On January 8, 2023, Pastor John announced his plan to retire from Jersey Church.
Below you will find helpful information and answers to frequently asked questions. Keep scrolling to see a timeline.
Click here to read the official press release announcing Pastor John's retirement.
MARCH 29, 2023
Email Update to the church
On Wednesday, March 29, we sent a church-wide email update. We informed the church that additional questions were added to the FAQ section of the Pastor Search page on the website. We informed the church of the time of prayer we had on Sunday, March 26. And we invited the church to our next Night of Prayer for of Pastor Search (Wednesday, April 12 at 6:30PM in the Chapel).
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2023
This past Sunday, Jim Wells (from our Church Council and Pastor Search Team) shared a brief update on our Senior Pastor Search and led our church family in a time of prayer.
Jim shared that we have narrowed the candidate pool down to just a small handful of candidates. Knowing this portion of our search process will take time, Jim asked for our church family to remain patient and to pray. Jim then led the church in a time of prayer. We are listing the various ways we all can be praying as the search process continues.
-Our great God to lead every aspect
-Search Team and His choice sensitive to His Spirit
-Jersey members faithful to pray
-Unity of our church in everything
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2023
Jim Wells (Church Council) led a dedicated time of prayer for our pastor search.
On Wednesday night at 6:30PM, Jim led all in attendance in prayer for dedicated time of prayer for each area listed below. Please continue praying for each of these areas in the weeks ahead.
-Unity during time of transition
-Protection from Satan's wiles and attacks
-Wisdom for the pastor search team
-Preparation of the hearts of all candidates
-Wisdom for all candidates
-The whole search, evaluation, and recommendation process
-For all of Jersey to be faithful in their prayer support
SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2023
Update from Marc Richcreek (our Church Council Chairman and Search Committee Chair) given in all Sunday morning services
As we move through the process of finding the man God has prepared to be our new Senior Pastor, the Search Committee wanted to share an update.
We have moved to Step 3 of the planned 5 step process. Step 2 was Identification, where we were accepting applications and narrowing the pool of candidates. Step 3 begins the more intensive work of vetting the remaining candidates. We will be listening to sermons, reading any online content they’ve produced, reviewing social media history, and having conversations with each candidate. In order to be as thorough as possible we will be deliberate and take the time needed to complete the process.
Please continue to pray for the committee, the church, and each candidate as we seek God’s will.
FEBRUARY 21, 2023
Email Update to the church - from the Search Committee Chair
From Marc Richcreek
Chairman of Church Council and Pastor Search Committee Chair
I wanted to update you on where we stand in the search process and also share specific ways you can pray alongside us. We are still accepting applications, but plan to take the job posting down at the beginning of March. We have received nearly 100 applications to date. Many of those applicants have been eliminated and we are in the process of informing those who will move on to the next phase.
Please join us as we pray for both the candidates and the committee. Pray that we would continue to submit to God’s perfect will. I also invite you to pray for continued unity among the body here at Jersey, both now and into the future. We are so grateful for your support. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with thoughts or questions either via the Pastor Search email, or of course as you see us around at church.
Thank you!
Marc
FEBRUARY 6, 2023
Email Update to the church
We updated the FAQ's section of our Senior Pastor Search website page.
We took common themes and questions for the January 15 an 18 Q & A sessions to update the FAQ section on this page.
JANUARY 18, 2023
Questions and Answers
Church Council invited the church for a time of question and answers at 6:00PM in the Chapel.
JANUARY 15, 2023
Questions and Answers
Church Council met with On-Campus Grow Groups to address questions about the search process.
JANUARY 9, 2023
Search process begins
The search for our new Senior Pastor began. The search team began receiving resumes of potential candidates.
JANUARY 8, 2023
Church-wide email blast was sent to church family
After more than four decades of faithful service to our church, Pastor John has decided to retire from his role as Senior Pastor.
Pastor John shared this morning...
“this has been forty-two years of the
most joy-filled pastoring anyone could ever dream of."
The announcement of Pastor John’s retirement means that Church Council will immediately begin the search process for our next Senior Pastor. Pastor John will continue to lead the church until a new Senior Pastor is in place.
JANUARY 8, 2023
Pastor John announced his upcoming retirement from Jersey Church
On January 8, 2023 (during our Sunday morning services), Pastor John announced his plan to retire from Jersey Church.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
After more than four decades of faithful service to the church at Jersey, Pastor John has decided to retire from his role as Senior Pastor at Jersey Church.
WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?
