Key Traits for a Stellar Church Search Committee Chair

Choosing the right leadership for your church staff can be a daunting task, with the search committee and its chairperson playing pivotal roles in the process. Here, we explore the top five traits that make for an exceptional search committee chair, empowering a smooth and effective church staffing process.

1. Objectivity

Like a judge in a courtroom, a stellar search committee chairperson should demonstrate absolute objectivity. Putting aside personal preferences, biases, and preconceived notions, they focus solely on what's best for the church.

2. Strong Communication Skills

Being the primary liaison between the committee, candidates, and church leadership, the committee chair should be clear and articulate about the church’s needs, expectations, and culture. Their listening skills are equally as important and they should address the concerns and questions of both the committee and candidate effectively.

3. Organization and Time Management

Managing a church staff search can be complex, with lots of moving parts. Hence, the role of the search committee chair resembles that of a project manager. They are responsible for keeping everyone on track, managing deadlines and calendars, and ensuring a smooth, efficient process.

4. Discernment

Apart from evaluating a candidate’s skills and experience, discerning their character, calling, and cultural fit is vital for the committee chair. Through insightful questioning and digging beneath the surface, they can uncover a candidate's true potential.

5. Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution

Disagreements and conflicts are inevitable in any group setting. The committee chair should have the knack for negotiating disagreements, addressing concerns, and building consensus while fostering a spirit of collaboration.

While finding someone embodying all these traits may seem challenging, ensuring these qualities in your church committee chair is crucial to a successful church staffing process. It sets the church up for a smoother, efficient, and more fruitful staffing process, leading to hiring the right staff member for your church.

Remember, choosing the right search committee chair is a key step in building a team that will guide your church into a thriving future.

For a deeper look at traits to avoid in a search committee chair, tune into part two of our podcast on this critical topic.