Last Updated 3/8/23

Selection Process for New Shepherds

(For qualifications, responsibilities, and job expectations, see the Shepherd Job Description, and Roles and Relationships documents.)

1. The church will open nominations for new Shepherds each year in January.
2. In February, current Shepherds will meet with new candidates to explain the responsibilities of the job and determine if those nominated are willing to serve. Current Shepherds are also responsible for vetting the candidates within the congregation and the community, in accordance with 1 Tim. 3.
3. Early in March, all members of the congregation will be requested to vote for all the Shepherd nominees they are willing to follow as Shepherds.  Of the votes cast, each nominee must receive a minimum of 80% affirming votes in order to serve as a Shepherd.  Those who are affirmed will stand before the congregation, the current Shepherds will lay hands on them, and pray over them.  They will then begin serving as Shepherds.

Term Requirements

While serving the church in this crucial way is meant to be a joy, it also takes a toll on an individual and a couple. The Bible teaches us the necessity of Sabbath and Jubilee, and everyone needs a time for rest and rejuvenation - even Shepherds. For these reasons, we have put the following term requirements in place.

1. When a Shepherd is selected, he agrees to serve for 3 years (assuming health allows, he remains faithful in his Christian walk, and continues to meet the qualifications required.)
2. After three years of service, each Shepherd who is willing to continue to serve must be reaffirmed by the congregation. Should he wish to take a break from being a Shepherd, this is an opportunity to step away gracefully.  In either case, the shepherd is encouraged to make their intentions known to the congregation well before nominations for new shepherds close. 
3. If the shepherd is willing to continue serving, his name will be included with the name(s) of any new shepherd candidates when the members vote to affirm their shepherds.  As with new candidates, any shepherd seeking to continue service must receive a minimum of 80% affirming votes of the votes cast. 
4. Any shepherd who has served the congregation faithfully and has decided to take a break may be nominated in any later year to serve once again if they agree, provided they meet the qualifications and are affirmed by the members at that time. 
5. Any shepherd returning to service after a time away would then begin the three-year affirmation cycle anew. 
6. [(Current Shepherds Only) - When this policy is put into effect, current Shepherds should begin to put themselves on this rotation, staggering over the following 3 years so there is continuity in leadership. Since there are 6 Shepherds, it is recommended that 2 of you put yourselves up for reaffirmation each January for the next 3 years. If any of you wish to step down, this will also allow you an opportunity to do so with the least disruption to the congregation. For the sake of continuity, it is hoped you’ll do at least one more 3-year stint.]

Qualifications of Marriage, Membership, and Parenting

Congregations have disagreed about how they understand Paul’s instructions about Shepherds marital status, whether or not they have to be a parent, how long they are responsible for their children, what it means for someone to be a “new believer,” and even how old a person must be to be considered as a Shepherd. At Adams, we desire to be true to the example of Scripture and wise in our application of its principles. Therefore, the following requirements will be placed on those wishing to serve in the role of Shepherd at Adams.

1. Shepherds must have been Jesus followers for at least 10 years.
2. Shepherds must have been a member of Adams for at least the 3 previous years before being considered for the role.
3. Shepherds must be married.  We believe the work and responsibilities of Shepherding others requires the emotional and physical presence of a faithful couple. In short, the weight of Shepherding is more than any one person should carry on their own.
1. We agree to understand Paul’s command that a Shepherd be a “one woman man,” as a command to sexual fidelity and emotional faithfulness to his current wife.
2. Shepherds who become single during their tenure must exit their Shepherding responsibilities.  If they later remarry and establish a stable Christian marriage they may once again be considered.  
3. Becoming a widower or being left by an unfaithful spouse are not something we look down upon or judge.
4. Neither becoming widowed and remarried, nor being divorced and remarried in the past shall automatically be disqualifying at Adams. However, when such a person desires to become a Shepherd, those situations should be considered during the vetting process. When did those events occur in the life of the person?  What were the circumstances involved?  Fidelity and faithfulness are of paramount importance for the couple being considered.  The current shepherds will make a final determination in these matters during their initial vetting of all candidates.
4. Shepherds must have experience parenting.
1. Parenting refers to raising and discipling one or more children.
2. We hold no difference between biological, adopted, and foster children.
5. Because Shepherding involves the spiritual leadership of the Lord’s Church, special attention should be paid to how a man relates to his children.
1. If a man has children at home, there should be clear evidence of how he disciples them, including interviewing those children in the vetting process.
2. If a man’s children are out of the home, their faithfulness is their own responsibility. However, those adult children may still be interviewed as part of the vetting process if the shepherds determine that is desirable.
6. Men who meet the above requirements of discipleship, membership, marriage, and parenting can be considered for the role of Shepherd.
1. The Bible is concerned with wisdom, faithfulness, maturity, trustworthiness, and character.
2. We will impose no age restriction where the Bible is silent.

Decision Making

Sometimes Shepherds are tasked with making difficult decisions for the congregation. We want the church to have a clearly defined, transparent method its leaders use when making these decisions. Our decisions are according to the following guidelines.

1. Limitations
1. It is assumed that all decisions for the congregation are being made with much prayer, love, and consideration for God’s will and the shepherd's love for the congregation.
2. Individual Shepherds may not make policy decisions for a ministry or for the church.
3. Ministry decisions fall under the purview of their respective ministry leaders. The Shepherds have the authority and responsibility to set the vision and mission of the church and the individual ministries. As a group, they also have the authority to confirm, reassign, or remove ministry leaders (see Large Decisions 1.e below, also Shepherds Job Description 4.a).  Aside from that, ministry leaders are empowered to run their ministries effectively.  Because of this Shepherds will not interfere with (micromanage) the minutia of these ministries. Any concerns, ideas, etc. should be discussed with the ministry leaders, and any change in vision, mission, or church direction should be clearly communicated with ministry leaders.
2. General Decisions
1. Simple, general decisions for the church should be made by the shepherds with a majority vote.
2. Whenever possible, decisions involving specific ministries should be made by their respective ministry leaders.
3. Where the ministry leader is requesting guidance, the Shepherds should work with the ministry leader and make a recommendation based on a simple majority vote.
4. Shepherds also vote to approve new church members seeking to be a part of the congregation.

Large Decisions

1. Large Decisions include:
1. Change in vision
2. Change in mission
3. Change in core beliefs or practice, as listed on our website
4. Change in staffing
5. Affirming, reassigning, or removing current ministry leaders
6. Change in by-laws
7. Change in job descriptions
8. Any steps involving church discipline of an individual or group
2. Large Decisions require a 75% majority to affirm.
3. Once a decision is made, all Shepherds agree to support the decision so there might be loving unity, even in our disagreement.