Final Report of the PNC

On Sunday, November 29, the guest pastor said something that really hit home for the PNC, “God leads us, Christ directs us.” The Pastor Nominating Committee has consistently felt this guidance in the past 10 months and is overjoyed to report that we feel in our hearts and minds we have found the person that has truly been called to be the next pastor of Brookfield Presbyterian Church, The Reverend Julie G. Peterson.

You’ll remember that the PNC was elected by the congregation on Feb 15, 2009, and began meeting on February 22. The Rev. Wayne Peach, pastor of Apostle Presbyterian Church in West Allis, was assigned as our Presbytery of Milwaukee, Committee on Ministry (C-O-M) liaison. We need to convey our heartfelt appreciation for the guidance and understanding that Wayne provided throughout this entire process. Please let the minutes of this congregational meeting reflect the same.

There were several BPC studies and small group conversations completed in the last few years. The PNC wanted to incorporate all of the information into our Church Information Form (CIF) and subsequent search. We studied and used:

• the “Discerning our Future” process, study and output
• “Back to the Future” small group discussions and meeting notes
• small group discussions feedback 1/2009
• joint session-deacon meeting notes from 12/2008

After reviewing and distilling everything presented to us, we felt even more work was needed in respect to “who are we now” and “where do we go from here?” In March, we had meetings moderated by our C-O-M representative Wayne Peach and two by an outside consultant. After studying the consultant’s final summary report and holding a healing service, we achieved a clarity that allowed us to approach our CIF and future interviews with a confidence where no questions asked of us about our past or future were too difficult to handle. We practiced this openness and honesty throughout the search process.

Our Church Information Form was approved by the session and the Presbytery’s C-O-M, and then was posted on the PC(USA)’s church leadership connection website. In the PC(USA) currently, there are 2,140 clergy seeking relocation, and 532 open positions. We received a total of 86 Pastor Information Forms-PIFs, (resumes). We read and prayed about all of the 86 PIFs we received, both through the matching process and self-referrals. Of the 86, there were 59 males and 27 females. While reading all 86 PIFs, we each rated every one. We then totaled and averaged our ratings to come up with our top 10 pastor candidates. We invited these 10 pastors to participate in phone interviews. At the completion of the phone interviews, we continued our search process with 4 of these pastors. The PNC listened to sermons, read Statements of Faith and held second interviews.

After all the interviews and phone calls, one candidate consistently was at the top of our list, The Reverend Julie G. Peterson. Julie had the top rated PIF, the best first interview, and the best face-to-face interview. We wanted to act with haste, while exercising due diligence. Two of our PNC members went to Julie’s home church for a Sunday service. Two other members made numerous reference check phone calls. Executive Presbyter, Greg Neel did a reference check with Julie’s Executive Presbyter. Background checks have been completed by our Presbytery as well as a “fit” interview conducted by the C-O-M to determine if Julie and BPC were a fit for each other. All the positive feedback from these inquiries, confirmed what the PNC felt; Julie Peterson, our top-rated candidate, was a fantastic match for our church, and clearly was the best fit of ALL the candidates presented to us. We invited Julie to preach at a neutral pulpit, as well as lead a Bible Study for the PNC. We all had the same overwhelming feeling that Julie Peterson was the person God was calling to be the next pastor at BPC.

We are very excited to present to you our candidate for pastor of Brookfield Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Julie G. Peterson. Julie grew up in Winchester, WI, a small community west of Neenah-Menasha. After Julie and Jeff married she joined First Presbyterian Church of Winneconne, Jeff’s home church. Julie was very active in church life and involved on many levels including Elder, Clerk of Session, Youth Leader, Christian Education Coordinator, Assistant Organist/Pianist, and vice-chair of a PNC. Both Julie and Jeff love to sing and have participated in school and church choirs since high school. After Julie’s first year being a pastor, she was elected moderator of her Presbytery.
Business Administration was Julie’s first career. She completed her BBA at Marion College, in Fond du Lac, while working full-time and taking night classes. She graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in May of 2005 with a Master of Divinity degree. After being ordained on June 19, 2005, Julie began her first call in Petersburg, IL, where she continues to serve.

We are so happy to report to you that the PNC is unanimous in our opinion that the Rev. Julie Peterson is the right choice for Brookfield Presbyterian Church. Julie has also felt a STRONG sense of being called here. She will help lead our church into the next chapters of our church history and do it with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.
Terms of call are being handed out. They will be presented in the motion that will follow this report. What you won’t see in the terms of call is the requirement that Jeff Peterson sing tenor not bass for the choir, as he did so well today!!!

This concludes the report of the PNC to the Congregation, thank you for your past and continued prayers and support.

Blessings,
The BPC Pastor Nominating Committee:
Kathryn Dahlke, Chair Joe Fresch, Vice-Chair
Dan Brophey Jean Freuck
Chris Furness Ray Petersen
Karl Strigenz

Report of the PNC – December 2009

We faithfully trust the Lord to guide us in our search.  We have read more than 86 resumes and are now conducting face-to-face interviews.  We continue to meet every week and will continue meeting through the holiday season.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Members of the PNC:  Kathryn Dahlke, Dan Brophey, Joe Fresch, Jean Freuck, Chris Furness, Ray Petersen, Karl Strigenz

September Report of the PNC

The PNC of BPC has reviewed and discussed numerous PIF’s from pastor candidates, and we started the interview process September 20.  We continue to receive more applications from prospective candidates every week.  We are listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we interview these highly talented and qualified individuals to determine the one who is truly called to lead our congregation.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

The members of the PNC: Kathryn Dahlke, Joe Fresch, Jean Freuck, Ray Petersen, Dan Brophey, Karl Strigenz and Chris Furness

Report of the Pastoral Nominating Committee – August 5, 2009

These are exciting times for BPC. The Pastoral Nominating Committee (PNC) continues to meet weekly. Our Church Information Form or CIF is online waiting for matches, and in about two weeks we should be receiving our first batch of Pastor Information Forms (PIFs) or resumes. As this is an open search, we are accepting referrals. Therefore, if you know of a pastor that would be a good fit, please let one of the PNC members know. Our interview process will begin this fall.

How can you help? Please keep us in your prayers.

The members of BPC that you elected and trust to perform the duties of the PNC are Dan Brophey, Jean Freuck, Joe Fresch, Chris Furness, Kathryn Dahlke, Ray Petersen and Karl Strigenz. We thank you for your prayers, patience and support.