The first chapter of the new ministry is candidating week. Along with being a chance for minister and congregation to learn about each other, it sets the tone going forward.

The work of settling a new minister comes to fruition in this phase, though this is more than a vote by the congregation on the candidate. This is a culmination of a process that started intentionally about two years before to prepare the congregation for its next settled ministry.

From moving through the departure of the last settled ministry to transitional ministry to search to beginning a new ministry, the congregation and its search team have made a great deal of progress and done a great deal of work. The congregation has placed a lot of trust in the search team, and it is important to know, even at this juncture, with the apparent focus on the candidate, the congregation is still looking to the search team for leadership. As much as eyes and ears are on the candidate, they are equally on the search team, in whom they have placed their sacred trust.

After candidating week is over, the start of a new ministry will coincide with the end of the current transitional ministry. This will open a new chapter for the congregation.