PASTOR SEARCH COMMITTEE UPDATES

First Covenant's Pastor Search Committee (PSC) provides regular updates in worship on how our process for a new Lead Pastor is going. You will hear from a committee member generally on the first Sunday of the month. Updates are also shared in our weekly emails, and posted here. Continue to pray for our team and the entire process. 


If you have any questions, please reach out to one of our search committee members. 


Pastoral Search Committee (from left to right):

Aaron Nosich (Chair), Janet Hagfors, Bryan Norris (Leadership Team representative), Paige Mann (Secretary), Isabel Patrick Pacheco, Larry Wicks (Finance Team representative), Chris Jordan, Deb Berger, Mandy Griffin (Transition Team representative)

November 2025 Update

Sunday, November 2nd


Updates from the Pastoral Search Committee


Good morning! I am Isabel Patrick Pacheco, speaking on behalf of the Pastoral Search Committee this morning to share updates on this journey.


Our lead pastor job description has been live since September, and we are excited to review resumes of the applicants thus far. Our Committee will be meeting on November 17th next to formally review the resumes that have come in, and what next steps, including interviews, will hold. 


That being said, the position is still live on a number of boards that we hope will capture a diverse candidate pool, and we are still open to more applications before we begin scheduling interviews. Please feel free to share the hiring information from the FCC website under “jobs,” or reach out to a PSC member for more information.


There's more you can do still, too! The results of the congregational input survey have been meaningful for our team to sift through and will continue to anchor us as we consider what questions we are asking candidates in the interview process. We ask for your continued prayers for our committee and church family, especially in areas of discernment as we take these next steps, and for prayers over the candidates and whatever path they are walking in this time – that if it leads to us, God willing, we are excited to welcome and learn more about them. 


You can keep up with our committee's progress anytime by visiting the Pastor Search Committee Updates page under the JOBS tab on our website, which will include updates like this.


On behalf of the Pastoral Search Committee — Paige Mann, Chris Jordan, Mandy Griffin, Bryan Norris, Aaron Nosich, Larry Wicks, Janet Hagfors, Deb Berger, and myself — thank you for your encouragement, prayers, and hopes in season.


Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or thoughts to share. Thank you!


October 2025 update

Last month, Paige gave a great overview of the feedback we received from you — thank you again for taking the time to share your insights. That input is shaping the way our committee approaches this next phase: reviewing applicants.


It’s exciting that our Lead Pastor position has now been live for just under a month. It’s currently posted on our denomination’s website, our church website, and with three local seminaries — Luther Seminary, United Seminary, and Bethel Seminary. In the coming weeks, we’ll be expanding that reach even further to invite a more diverse pool of candidates.


The good news is — we already have applicants! We’re continuing to receive them, and we’re grateful for your ongoing prayers and support. One of the most powerful ways you can help is by sharing that First Covenant is hiring for a Lead Pastor — whether that’s through a conversation, an email, or a quick post on social media. You never know who God might be nudging through you.
Our committee will meet again on Monday, October 13, when we’ll begin developing questions for the candidates we’d like to move forward with.


You can keep up with our progress anytime by visiting the Pastor Search Committee Updates page under the JOBS tab on our website.


As you continue to pray for this process, please join us in asking that God would bring the right candidates to apply — and give our team wisdom and discernment as we review and eventually begin interviewing them.

september 2025 update

With the formation of the Pastoral Search Committee on May 13th, we’ve made meaningful progress in the life of our search as we prayerfully discern who God is calling to be FCC’s next Lead Pastor. Since our first meeting, we have gathered regularly, shared thoughtful conversations, and listened carefully to your feedback.


Our first major task was creating the CovConnect Profile, a tool that introduces First Covenant to potential candidates. With this complete and the job description, our next step will be to launch both the profile and the finalized job description for candidates to apply.


Guided by our values, the process of searching for our next Lead Pastor is not only about filling a role it’s about living into our shared values as a church:

  • Unity and Diversity: Your survey responses reminded us that every person is on a faith journey, and together we continue to grow as a connected family with many voices. Even in our differences, we are united by Scripture and a shared commitment to keep learning.

  • Courageous and Vulnerable: We have welcomed tough questions and honest dialogue, especially in areas where the congregation expressed ambivalence—such as ECC credentialing, which received a wide range of responses. (2.81 as the average on a scale of 1-5 – over 10% strongly disagreed and over 10% strongly agreed that the next lead pastor needs to be ECC credentialed).

  • Integrity and Transparency: To honor this value, the committee will provide regular updates on Communion Sundays, ensuring everyone stays informed and included in the journey.

  • Empathy and Justice: The survey also reflected strong support for a pastor who embraces our inclusion statement (average 4.12 on a 5-point scale) and engages in local and global justice (average 3.89). This reflects our commitment to compassion and action.

  • Historic and Innovative: As we crafted the CovConnect profile, we are honoring our history on the East Side while also recognizing our unique identity as a church dependent on the Holy Spirit’s creative leading for our future.

  • Transformative and Collaborative: Through designated subcommittees, we are working together and with strategic partners like the Northwest Conference and other networks to steward this process faithfully.

From your feedback, these top pastoral qualities emerged: preaching, pastoral care, Bible knowledge, and staff leadership. While other qualities also matter, these stood out most strongly across our community.


To keep the process organized, specific subcommittees have been formed that meet outside of our designated full committee:

  • Finance/Budget Committee: Bryan, Larry, Aaron
  • Church Profile Committee: Isabel, Mandy, Paige, Bryan, Deb
  • Congregational Communications Committee: Paige, Chris, Isabel, Aaron
  • Sourcing Committee (Recruitment Strategy): Chris, Aaron
  • Candidate Communications Committee: Chris, Aaron
  • Hospitality Committee (Coordinating Candidate Visits): Janet, Deb

As we continue this journey, we invite your ongoing prayers for wisdom, discernment, and unity. We believe God is preparing the right Lead Pastor for FCC, and together we are preparing to receive them with open hearts.