What a way to find a new job!

Would Paul have set a reserve?

While it’s a cute idea and the pastor has the potential of putting himself in the limelight, there are just too many unanswered questions based on the (contractual) eBay page.  I assume that one could research him based on his links and get an idea of things, but remember, it’s the eBay listing that is the legal contract, and not links to other sites or e-mail addresses (and all I got from his MySpace page, at a glance, is that he’s a Harley fan).  For example:

-Where will the money from the bidding go?  Will this be his salary?  Money for the parsonage?  Given to charity?  He also has a “reserve price” set, showing that there is some sort of minimum that has to be met.  What might this be?

-Is this for a certain fixed term of service to a church?  What about “renewals”?

-All I can tell from the pictures is that he does zany things like embed Mountain Dew machines in the church ceiling and cordon off the nave with construction signs.  What about how he treats his wife and family, in line with Biblical teaching?

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CS

I think it’s innovative, which of course some will think is bad.  it would appear to be a good way to get some attention for his search for a church, since it’s got our attention.

He says he’s non-traditional and unorthodox and I suppose this kind of proves that. 

I also think we need to send out a search party for CS’s sense of humor since he seems to have lost it. He seems to have taken this a bit more serious than I did.  I didn’t see this as a serious, i.e. legally binding, e-bay auction, so much as a marketing tactic.

I’m not an e-bay’er, can you sell your servies on e-bay or hire people?  Or does whoever win the bidding actually “own” Pastor Smith?

As with many Southern churches before the civil war, a literal reading of Scripture can be used to justify slavery.  So perhaps you really can OWN Chad and has family.  Looks like pretty good breeding stock, too. I wouldn’t use him to preach because we’ve got plenty of that. I’m thinking driving the bus or building VBS sets.

I’m worried that CS is going to give himself a migraine pondering the legal ramifications from this. I like this idea. I just went through the ministry job search process and it is brutal- you do have to do something to stand out. Don’t know how any pastor who was hiring would stumble accross this eBay posting though? Or how Todd found it to begin with? Looking at the sanctuary interior design and banners from his photos: it looks like he is in desperate need of a non-traditional church!

Our new lead pastor is named Chad. He’s been here for a few months. Hope he doesn’t want out already!

I favor raising men up the 1 Timothy 2 way from within the body.  We do a Sunday night ministry preparation night and have men and women share testimonies, bring teachings, etc., in an environment where we can identify giftings, pray with one another, and build Christ centered relationships as we seek God’s calling.  I hope to plant about four new Calvary Chapels in our area in the next year or two, Lord willing.  God always has cool things cooking in the kitchen.

Our church uses this approach also. Our pastor’s vision (and the church has accepted this as our vision) is to be a training center to raise up workers both full-time and part time. Although our senior pastor came from outside the church about 12 years ago, all of our assistant pastors and even our office staff have come from within the body. We even have several lay people who are on the path to ordination within our denomination (C&MA;). I’m 62 and getting a bit tired. On Sunday, I looked around at all of the new people and young people who are stepping up into leadership and service roles in the church and in other ministries. I took it as a sign that God was telling me the future of my church was in good hands.

Before I am flamed, I should put the above in context.  I do not doubt Chad & his family’s enthusiasm or his ability or giftings for reaching a segment of society that is often/mostly turned off by church.  I feel God knows where best to use Chad and it is not necessarily to the highest bidder.  I pray him well and godspeed.
M.