Lead Pastor Search Process

Lead Pastor Vote – Vice-Chair Announcement

On behalf of our Moncton Wesleyan family, I am thrilled to announce the results of our very strong vote that took place on Sunday, March 19th! In both categories of members as well as combined members and non-members votes, the results were over 97% in favour!

Praise God, Pastor Jim has accepted our invitation and will officially begin his position first thing tomorrow (Monday) morning. We were so blessed to welcome back Jim & Gisele just under three years ago after 25 years of ministry adventure on the staff of three large Wesleyan churches in the US. He has provided excellence in his role as Executive Pastor and has been so effective as our Interim Lead Pastor since September.

We are excited about the model of leadership he will provide as we seek God’s direction in finding the right Teaching Pastor to join Pastor Jim’s pastoral team. The next chapter of Kingdom impact through Moncton Wesleyan has never looked brighter. As your Vice-Chair, I want to express heartfelt appreciation to our staff and pastoral team (including Interim Pastor of Teaching & Prayer, Nathan Adams) for their diligence & highly valued leadership during this transition. I also want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of our Search Committee & Local Board of Administration as our District Superintendent and I have provided leadership to this eight-month journey of discernment.

I know we all look forward to hearing from our new Lead Pastor next Sunday as he shares his public response to this Kingdom opportunity. You won’t want to miss being here to celebrate this new day and to encourage Pastor Jim on his first Sunday as our new leader. Let’s pack out the Celebration Centre and raise the roof with praise for all that God has done to answer our prayers! See you on March 26th!

Search Committee

Lana Brown
Lana Brown
Kevin Campbell
Kevin Campbell
Sean Flanagan
Sean Flanagan
Charlene Gibson
Charlene Gibson
Nancy MacCallum
Nancy MacCallum
Garth MacLean
Garth MacLean
Peter Moore
Peter Moore
Jenna Steeves
Jenna Steeves
Chinelo Uchegbu
Chinelo Uchegbu

Q & A

The job was posted on the Wesleyan denomination and Moncton Wesleyan (MW) websites. The District Superintendent also used his network of contacts to identify and suggest potential candidates.  Candidates were screened and assessed by the Search Committee.  Some candidates progressed to an interview stage with the Search Committee after which the Committee would either end the recruitment process for that candidate or recommend a 2nd interview be conducted by the Church Board. Processing also included background and reference checks, written responses and viewing sermons. Generally, a leading candidate would also be invited to visit staff and preach at MW (called “candidating weekend”) but this stage was not reached for any candidate the Search Committee screened.  It is not required for Pastor Jim because he is already the Interim Lead Pastor, and had “candidated” at Moncton Wesleyan prior to being hired as the Executive Pastor in 2020.  

A Search Committee composed of four (4) Board members and four (4) church members that represent a cross section of our church, co-lead by the District Superintendent (Peter Mooore) and the Co-chair of the Church Board (Kevin Campbell). 

The final decision is a multi-stage process.  A candidate must get the majority approval of the Search Committee, then the majority approval of the Church Board, with the final step being made by church members through a majority vote.  

The following was posted on the MW website during the recruiting phase:

  • Significant experience in quality preaching/teaching/communicating in a larger church context, with a preference for a hybrid of topical/expository preaching as the predominant style.
  • A minimum of 10 years ministry experience with multiple years of senior leadership experience. This could take the form of a senior pastor, a satellite pastor, or an associate pastor on a large staff with significant autonomy and leadership responsibility.
  • A Master of Divinity or an equivalent graduate theological degree or higher is strongly preferred, but an undergraduate ministry degree is required.
  • Strong alignment with Wesleyan theology is non-negotiable. While it is not necessary for the candidate to come from a Wesleyan background, it is expected that the candidate will be prepared to transfer their Ordination credentials to the Atlantic District of The Wesleyan Church upon accepting a favourable congregational vote.
  • A genuine passion and experience in missional outreach as well as international missions.
  • A proven relational team leader. Experience in a multi-staff setting including leadership of paid staff and unpaid volunteers.
  • Willingness to abide by the Guides and Helps to Holy Living as required by the Wesleyan Discipline for credentialed ministers. This includes abstinence from the use of alcohol and recreational drugs. A copy of this leadership covenant was made available upon request.
  • A willing spirit of full submission to the Articles of Religion, position statements, polity, and leadership of The Wesleyan Church and the Atlantic District.

Pastor Jim was born in Newfoundland, then moved to Moncton as a teen and attended MW in his high school years. He graduated with a Business degree from Acadia University (1988) and worked 8 years in business management positions before being called into ministry. Pastor Jim was commissioned by LD Buckingham at Moncton Wesleyan (1996) as he embarked on his ministry call. He completed the necessary academic requirements to be ordained in the Wesleyan Denomination (2001), and has now served in ministry for 27 years, 17 of those in senior level ministry positions, in larger (2500+ attendance) multi site churches, including 12 years as Executive Pastor at Watermark Wesleyan (Hamburg, NY), 2 years as MW’s Executive Pastor, and 6 months as MW’s Interim Lead Pastor. Pastor Jim is in the process of completing his Masters of Pastoral Theology degree through Kingswood University.



Six months.

Twelve candidates were assessed.

Four, counting Pastor Jim.

The Board began investigating and discussing an new alternative leadership model used by other large successful churches where the Lead pastor is responsible for the leadership, vision and strategic direction of the church, while the primary preaching/teaching responsibility resides with an Associate (teaching) pastor. This model leverages Pastor Jim’s visionary and organizational leadership giftings and missional heart, as well as the giftings of an apostolic preacher/teacher who would be hired into an Associate Pastor position. When approached by the church Board, Pastor Jim was willing to let his name stand as a candidate for the Lead Pastor position under this new leadership model. 

See previous question #9

This leadership model is not new, but it tends to be used in larger churches more often, and therefore is less familiar to most people.

The responsibility will reside with the Lead Pastor with support and consultation from the Church Board. 

Moncton Wesleyan is a large church which has currently surpassed its pre-pandemic attendance level, and it has significant potential (and expectation) for further growth and service in our community. The church Board feels this model will best serve for the vision of our church.

The change will be transparent to the church staff because Pastor Jim is already the Interim Lead Pastor.

The change will come into effect if Pastor Jim is elected by a majority vote by church members at a special meeting on March 19, 2023.

Everyone can vote but only church member votes are binding. To become a Member of Moncton Wesleyan Church you are required to attend a membership class (which explains the history of the church, its core beliefs and articles of religion) and sign a Membership Agreement acknowledging and affirming the same.  If you are interested in pursuing church membership, follow this link: https://tidal.church/membership/ 

If elected, Pastor Jim will begin recruitment and screening immediately. It is expected that candidates for a Preaching/Teaching Associate Pastor will be much greater in number than for a Lead Pastor because it will be a more sought-after position. The goal would be to fill this position by the summer.

No, the Associate Pastor will report directly to the Lead Pastor.

The Lead Pastor is accountable to the Church Board and the District Superintendent as per Wesleyan polity.

Please use the form below.