PSC Monthly Update- April 2026

The PSC has completed the Preparation phase of the pastoral search process. The Church and Pastor Profile documents have been finalized and uploaded to the church website for members and prospective senior pastor candidates. As a reminder, the goal of the Church Profile and the Pastor Profile documents is to clearly express on behalf of our church who we are, what we value, and what we are seeking in our next senior pastor.

Church and Pastor Profile: https://christchurchpresjax.org/pastoral-search

The PSC has progressed to the Collection phase of the pastoral search and will now begin gathering names, researching, and interviewing potential candidates for our next senior pastor.

Pastoral Search Committee Prayer Requests

• Gratitude: We praise God for His guidance through the Preparation phase of the pastoral search process as the PSC completed both the Church and Pastoral profiles and for the spirit of unity and cooperation among the PSC as they continue to fulfill their tasks

• Guidance: We ask God for wisdom and objectivity as the PSC begins the Collection phase which involves collecting names, reviewing profiles, and interviewing potential candidates

• Trust: We ask God to help entrust ourselves to Him as He continues to guide us to the senior pastor He has already prepared for our church

The PSC is committed to consistent and clear communication and will share monthly updates with the congregation in both verbal form and written form in the Christ Church email newsletter.

Grace & Peace,

The Pastoral Search Committee

PSC Monthly Update - March 2026

Per the Session’s Discovery Weekend Report Update announcement, the Session has received MGI’s Discovery Weekend report and the accompanying executive summary and shared these reports with the Pastoral Search Committee. The PSC has used these reports to thoughtfully develop the Church Profile and the Pastor Profile documents which aim to clearly express who we are, what we value, and what we are seeking in our next senior pastor. 

The PSC remains in the Preparation phase of the pastoral search process working to finalize the content and format of the Church Profile and the Pastor Profile documents. Once the documents are complete, they will be posted publicly on Christ Church’s website for Christ Church members and prospective senior pastor candidates. In addition, the PSC continues to study and discuss shared readings and create a Candidate Questionnaire to guide the candidate interview process.

Following the completion of the Preparation phase, the PSC will move forward to the Collection phase wherein the PSC will begin gathering names and researching potential candidates for our next senior pastor.

Pastoral Search Committee Prayer Requests

• Gratitude: We give thanks and praise to God for continuing to guide the committee through the first phase (Preparation) of the search process as they near completion of the Church and Pastor profiles.

• Guidance: We ask for God’s direction and wisdom as we begin phase two (Collection), which involves gathering the names and reviewing the profiles of potential candidates.

• Discernment: We pray for discernment and guidance as the committee listen to sermons, conduct interviews, and search for the candidate God has prepared for our congregation 

The PSC is committed to consistent and clear communication and will share monthly updates with the congregation in both verbal form and written form in the Christ Church email newsletter.

Grace & Peace,
The Pastoral Search Committee

Discovery Weekend Report Update

Dear Christ Church family,

In January, thirty members of our congregation gathered with our McGowan Global Institute consultant, Rev. Dr. Bruce O’Neil, for the Discovery Weekend. This was an exceptionally helpful process for our church's leadership, providing clarity and insight into the kind of pastor we will need in the years ahead. We'd like to thank all who participated in this event.

The Session has received the Discovery Weekend report and the accompanying executive summary and reviewed the documents at our recent Session meeting. These materials are an important part of McGowan’s structured search process and are intended to be handled with great care in keeping with that process.

These reports have been provided to the Pastoral Search Committee to help shape and strengthen the Church Profile and the Pastor Profile materials that will be posted publicly on our website. Both the Session and the Search Committee are approaching this work thoughtfully and with discipline, discerning what should be communicated more broadly—especially as the process includes feedback designed to guide the committee’s work in focused and constructive ways. When these documents are published, you will see the fruit of this careful effort reflected in materials that clearly express who we are, what we value, and what we are seeking in our next pastor.

Thank you for your continued prayers, patience, and encouragement. We are making progress and are committed to pursuing the next steps with wisdom, unity, and trust in the Lord’s leading.

Peace in Christ,
The Session of Christ Church Presbyterian

PSC Monthly Update - January/Febraury 2026

Dear Christ Church Family,

Background
On January 9th-10th, McGowan Global Institute (MGI) visited Christ Church for their Discovery Weekend. The goals of the weekend were to survey members of Christ Church’s congregation from various ages/stages/tenure and begin training the PSC. Based on this congregational survey, MGI will produce their Discovery Report which is expected to be received in mid-February 2026 and will inform the PSC in creating several critical documents (Church Profile, Pastor Profile, Candidate Questionnaire) for the pastoral search.
 
Update
MGI’s training of the PSC began with a review of the entire process of the pastoral search. The process is divided into four distinct but interrelated phases: Preparation, Collection, Evaluation, and Selection. The PSC is currently in the Preparation phase.
 
The PSC has organized itself and continued training with MGI to study shared readings and form a preaching evaluation form. The PSC's next steps are to continue training and work on the critical documents in preparation for MGI’s Discovery Report in mid-February 2026.
 
