[G Richards]

ATXRed - my current role is as a senior pastor in a non-denominational church. When we move Stateside I'd be looking for a role below the senior pastor level, largely because the church would likely be much bigger with multiple staff and programs (already spelling like I'm over there, too - sorry Paul!), and with all of that I'd have a certain learning curve to negotiate.

My ideal role would be to go into a no.2 sort of slot, have some good responsibility and an opportunity to do some things, but also learn lots from the senior pastor. If it matriculated into the senior pastor role down the line, all well and good, but probably not just yet.

The church I'm chatting with later today (via telephone) ticks all of those boxes. It is a Christian Church based in Carmel, Indiana, just to the north of Indianapolis.

The Christian Churches are one of, if not the largest non-denominational network of churches - very big in America. For those non-churchy types the main thing about non-denominational churches is that they are all autonomous, and so there is no central HQ, so to speak. This is good in some ways, and not so good in others, but it is what it is.

I must say that to English ears it sounds a bit odd - tautological - to say 'Christian Church', since presumably all churches are Christian! It's rather like saying 'Moslem Mosque'. If you go to the Mosque I think there's a big clue there as to your religious persuasion! Anyhow, this is the sort of stuff I'll have to get over as we settle over there.

I did some work with a missionary organistation called Christian Missionary Fellowship International in the past, and they have an office in Indianapolis. Hopefully there will be some contacts there if I'm getting a bit stuck with the right door opening up. In fact, I chatted with someone from there yesterday about another matter to do with a Bible College here in England (Birmingham) so it is interesting to see all the different global connections.

I am hoping the right thing opens up. If not, I'm not averse to doing a stint at Starbucks as I make a great latte!