Transition Process
The transition is an important time of discerning how God is calling us to follow Jesus individually and collectively as a church. It is a time of spiritual growth as together we discern and take steps of faith. The process involves defining the unique attributes of FPCS, the ministry God is calling us to focus on in the future and then strengthening how we are serving in those ways. The transition process culminates in calling a pastor who will help FPCS continually live out its calling as church.
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The Transition Process involves four elements: Listening, Discerning, Planning and Implementing. There are different activities throughout the year that help a congregation do this. Below is a timeline of some of these significant activities.
Transition Timeline
We Are Here
Transition Begins
Winter 2025
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Search for an Interim Pastor
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Session works with COM
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Charlie concludes his call at FPCS
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Pastor Tom Dabasinskas
begins as Interim Pastor
Congregational Reflection
Spring/Summer 2025
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Congregation takes Spiritual Health Reflection
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History and Hopes Gatherings
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Church Life Assessment
Mission Study
Summer/Fall 2025
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Mission Study work begins
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Mission Study Report shared with the Congregation
PNC Work
Fall-Winter 2025
•Survey results revealed
•Mission Study
•Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) formed
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Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) Formed
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PNC Creates Ministry Information Form (MIF) - Church Resume
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PNC Receives and Reviews Pastor Discernment Profiles (PDP)
Decision Process
Winter/Spring 2026
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PNC reviews top candidates
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Finalists visit PNC in person
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Final candidate is chosen by PNC and preaches at FPCS
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Congregation votes
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Approved candidate installed
**All Time Frames Are Approximate
Frequently Used Terms and Acronyms Used During a Transition
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COM: Committee on Ministry: Presbytery committee that supports churches during a period of transition.
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PNC: Pastoral Nominating Committee: The team tasked with nominating our next long-term pastor.
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Mission Study Team: A group of people tasked with gathering and compiling data about the community and our church. This is complied into a report that the PNC will use to create the MIF. The congregation will also have access to this report.
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MIF: Ministry Information Form: The church’s “resume,” which prospective candidates will review to discern a call. The MIF will be created by the PNC.
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PDP: Personal Discernment Profile: A Pastoral candidates’ resume. It is the PCUSA’s format in which pastors describe their skills, experience, and ministry preferences.
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