# Overview: Pastoral Staff Hiring

**Status**  
Implementation status: Adopted by the Servants Council on May 30, 2026.

### Purpose

This book governs the search and call of the Senior Pastor and any other pastoral staff. It holds the church's pastoral-search procedure as a Council policy, per the July 26, 2026 congregational vote (Motion 4), which struck the former CCCC "Guidelines for Seeking a Minister" appendix from the Constitution and Bylaws and directed that any retained pastoral-search procedure live in the Church Operations Plan.

### Scope

Pastoral hires only. Non-pastoral staff hiring follows Book 08 – Hiring Process (Non-Pastoral). Short-term and emergency pastoral absence is covered by the Pastoral Emergency-Coverage Plan in Book 12 – Leadership Transitions.

### Governance and Document References

- Mayflower Constitution and Bylaws — call of a Pastor (congregational vote by ballot; see the current bylaws for thresholds and notice requirements)
- Guidelines for Seeking a Pastor (SBC) — this book
- Book 08 – Hiring Process (Non-Pastoral)
- Book 12 – Leadership Transitions