Pastoral Search Committee Prayer Requests

• For wise use of time, wisdom, discernment, and good health for members as they complete assigned tasks

• For humility, unity, and a desire to please the Lord

• For God’s guidance and direction to the next senior pastor God has planned to shepherd Christ Church in our next chapter

The PSC is committed to consistent and clear communication and will share monthly updates with the congregation in both verbal form and written form in the Christ Church email newsletter.
 
Grace & Peace,

The Pastoral Search Committee

Pastoral Search Committee Approval

Dear Christ Church Family,

Thank you for a fruitful congregational meeting following a spiritually rich worship service yesterday. The unity displayed within our congregation is a great encouragement to us all.

After tallying the votes, we are pleased to share the overwhelming approval of the slate presented at the congregational meeting. The Pastoral Search Committee is officially named as follows:

Committee Members
Hugh Morris
Levi Iszler
Amanda Burton
Carol Craig
Kevin Mackesy
Pat Scott
Josh Shuck

Alternates
Jon Groh
Josh Jacobson
Holly Bosma

Please continue to pray for the Pastoral Search Committee as they begin their work, for a fruitful partnership with McGowan Global Institute, and for God’s grace to be evident in all of our lives.

Grace and peace,

The Session of Christ Church Presbyterian

Pastoral Search Committee Update

Dear Christ Church Family,
 
Thank you for the many nominations to the Pastoral Search Committee. Receiving 41 nominations is a clear sign of your eagerness to find our next Senior Pastor. We are grateful for your engagement and look forward to a fruitful season in the life of our church.
 
Last Monday evening, the Session met to review the nominations and finalize the slate of candidates to be presented at the congregational meeting on January 4. Our discussion was thorough and marked by unity and a deep sense of peace as your Elders. We are “eager to maintain the Spirit of unity in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4.3).
 
Each individual selected is an active member of Christ Church and is committed to the vision, mission, and culture our Session has nurtured within the congregation. Additionally, every nominee has prayerfully considered this responsibility and has willingly agreed to serve in this vital role. Please note, the alternate positions below may become an active member of the PSC only if a current member needs to withdraw from the committee for unexpected reasons.
 
We are pleased to joyfully and unanimously present the following slate for your vote following the worship service on January 4:
 
PSC Members:

• Hugh Morris (Elder)

• Levi Iszler (Deacon)

• Amanda Burton

• Carol Craig

• Kevin Mackesy

• Pat Scott

• Josh Shuck

PSC Alternates:

• Jon Groh (Elder)

• Josh Jacobson (Deacon)

• Holly Bosma 

Please click the link below to learn more about these nominees. If you have any questions about the Pastoral Search Committee, feel free to contact one of our Elders or our Associate Pastor, John Lawler.
 
We invite you to join us in asking God to continue to work in each of our hearts this Advent season that we might be a light to the nations living in darkness. Ask the Lord to guide our church and the PSC as we seek the Senior Pastor that he has prepared for us. And please continue to pray for the Session, Diaconate, and Staff as they lead and care for our congregation during this season of transition.

Congregational Meeting Update

Dear Christ Church Family,

It was a blessing to gather yesterday for our congregational meeting and worship service. Below is a summary of the Session’s report and the actions taken during the meeting.

Interim Pulpit Supply

Rev. Mike Malone has graciously agreed to provide interim pulpit supply during this transition. Mike and his wife, Barb, have been married for 47 years, and have three daughters and nine grandchildren. He has been ordained in the PCA since 1978, and has pastored churches in Florida, Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee. During his time in Florida, he was the Senior Pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Orlando—where he met and mentored Chuck during his seminary years. Mike now serves as the Executive Director of Transforming Tanzania, a ministry he helped establish in 2003.

Please join us on December 7 at 9:30 a.m. in the Narthex for a meet and greet with Mike and Barb. Donuts and coffee will be provided.

McGowan Global Institute

The Session has engaged McGowan Global Institute (MGI), a highly recommended nonprofit ministry that effectively guides churches through the pastoral search process. In addition to their resources, MGI assigns each church a dedicated consultant. Our consultant is Rev. Dr. Bruce O’Neil, who brings more than 35 years of ministry experience along with his consulting work.

A key component of the process is the Discovery Weekend Assessment (DWA), scheduled for January 9–10 (Friday evening and Saturday). During the DWA, Bruce will meet with 25-35 members to assess the needs of our congregation. The results will shape both the church and pastor profiles that the Pastoral Search Committee (PSC) will use in seeking our new Senior Pastor. Participation in the DWA will be by invitation and will reflect the full breadth of our congregation.

Pastoral Search Committee (PSC)

In Presbyterian polity, the Pastoral Search Committee is tasked by the congregation with evaluating and recommending a candidate for Senior Pastor (BCO 20-2). At the congregational meeting, the Session presented three recommendations which were approved by the congregation and will guide our process moving forward.

Nomination Timeline: Nominations are open from November 23 through December 7.

Submission Process: All nominations will be submitted to the Session, which will present a recommended slate for approval on January 4, 2026.

Committee Size & Composition: The PSC will include seven members: at least one Ruling Elder, one Deacon, and five members representing the intergenerational nature of our church.

Please use the nomination form linked below to nominate individuals for the Pastoral Search Committee.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our Associate Pastor, John Lawler, one of our elders, or email us at session@christchurchpresjax.org.