Westside Vineyard’s Process for Succession Candidates from Outside Current Staff
The following offers what the Westside Vineyard developed as part of their succession process (2019-2024). While no such process is the most important part of positive succession, this process provided several qualities that may serve others who are opening up a search process to candidates from outside their current church staff. First, it provided anyone with potential interest a solid initial perspective on the church and it’s area as well as the requirements that were deemed essential. Secondly, it provided an initial set of first steps which allowed easy access but began with objective information which also allowed avoiding undue personal time in extended processes with those who may clearly not meet the basic requirements. Thirdly, by requiring those interested to initially provide responses online, it assures that all members of a Succession Team would review such responses directly, thus elimination any potential bias or limited recall from conversations.
I. An Overview of the Process…
Stage 1 – Initial submission of interest (first level questions). These will be evaluated by two key members of Board / Pastoral Team, to determine if the interest appears to fulfill all the core requirements. This often includes some online exploration about them such as the church / role they have been in or are in… potential teaching if available. If deemed they potentially meet all requirements and would be reasonable to explore further, they will be asked to complete the next level of questions. (If not deemed such, they will be sent a short notes explaining and releasing them from the process.)
Stage 2 – “Second level” responses (requested after first level have determined they appear to meet all basic requirements). This includes requests for assessment / inventories of personal traits in available, teaching examples and references.
Reference interviews. A set of questions will be developed for the references, usually slightly adjusted to reflect the nature of the candidates most “uncertain” aspects of the particular candidate. These will be sent to the reference ahead of time to prepare for a phone interview. Notes will be taken of responses during the phone interview to provide the Succession Team nearly direct statements from the references.
Succession Team Initial evaluation - A document with all of the interested inquiries information will be sent to the Succession Team members, including their direct answers to all online questions, links to teaching examples, and notes from reference interviews.
If Succession Team discerns that there is potential to continue to consider, this moves to Stage 3.
Stage 3 – Visit to provide mutual exploration – Will invite individual and spouse for a visit with all costs provided by the Westside Vineyard. This will include meetings with Succession Team, engaging in weekend worship gatherings, and exploration of the Westside and Westside adjacent areas.
In addition, at this point of invitation, the applicant will be asked to provide some Further Personal Assessments prior or during their visit.
· An assessment of personal traits through the:
o Myer-Briggs
o StrengthsFinder
o Enneagram
· An assessment of social media – to determine potential vulnerabilities from past, and needed discernment in future, regarding what is expressed that could be used negatively against the church if one was to serve as the Lead Pastor.
· An assessment of personal financial giving – this is simply a direct conversational exploration of personal views and practice of personal financial giving to the local church which one is an active member…as it relates to the way in which a pastor models being a contributing member of the community.
If the Succession Team discerns that there is a good basis to continue moving forward, we will then engage Stage 5.
Stage 4 – Professional Personal Assessment. An assessment of psychological strengths / weaknesses for such a role through the Campion group (www.CampionBarrow.com.) They provide assessments for the Vineyard movement for both church planters, missions, and successions. This will include providing some inventories as well as interviewing the potential applicant. They will then present to at least one member of the Succession Team. If there is a further call to the applicant, it is expected that they will also provide a helpful discussion with the individual and current pastor together. Professional Assessment Service (used by the Vineyard for church planters and missionary roles.): Campion group - ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE: 2110 Clearlake Blvd Suite 202 Champaign, IL 61822 Phone: (217) 356-9922 / (800) 292-3399 Fax: (217) 356-9875 info@CampionBarrow.com www.CampionBarrow.com
Stage 5 – Determining Call – At this point, or with a subsequent second visit deemed wise by candidate or team, the Succession Team will process the discerning of a call to come serve in the potential Succession role. This in turn would be an opportunity for the individual / couple to discern their sense of fit and calling. If both of these lead to discerning going forward, there will be a pursuit to find the soonest potential time to make a move to the Westside / Westside adjacent area and begin an initial tear serving in an Associate Pastor role which will include some appropriately paced engagement into some ministry and group life… as well as some weekend teaching. This will allow the family to prepare more fairly to make a lasting commitment to the Westside of Los Angeles and the church community to make an experienced conformation to the succession plan. Based on a mutual conformation, the process would continue into a second year in which an appropriate form of co-leading or “coaching through” can be discerned and developed.
