Pastor Search Committee Timeline
Learn more about the steps we’ve taken, and what’s ahead on our journey to temporarily fill the senior pastor role and to call our next Senior Pastor.
Last Updated: April 9th, 2024
December 8, 2021: Westtown Session signed a letter of agreement with McGowan Global Institute (MGI) as our ministry partner to assist Westtown in the search for both an interim senior pastor and for training and consulting with our pulpit committee (PSC or Pastor Search Committee) as well as developing a church profile for that effort. (MGI has 20 years-experience and has helped place over 200 pastors, primarily in the PCA.)
January-March, 2022: MGI made a site visit to meet with church officers and staff and to conduct a search for an ideal interim senior pastor candidate. Session reviewed candidates and their sermons.
April 3, 2022: Congregational meeting to announce progress on search for an “interim” Senior Pastor. Members encouraged to prayerfully consider if they might be called to serve on our future Pulpit Committee (PSC).
April 12, 2022: Westtown Session formally called Rev. Dwight Dunn to fulfill the role of interim Senior Pastor as Stated Supply (BCO, 22-5) for one year, which will require approval by the Presbytery of Southwest Florida at their May 10 meeting. If approved, Pastor Dunn will start at Westtown on July 11, 2022 and preach on Sunday, July 24. He will guest preach (pulpit supply) on Mothers’ Day, May 8.
April 26, 2022: Pastor Dunn passes examination by Candidate Committee of PSWF and recommended to serve as Westtown Stated Supply, pending approval by full Presbytery vote at their May 10, 2022 stated meeting.
May 8, 2022: Pastor Dunn delivers first sermon at Westtown as pulpit supply.
May 10, 2022: Presbytery to vote on approval of Pastor Dunn as Stated Supply in the role of Interim Senior Pastor for Westtown Church.
July 5, 2022: Session called a Congregational meeting for the purpose of electing a Pulpit Committee.
Note: This Congregational meeting will also be for election of new church officers (deacons and elders) as well as ratification of amended and restated bylaws of our Corporation (Westtown Presbyterian Church in America, Inc.). Bylaws and slate of officers will be sent out to the membership for review and consideration.July 11, 2022: Pastor Dunn officially starts as Interim Senior Pastor of Westtown Church.
August 21, 2022: Congregation met to elect the PSC members and alternates; as well as other business as noted in July 5 as well. You can view the PSC Committee members here.
August 26-28, 2022: MGI conducts a Discovery Weekend at Westtown.
August 28, 2022: MGI meets the newly elected PSC members to train them in their new roles, review the results of MGI’s assessments and develop a Church Profile for Westtown to utilize in the pastoral search process. (Note: The PCA uses a standard Church Profile, for churches seeking a new pastor, and a Candidate Profile, for men seeking a call from a PCA church.)
August 2022 – March 2024 (typically 12-18 months): PSC meets weekly to vet candidates and determine a group of finalists. This will include listening to sermons as well as visits to churches of top candidate(s). The PSC will continue to meet until the PSC is ready to present their candidate to the Congregation for a YES/NO vote. Typically they will ask their finalist to preach at Westtown in the process.
March 3, 2024: PSC Announcement to Church that their candidate will guest preach on March 10 and Session Calls a Congregational Meeting for March 24 between services.
March 10, 2024: Candidate scheduled to guest preach at Westtown Church.
March 24, 2024: Congregation meets and votes on whether to call the candidate or not. If a Yes from the Congregation, the details of the Call are put into writing and agreed upon by the candidate. Then the candidate must be approved by the Presbytery. If approved, a start date is set, with probably a 90-day transition by our interim to our new senior pastor. Members of Westtown Church voted to officially call the candidate as the Senior Pastor of Westtown Church.
April 15: Last day for our Senior Pastor Candidate to submit credentials and written examination to the Presbytery Examining Committee
April 29: Appearance before the Southwest Florida Presbytery Examining Committee
May 14: Examination before the full Southwest Florida Presbytery
May 31: Our Senior Pastor Candidate’s last day at his current church
June 2: Our Senior Pastor Candidate will be installed as the next Senior Pastor at Westtown Church