Well, here we are almost a year later and we’ve come to the close of one process, and the beginning of something great for Circle. The search for the Director of Operations is at its end and within a couple of days we will be able to announce the person who will lead us into one of our next phases of development as a body. As the person who’s had the pleasure of shepherding the selection process I am even more amazed at how we partner with Jesus to do what we do, and how honoring it is to people.
We spent the last month and a half gathering the names of six great people who decided they wanted to pursue this impossible role. Very different people, all with varying degrees of experience and connection to the community, but at the same time all of them had, in their own way, a lot of passion about serving the community and finding a way to integrate their faith with their work-life.
Our interview team took on the task of handling the first round, and did it in style. The team was made up of members from both congregations, and consisted of people with a lot of experience as well as some for whom this was their first time interviewing someone. It was a great process that allowed people the chance to participate in something that they may or may not have the opportunity to in their places of work. I was impressed by the questions people asked and the seriousness with which they approached these discussions. Especially since many of them were interviewing their friends! Capping the process was a feedback mechanism which ended with four of the six being selected to go to the final round with the coordinators. Kudos to the interview team for all of their hard work and discernment.
During the interviews one of the things that was refreshing for me was the honesty with which we were able to communicate with the candidates. They reciprocated by being honest with us about their apprehensions and things that, in a different setting, they might have been inclined to come up with some grandiose way to massage an answer. This process was honest, and organic, and allowed the candidates to really grapple with what it was going to mean for them to attempt to meet the call of this role.
As we entered the final night of interviews with the Coordinators I felt a great sense of relief that the Next Thing was about to be birthed. And the night felt like it had that sense of birthing a common discernment. One of the special things was seeing candidates hug each other as they passed on their ways in and out. Watching the camaraderie of them really pulling for each other, and also their statements of support for whoever was selected, was very Jesus like and encouraging to watch.
I was honored to be a part of this time for Circle and I’m excited to see the fruits of all the work we’ve accomplished over the last year. I’m glad that we try to really follow the growing pattern that Jesus lays out for us. Fruit. Vines. Wheat. The seeds coming up out of the good soil, with plenty of water and sunlight. We should cherish the organic nature of how we discern with each other through the Holy Spirit. We can trust it, and grow in the safety of it.