Co-Pastor Nominating Committee

Sunday, April 6 was a special day in the life of our church. The Rev. Dr. Pete Seiferth preached a meaningful message in each of our worship services, and afterward, the congregation gathered for an important meeting to vote on his call as co-pastor. With great excitement, Pastor Pete was elected to serve alongside Pastor Andy, as Co-Pastors of Northminster Presbyterian Church!

This milestone is the result of months of prayer, discernment, and the faithful dedication and work of our co-pastor nominating committee. Thank you all, for your prayers and support in this call-seeking journey!

Pastor Pete’s first official day will be Monday, May 12, and we’re eager to step into this new season of ministry together. Let’s continue to pray and celebrate as we move forward in faith. To God we give all the glory and thanks! Hallelujah!

Your Role in the Process

While the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee has worked diligently to discern God’s calling, the final step belongs to the congregation. As a church family, your role includes:

Praying for Northminster and supporting the church’s ministry through this transition.
Active members of the church attending the congregational meeting on April 6.
Responding to the proposal of the CPNC, and participating in the election of the new Co-Pastor and approving the terms of call.
Continuing in prayer and encouragement for the pastoral ministries and leadership of our church.

Your participation is vital in this exciting new chapter for Northminster. We hope to see you in worship and at the meeting on April 6!

Last week, the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee shared their enthusiasm about the candidate they will present on Sunday, April 6. How did they arrive at their unanimous decision about this candidate? The nine CPNC members have met weekly since September, beginning their work by creating a Ministry Discernment Profile for the Church Leadership Connection (CLC), the denominational pastor search portal. This portal matches potential applicants to churches, based on required and preferred qualifications. The matching process gave the CPNC access to materials from many applicants, which they evaluated for experience, depiction of faith commitments, and potential to be a good fit at Northminster. The committee fielded interest from applicants outside of the denominational portal as well, evaluating nearly 70 potential candidates overall, from across the country.

Through a careful vetting process, the CPNC identified a handful of candidates for initial interviews. With the information they gathered from interviews and reference checks, they narrowed their search to the top candidates. This was a particularly important time for them of prayer and thoughtful discussion as they evaluated the candidates and discussed the nature of the Co-Pastor role, which included a plan for succession upon Pastor Andy’s retirement. God answered their prayers by closing some doors and opening others. They moved forward with a final candidate for a meaningful and in-depth onsite visit that included significant time with the CPNC and Pastor Andy, as well as an observation of the candidate leading worship and preaching at another local church. The weekend together was very fruitful as it gave both the CPNC and the candidate clarity about God’s calling for NPC. With excitement, the CPNC is now ready to present their Co-Pastor candidate!

Your Role in the Process

While the Co-Pastor Nominating Committee has worked diligently to discern God’s calling, the final step belongs to the congregation. As a church family, your role includes:

Praying for Northminster and supporting the church’s ministry through this transition.
Active members of the church attending the congregational meeting on April 6.
Responding to the proposal of the CPNC, and participating in the election of the new Co-Pastor and approving the terms of call.
Continuing in prayer and encouragement for the pastoral ministries and leadership of our church.

Your participation is vital in this exciting new chapter for Northminster. We hope to see you in worship and at the meeting on April 6!

The Northminster Session approved the role of a Co-Pastor to shepherd Northminster alongside the Rev. Dr. Andrew Ross. Following their election by the congregation on September 29, 2024, the CPNC members have sought God’s guidance in their search for a new pastor, always keeping in mind our diverse community. They worked without delay to move the process forward in the wisest and most spiritually discerning way possible. Liz Sellers has served as Chair, Curtis Thorne as Vice Chair, and Karna Walter as Secretary.

On Sunday, April 6, the proposed Co-Pastor Candidate will preach at all three worship services. Mark your calendar and plan to worship with us - it will be a meaningful day in the life of our church!

Then, a special Congregational Meeting will be held at 1pm in the Sanctuary. All active members of our church are invited to attend this special meeting, following worship, to receive the report of our Co-Pastor Nominating Committee and to vote on the proposed candidate and terms of call. This is an important step in Northminster’s journey—we hope you will plan to be there!

From the Introduction:

"Guided by the Holy Spirit, Northminster Presbyterian Church seeks to call a Co-Pastor to serve alongside its Pastor/Head of Staff, the Reverend Dr. Andrew (Andy) Ross, who will transition to emeritus status at a date to be determined ... Now with joy and anticipation, we await to see what God has planned for Northminster Church. There is also joy as we reflect on the exciting story of Northminster’s witness in the Tucson community and as we study our opportunities for a fruitful future."