I. Example of What Westside Vineyard provided on Succession Webpage:
Westside Vineyard - Seeking Potential for Succession of Lead Pastor
As part of a larger process of transitioning the leadership to the next generation, the Westside Vineyard Church is seeking potential lives which may be prepared to serve as the next Lead Pastor.
The following was developed as a brief picture to help serve various potential connections and conversations. A more extensive presentation of the Westside Vineyard can be found at: (Another page using text of: About the Westside Vineyard Succession Search - LONGER info )
About the Westside (of Los Angeles)
The “Westside” of Los Angeles is made up of several sizable cities / areas including Santa Monica, Culver City, Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Palms, West Los Angeles…and Mar Vista at the hub. The total population across this area is between 400,000 and 500,000. (More here.)
While much of the Westside community includes families raising children or in later working years, the Westside has been a popular area for younger adult “first career” lives to come live for at least a season. This has increased as entertainment and tech-media companies have been relocating or locating here.
The Westside has long been one of the lowest in “churched faith”… with about 3% attending churches …and is among those areas at the forefront of the emerging “Post-Christian culture.”
About the Westside Vineyard
Originally began from those gathered by Kenn and Joannie Gulliksen (1974)… who first were impressed by the Lord to take the name “Vineyard”.
Now known as the Westside Vineyard Church…in which Brad Bailey has served as the Lead Pastor since 1991.
Current average weekly attendance (all ages and Spanish group) – 375 / Breakdown of average Sunday: 290 adults; 45 youth, 40 children / Households with some active connection – 675. (Note that the size follows having recently planted the Mid-City Vineyard with a team of 35 to 45 members.)
Congregation is relatively diverse ethnically, socio-economically generationally and politically. Ethnicity (of general congregation): 65% Caucasian, 15% Hispanic; 9% Black; 6% Multi-Ethnic; 5% Asian
Currently there are about 10 regular weekly small groups and plans to re-launch Alpha in the summer.
Baptisms – About 12-14 each year
Own their facility which is a large renovated former Italian restaurant with approximately 10,000 sf of building including 1500 sf of office space upstairs and two moderate parking lots. This property lies at the intersection of two major thoroughfare streets and through which over 100,000 cars pass each day. Recently completed about $200,000 of large updates including sanctuary staging / audio-visual / lighting; carpet and chairs, complete renovation of the kitchen; and all new exterior signage.
Operates The Coffee Connection, a full-time coffee house / café. (Open Monday through Saturday 5:30am to 9pm) … with 50 to 70 patrons filling the indoor / outdoor space at nearly all times.
Operates The Learning Zone, an after-school program for under-served kids from first grade through 7th grade, Now in it’s 8th year.
Includes Comunidad Vina - a Spanish language congregation (Akin to the more commonly used name La Vina), launched in 2004. Currently averaging about 70 in attendance.
Recently planted the “Mid-City Vineyard Church” - led by one of the Westside Vineyard’s Associate Pastors and a team of about 40 members.
Current staff team include 6 Pastoral team: 4 Administrative / Facilities Team, and 1 Café Manager (in addition to several café barista employees).
The current annual budget is $1,042,535.00.
Criteria for new senior pastor…
1. Has been an active part of the Vineyard movement and is committed to it.
2. A married man or husband / wife team (due to our sense of best communal dynamics)
3. Is between the age of 32 to 42 and able to invest at least 15 years into building the church into the next generation.
4. Has at least 4 years of experience in full time pastoral ministry and 4 years in organizational leadership (church or otherwise, which included working with a team of 6 or more)
5. Has the ability to think and lead spiritually, strategically, theologically, and practically.
6. Has a reasonably proven gifting as a teacher and communicator (i.e. ability to discern God’s Word through Scripture and comfort being “up front.”)
7. Has experience and comfort with the cultural diversity and urban dynamics similar to the Westside of Los Angeles.
8. Has some positive experience engaging the emerging post-Christian unchurched culture
9. Develops a clear calling from God to lead this church. (Through the process)
About the Search Process
A Succession Team that includes Associate Pastors, some Elders, and some representative committed members will review those identified as potential new Senior Pastor-Leaders… followed by varying degrees of interviews, visits, and ultimately prayerful mutual discernment. However, we welcome initial contact and conversations with Brad - the current Senior Pastor.
The process of transition which we anticipate serving well
Year 1: Brad serves as Senior Pastor, new pastor as an Associate Pastor. (At the conclusion of one year there will be an opportunity for mutual confirmation in the calling to serve as the future Lead Pastor. This initial year allows the potential future pastor to confirm that they and their family feel the connection and calling to make a long term commitment… and the Succession Team to discern the congregational connection.)
