Church call process

Well I guess since I created this blog to talk about what is going on in our transition from school to ministry in a church it would be helpful to talk about the process. In the Mennonite church if you are leaving a seminary or program such as the one I am in the first step is to fill out an MLI (Ministerial Leadership Information). This form is similar to a resume except much more extensive. In the MLI you answer questions about your faith journey as well as some of your foundational theology as well as the basic resume items. After the MLI is filled out and submitted to Mennonite Church USA and or Mennonite Church Canada there is an interview with the denominational pastor. The next step is then submitting the MLI to the areas you choose and then contacting the conference ministers in those areas. After the conference ministers have an idea of who you are and what you are looking for in a church you together with the conference minister give the MLI to churches who would be potential matches. After the search team looks at the MLI they choose to pursue further conversation or return the MLI to the conference minister. If they are interested they have the conference minister set up an initial interview (usually by phone). Following the first interview the church and potential pastor agree to continue the conversation or decide it would not be a good fit. If the desire is to continue there is a second interview (usually in person) and another time of mutual discernment. The final step is to have a candidating weekend were the potential pastor is introduced to the church and preaches as well as having a time of question and answer with the entire congregation. The final step is then a congregational vote and offer being made to the candidate, the candidate then accepts the call or declines.
This is a long post but is the general outline of the long process we are currently involved in.