Bessemer City First Wesleyan Calls New Pastor

This past Sunday the congregation of Bessemer City First Wesleyan Church voted to extend a call to Pastor Wes Brown to serve as their Senior Pastor. Pastor Brown has accepted the call and will begin his ministry here in July.

The Transition Team developed the following Pastoral Profile based on all the work that has been done with the congregation over the last year.

Pastoral Profile (Spring 2008):

* Bessemer City First Wesleyan Church is looking for continued growth and desires a senior pastor who is willing to grow with us, to seek new challenges, and to explore creative methods of ministry.
* The senior pastor should be comfortable with and provide leadership for multiple style worship services.
* The senior pastor should also be prepared to lead the church as it transitions from a pastoral size model church to a program size model church.
* The senior pastor should be prepared to join lay leadership in moving toward and possible completion of a building program.

A recent congregational survey yielded the following characteristics and responsibilities as most important in our next pastor:

Characteristics of a Senior Pastor:
Srong Leader / Innovator / Encourager / Hands On Worker

Tasks and Responsibilities of a Senior Pastor:

Preaching/Teaching / Leadership/Vision / Prayer/Intercession / Evangelism/Outreach

Worship Style:

Traditional Service
More formal service
Choir, Pianist, future hopes of an Organist
Traditional hymns
Message is currently delivered by Senior Pastor

Contemporary Service/In House Church Plant
Informal Service
Praise team leads worship
Full band
Power Point is used to convey song lyrics & visual aides
Message is currently delivered by Senior Pastor

The transition team feels these services would be best served by having a pastor for each service who’s preaching style matches that service.

I have known Pastor Brown for eight years and have worked closely with him on a number of district projects. He is well respected across our district and has provided strong pastoral leadership in four previous congregations. It is my opinion that he is a very good match to this pastoral profile and am excited to have him coming to assume the mantle of pastoral leadership after my service as an intentional interim.

There have been developments in my personal plans for our intentional interim ministry as well. The next blog will share those plans that God has orchestrated.