Pastor toolbox
SERVICES & TRAINING
To schedule any of the training or services listed below, contact Laura Simms – Email Laura Simms or 770-936-5362; Or Laura Gray – Email Laura Gray or 770-936-5364.
Pastor Search Committee Training/Interim Committee Training
The Pastor/Staff Committee training presents a chronological, step-by-step process of the work of a Pastor/Staff Search Committee. The training includes resources to help the committee lead the church in searching for God’s Will regarding a new minister. Each member of the committee receives a study guide for use during the training event.
A CMR Specialist or Consultant will come to your church and conduct a 1.5-2 hour training on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evening. Once your Search Committee is formed please call our office to confirm a date for the training.
Pastor Search Committee Handbook Toolbox
To access training materials related to this training event click here…
The Pastor Search Committee Training is a free service to Georgia Baptist churches made possible by the faithful giving of Georgia Baptist churches through the Cooperative Program.
Transitional Pastor Training
1. Who should attend?
Any Southern Baptist Minister that is interested in training to be a transitional pastor and lead a church through this time of adjustment. This training builds on the knowledge a minister already has and focuses on this transitional time.
2. Where and when is the training?
The training is held at the Georgia Baptist Missions and Ministry Center. Classes are usually held in the Spring and Fall; specific dates will be in the Event Calendar.
3. What is the cost and what is included?
The cost at this point is $115. Included in the cost are the materials, breaks, and three meals. Lodging is not included in the cost but a block of rooms are reserved at a discounted price at the Holiday Inn across the street from the center.
Conflict Mediation
A process of third party mediation is available to churches, church staffs, and associations which is led by trained and certified third party mediators. Seminars on “Understanding and Resolving Conflict” are available for small groups, churches, and associations.
PASTORAL CARE
For more information regarding the following ministries, contact Laura Simms – Email Laura or 770-936-5362.
Barnabas Ministry
The “Barnabas Ministry” is a compassionate service to displaced ministers and their families. This ministry seeks to bring encouragement to suffering ministers and their families by meeting physical, emotional, spiritual and vocational needs.
RESUME SERVICES
Resume Services for Ministers
Click here to create an active resume file with Church Minister Relations.
Please note: The information submitted will create an online resume that will be shared with inquiring congregations according to your instructions.
The information submitted on the Confidential Finance and Confidential Church pages are used for matching purposes only and will not be part of the online resume. This information is confidential and available ONLY to the Church Minister Relations staff.
Please provide complete information. If the REQUIRED information is not received, the personal data will not be transmitted.
Your file will remain active, provided you log into your account at least once every 3 months. If you do not log on it will automatically deactivate after 3 months. If you accept a new place of ministry or wish to close your active file, please deactivate your file on the main resumes site. This will not delete your file and you may re-active this file at any time.
If you have any questions or need help navigating the system please contact Laura Simms – Email Laura or call 770-936-5364.
Resume Services for Churches
Click here to complete the automated resume request form.
Please note: Please provide all information requested. It is confidential to the Church Minister Relations office and your search committee. The information you submit is used for matching purposes only. Our online resume service will match your open ministry position to active resumes received. You will receive any available resumes within 7-10 business days of your request and they will be emailed to the address provided.
Once resumes are received, carefully contact and check all references for each candidate; we do not make personal recommendations but share resumes as information only.
This service is free to Southern Baptist Churches made possible by the faithful giving of Georgia Baptist Churches through the Cooperative Program.
We offer on-site training and general consultation for Pastor Search Committees and Interim-Supply Committees. For more information or scheduling these training events, please contact Laura Simms – Email Laura or call 770-936-5364.
Interim Resumes
For Ministers: To establish an active interim file, please email a PDF of your resume along with a separate PDF of the filled out Interim Preference Form to Laura Simms – Email Laura. Click here to download the form.
For Churches: To receive resumes that match the profile for your church interim period, please complete the Interim/Supply Profile Form. Click here to download the form.
RESOURCES
Church Job Descriptions Booklet
This 50 page booklet provides sample job descriptions for 35 of the most common positions in the church.
Click Here for the FREE Download (PDF 1mb)
Pastor Search Committee Toolbox
The following tools are designed to work in cooperation with training provided by Church Minister Relations of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. If you choose to utilize these tools separate from training please call our office 770-936-5362 for help personalizing these tools to your individual church. (All downloads are PDF format)
Tool 1 Pastor Search Committee Retreat
Tool 2 Directory of Baptist State Conventions
Tool 3 Pastor Search Committee Covenant of Agreements
Tool 4 Pastor-Church Covenant of Relationship
Tool 5 Pastor’s Salary, Housing, Benefits and Expenses
Tool 6 Checklist for Pastor’s Salary, Housing, Benefits and Expenses
Tool 7 Pastor Search Congregational Survey
Tool 8 Position Insights and ministry Insights Assessments
Tool 9 Demographic Profile of Church Membership
Tool 10 Directory of Southern Baptist Seminaries
Tool 11 Biographical Profile
Tool 12 Prospective-Pastor Evaluation
Tool 13 Degrees Related to Pastoral Ministry
Tool 14 Confidential Personnel Information
Tool 15 Reference Release
Tool 16 Portfolio of Church and Community
Tool 17 Letter for Written References
Tool 18 Character-Reference Inquiry
Tool 19 Letter for telephone Interviews
Tool 20 Interview Questions
Tool 21 Sermon Evaluation
Tool 22 Credit and Legal information Release
Tool 23 Request for Criminal Records Check and Authorization
Tool 24 Letter to Prospective Pastor about Questionnaire
Tool 25 Prospective-Pastor Questionnaire
Tool 26 Service of Installation and Commitment
Tool 27 Installation Service
Tool 28 Pastor-Church relations Team
Tool 29 Performance Review
Sample Letters:
First Sample Letter – Acknowledge Receipt of Resume
Second Sample Letter – Different Direction
Second Sample Letter – Top Group
Third Sample Letter – Confirming the Call
Credit and Background Checks
Sites where you obtain a comprehensive criminal background check:
A typical site to obtain a credit check:
Pastor and Deacon Ordination
Constitution & By-Laws
These samples are available to you for drafting and building a church constitution and by-laws.
Compensation Survey
The 2017 Compensation Study was a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources, and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data was collected anonymously from ministers and office/custodial personnel of Southern Baptist churches and church-type missions. Reports are based on compensation for over 12,000 respondents from all 42 state conventions.
Employee Evaluations
Employee Evaluation Sample forms are available for you and your staff. The purpose of the performance evaluation is to inform the employee how well they are doing and evaluate areas for improvement.