the “Dismiss” Button within MinistrySearch. The system will send a standard note (which you can customize) thanking the minister(s) for their interest, saying the search team is not continuing with them, and wishing them well in their search. This prompt communication allows the minister to pursue other interests without thinking they are still being considered for your position.

There is no need to send a separate message outside of the search system; the minister would end up getting two emails.