Year 2: Brad and new person serve as co-Senior Pastors (At this point it becomes more natural to go through a full year in the life of the church with the new pastor being at the forefront of senior leadership and aspects involved.)
Year 3: New person serves as Senior Pastor and Brad as Pastor Emeritus or a more clarifying terms (i.e Advisory Pastor, etc.) It is understood that the capacity and duration of Brad’s role in this third year should be shaped to serve the new leader…with discernment from the Succession Team.
If you would like to further explore this opportunity…
Those who believe that they may fit the stated qualifications, and would like to explore this potential opportunity further, may simply follow this link (add link) to provide contact information. We understand that you may not feel prepared to formally become a candidate for this opportunity, so please consider this simply a means to a conversation rather than a formal application. Your initial interest will remain limited to the small and confidential group “behind the scenes” of our succession process…and not be made public.
A more extensive presentation of the Westside Vineyard can be found at: ((Another page using text of: About the Westside Vineyard Succession Search - LONGER info )
Initial contact link (TBD)
Online Application for Succession Interest
Online “application” should be thoughtful about the nature of those who God may call but whose initial contact begins through an intermediary person. Unlike usual job roles… we should anticipate those who are not currently without roles… and may be most open to an initial discretionary conversation rather than formal candidacy process. What we desire is that which offers just basic info to serve such a conversation...with a more extended request in due time.
The following dual step is designed only for those who may be initially identified through a mutual third party by way of Brad’s email to some key Vineyard leaders. Following that process, the opportunity will be posted in a limited Vineyard movement site and the two elements will be combined into a single more complete stage.
Initial “If interested in exploring” link provides the following:
If you would like to explore an initial conversation, we would like to ask you to complete some very basic information. We understand that you may not feel prepared to formally become a candidate for this opportunity, so please consider this simply a means to a conversation rather than a formal application. Your initial interest will remain limited to the small and confidential group “behind the scenes” of our succession process…and not be made public. Using this online means of gaining your basic information is simply more natural than trying to collect such in a conversation.
· Name
· Birthdate
· Phone
· Spouse
· Years Married
· Children:
· How did you hear about this opportunity?
· Experience: Please briefly list your experience in pastoral ministry, leadership roles, and the Vineyard movement.
· Initial Interest: How would you describe your current interest? What may be any initial questions you have about this opportunity?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this info. You can be sure that we will be in contact shortly.
Based on review and exploration from above info…each respondent will either be “let go”…or invited to reply to further questions (below).
FURTHER ASSESSMENT FOR THE POTENTIAL OF FUTURE LEADERSHIP OF THE WESTSIDE VINEYARD CHURCH
We value your interest in exploring the potential of leading the next season of life of the Westside Vineyard Church. Please know that we understand that this process is one of mutual discernment… which involves interaction through conversation far more than simply the formality of information. We consider this initial online process simply the best reasonable means of providing some core information which can be shared accurately with the Succession Team… alongside the potential process of personal conversations.
We have established what we believe will best serve as fundamental qualifications for the leadership of the next season of the Westside Vineyard. In response to some of those qualifications, please respond to the following:
1. Please share about your commitment to the Vineyard movement (i.e. participation in area / regional / national gatherings, ect.)
2. If married, describe the form of involvement your spouse has had and / or you would anticipate in the ministry of the church?
3. Please list and describe your experience in full time pastoral ministry as well as organizational leadership (church or otherwise, which ideally may have included working with a team of 6 or more.)
4. What opportunities have you had to be in a position which required the ability to think and lead spiritually, strategically, theologically, and practically? In what ways have you experienced gifting in such (i.e. in your process in leadership, feedback from others, gifting / strengths assessments, etc)?
5. Please describe your experience in teaching / preaching (i.e, context, how regularly, personal process, etc.)
6. Please briefly describe your experience, if any, with Southern California area and more specifically the Westside of Los Angeles.
7. Please describe your experience with cultural diversity and urban dynamics which may be similar to the Westside of Los Angeles.
8. Please describe your experience engaging the emerging post-Christian unchurched culture.
9. Please describe any particular stirrings towards the potential of ministry on the Westside of Los Angeles and this particular role…as well as any particular concerns for such.
10. Please list three individuals who you believe could help assess your fit for this position. Please include their email and phone contact.
Thanks you for taking such extended time to share about yourself. You can be sure that we will be in contact shortly.
Westside Vineyard Succession Team