Purpose: The Pastor is responsible to the church to provide Scriptural leadership for life and direction of the membership. The Pastor will have a firm grasp on the purpose, values, strategy, policies, and bylaws of the church. He will work to align ordained ministers, staff, and lay leadership with the church's mission and ministry goals. The Pastor will offer pastoral leadership to the congregation alongside other lay ministers. The Pastor will ensure the systems, practices, and policies of the church responsibly and effectively support ministry activities.
Key Responsibilities and Duties:
1. Preaching and teaching: The Pastor will be the primary preacher for worship services. The Pastor will also provide leadership with other vocational and volunteer staff in planning and executing opportunities for worship, Christian education, and other programs relating to discipleship and ministry training.
2. Strategic leadership and planning: The Pastor is responsible for strategic planning and coordination to support the execution of the church's purpose. The Pastor will work with appropriate lay leadership to define ministry vision for the church with supporting strategic goals and implement the plan by:
– Serving as Ex-officio member of all committees
– Coordinating/leading meetings and other activities to clarify and execute goals and objectives
– Monitoring the spiritual pulse of the congregation with appropriate accountability
– Ensuring staffing, facilities, and programs are effectively aligned to meet strategic goals
– Leading the church to connect and cooperate to extend Christian influence through the local community of like faith and practice, Association, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and Southern Baptist Convention
– Communicate opportunities for partnering with Associational, State, and National Southern Baptist interests
3. Leadership supervision and development: The Pastor serves to provide leadership for deacons, lay staff, and ministry volunteers through a process of pastoral evaluation, mentoring, and encouragement in their respective areas of ministry. He will support the overall mission and ministry objectives of the church by:
– Overseeing training and development of church leadership
– Guiding and leading deacons, lay staff, and ministry volunteers with guidance from the church
– Providing leadership in the design and implementation of all church ministries and mission efforts
– Providing recommendations according to church policies and procedures
– Maintaining efficient and effective communication between lay leadership and church members.
4. Administration: The Pastor oversees administrative goals of the church through appropriate staff and lay leadership to ensure the coordination of ministry, business, facility, and logistical support functions. He must:
– Oversee the pastoral care needs of the congregation and share responsibility with other ordained ministers and church members for hospital visitation, home visits, counseling sessions, wedding ceremonies, and funeral services
– Provide direction as needed for the effective management of church office support functions
– Provide leadership support of various committees and teams responsible for the development of, and adherence to, church budget, bylaws, policies and procedures
Our Congregation is Specifically Seeking:
1. Education: Education levels acceptable are high school diploma with preference given to college/seminary degree.
2. Experience: All experience levels will be considered with a minimum of 5 years’ experience preferred
3. Age: No age preference.
4. Marital Status: An individual who is married is preferred.
5. Skills: Preference is given to preaching and pastoral care.
6. Ministry priorities:
– An effective communicator of well-prepared sermons.
– A gifted teacher who enables persons to learn and understand deep spiritual truths.
– A skilled counselor available to assist persons with personal and spiritual problems.
– A person with leadership vision skills for the future of the church.
– A nurturing leader who is growing personally and helping others grow.
7. Additional selection criteria of significant importance are that of one who:
– Takes a conservative approach to scripture.
– Adheres to the current Baptist Faith and Message.
– Is mission-minded and supports the State Board of Missions and the Cooperative Program.
– Values cooperation with the Autauga Baptist Association and community of believers of like-minded faith.
