Finding Pastors for Small Congregations

Here's an interesting article on how the PCUSA is trying to link newly ordained ministers with small congregations: http://www.krusekronicle.com/2011/02/new-pastors-small-churches-pcusa.html

What do you think? Would this work in the EPC?

I had a couple of quick reactions. The key organizing principle in smaller congregations is relationships. It would be difficult for a pastor to be effective with only a two-year commitment. Small church literature typically advocates the value of a longer pastorate in smaller congregations, as ministry effectiveness grows out of trust -- which takes time to earn. While there's some hope that new pastors raised in cities or suburbs will fall in love with congregations outside those settings, the working assumption in the program seems to be that the small church is a place where a new pastor gains experience for something else. While it does serve a purpose of supplying leadership in places that have difficulty attracting pastoral leaders, with a constant passing parade of pastors the smaller congregation could easily feel like a second class citizen.