The Search Committee: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

[image error]The Good: Churches should roll the dice. Where did we come up with this crazy idea of getting a committee of representative church attendees to go out and steal another church's pastor when we need one? When they needed a new Apostle in Acts 1, they cast lots. Oh well, foolish things we do can make for great writing. Tim Owens, way to go!

Tim takes the typical Pastoral Search Committee (this one of seven people), pours them together with all their problems into an older church van, and puts the story on "blend."

I've been on both sides of this story. I've been on search committees. And, I've been the pastor seeing the obvious search committee walk in the back of the church. I was praying they would like me while hoping no one else noticed them at the same time. Tim is right. It's weird.

Besides the cool story idea, I liked:
1.    The teaching that everyone, including pastors, aren't sinless.
2.    The sermons are terrific, I wish I spoke that well!
3.    The idea that what we are looking for may not be all that far away.

The Bad: There isn't much bad here. The book could have use another edit (some extra words, some awkward writing), and I would have been okay with more clarity about how Jesus is our only answer.

The Ugly: A few things were ugly here:
1.    Me. With a soap-opera book about seven shallow, needy people, why did I get so sucked in?
2.    The Pastoral Search Process really is flawed – ugly even. Maybe casting dice isn't so crazy?
3.    The cover. A couple sheep? Really? Was that the best Tyndale could do?

I'd recommend this book, its great fun. However you must weigh that recommendation with the truth that I received a free copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my review. I wasn't required to write a positive review – but I did anyway. 

Off to the casino. We're looking for a new pastor.

DanielCooley.com