Pastor John made his announcement regarding his retirement on January 8. Church Council has a framework (see timeline below) that we believe will identify the next Senior Pastor God has ordained to lead Jersey. Pastor John will continue to lead the church until a new Senior Pastor is in place.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR JERSEY CHURCH?
The announcement of Pastor John’s retirement means that the Church Council will immediately begin the search process for our next Senior Pastor. While we work through that process, there will be no deviation from Jersey’s current ministry emphasis or our call from God to create C2 (Care & Connect) disciples. We do not expect this to be a period where the church disengages from its call and waits for God’s man to arrive. Pastor John will continue to lead until God directs us through the search process for our next Senior Pastor.
HOW LONG DO WE EXPECT THE SEARCH PROCESS TO TAKE?
For the men and women of the Search Committee to do a thorough and complete job in identifying, screening, and interviewing potential internal and external candidates, we expect the process to extend into the fall of 2023.
DOES THIS CHANGE OUR MISSION, VALUES, OR MINISTRIES?
We do not expect the DNA of the church to change and will remain committed to the Baptist Faith and Message (June 2000) as our statement of faith. Jersey will continue caring for people and connecting them to Christ. The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) remains our driving force, and our values will remain rooted in:
Scripture is our authority
Caring is our heartbeat
Sharing Christ is our lifestyle
Missions is our mindset
Change is our opportunity
WHAT CAN I DO?
You can pray. Praying will be the most significant part of the search process. The number one priority of the search is to ask the Lord to lead us to the man He has chosen to be the next shepherd to the flock at Jersey. You can also encourage qualified candidates to apply.
HOW CAN I STAY INFORMED WITH UPDATES?
We will use this page to share regular updates on the search process.
We have also set up an email address where church members can submit questions that they may have through the search process:
IS PASTOR JOHN PART OF THE SENIOR PASTOR SEARCH TEAM?
Pastor John is not part of the search team or the search process. The Search Committee members are Marc Richcreek, Scot Burdette, Shaun Kniffin, Jeremy Young, Carl Sauder, Jim Wells, Neisha Grubaugh, and Ali Brereton.
You can email pastorsearch@
ARE THERE ANY PLANS FOR THE CURRENT CHURCH STAFF OR LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE?
There are no planned changes for our current staff or the structure of the staff. There are no plans for the church leadership structure to change. You can learn more about our current structure by following this link: https://jerseychurch.org/
ARE WE ONLY LOOKING EXTERNALLY, OR ARE THERE INTERNAL CANDIDATES?
We will consider anyone who submits an application. That includes both internal and external applicants.
ARE WE USING ANY THIRD PARTY HELP WITH THE SEARCH (SBC, STATE CONVENTION, ETC.)?
We have posted the position on the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) job board. Outside of that, we are not using any third party to assist with the search.
WILL WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE CANDIDATE BEFORE WE VOTE?
Yes. The committee will put together a biographical sketch of the candidate and include links to sermons they’ve preached and any other pertinent information. The candidate will also preach at Jersey before a vote is taken.
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE JOB? DO THEY HAVE TO BE SOUTHERN BAPTIST?
An outline of requirements can be found in Article VI of the Church Constitution (click here). Additional requirements can be found in the job posting (here). Southern Baptist affiliation is not a specific requirement but the candidate’s theology must be consistent with the Baptist Faith and Message.
WHAT SORT OF THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED?
Each candidate that made it through the initial screening process was sent a theological questionnaire. Those questions can be found here, and the answers submitted by the final candidate will be published prior to the vote being held. The candidates will also be thoroughly vetted during the interview process to ensure that they align with Jersey on additional theological and social issues.
WILL WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION THE FINAL CANDIDATE?
The church will have the opportunity to submit questions to be answered by the final candidate before the vote is held. The Search Committee will be responsible for compiling the questions submitted by the church into a single document to be filled out by the candidate. Depending on the number of questions submitted we may condense them into recurring themes. We will set a date and method for submitting questions when we have more clarity on the timing of recommending a candidate.
WHAT WILL THE VOTING PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
The Search Committee will release biographical information on the final candidate, including his answers to the theological questionnaire and questions submitted by the church.
The candidate will preach on a Sunday morning shortly after the candidate information is sent out.
After the candidate preaches, the church will have a week to review the information for the candidate and most importantly, pray to seek confirmation of God’s leading.
The candidate will preach again, ideally the following Sunday. That same Sunday, Church Council will formally recommend the candidate and the vote will be held.
