Senior Pastor

About Us

First Baptist Church Madison (FBCM) is seeking a senior pastor, as our current pastor will retire in July 2023 after an 11-year tenure. We are seeking a visionary leader who can help us continue our recovery from the attendance drop we experienced during the pandemic, and who can help us reach young singles and parents in the 25 to 40 age group.

The City of Madison is the 9th-largest city in Alabama with a population of 61,133 in 2023. Madison borders Huntsville, the largest city in Alabama. The Huntsville area is one of the fastest growing in the nation and in 2022 was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Place to Live in the U.S. Many residents of Madison are employed by military or government agencies at Redstone Arsenal or by large and small businesses supporting those agencies. More than 60% of Madison residents are college graduates. The schools in Madison rank near the top in Alabama and the U.S.

FBCM was established in 1883. Located in the heart of the Madison Historic District, its impressive architecture and central location make it a lighthouse in the community. The church is surrounded by established neighborhoods and new multi-family housing.

In the past decade, FBCM has completed new facilities and added a contemporary service and online livestream. Our Sunday morning attendance is currently 175 for Sunday School and 200 in the worship services; we averaged 265 until the pandemic. In addition to a senior pastor, the church has four full-time ministers as well as a full support staff. FBCM has a strong culture of volunteerism supporting a full range of programs, including international missions. We have a budget of approximately $1.1 million and relatively low debt.

The focus of our congregation is on loving God and loving others, working together in harmony to proclaim the Word of God, and caring for each other and our community. We strive to provide excellence in worship, education, and ministry. While we are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, our congregation is diverse, with many of our members coming from other Christian denominations. We are a moderate church that focuses on reaching people for Christ rather than government or denomination politics. We celebrate the uniqueness of each individual and the commonality of our salvation experience in Christ.

Qualifications

The candidate must be a baptized believer, rooted and grounded in the Word of God, and dedicated to reaching the world for Christ and building spiritually for God’s service. The candidate must possess impeccable values, character, and integrity. Qualifications must align with the following scripture:

• Mathew 28:19-20
• 1 Timothy 3:1-7
• 2 Timothy 2:24-25
• Titus 1:6-9

Education

The candidate is pursuing or has earned a Master of Divinity (M. Div.) or Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) degree from an accredited college, university, or seminary.

Experience

• The candidate must be a licensed, ordained Baptist minister with at least 10 years of experience as a pastor, associate pastor or other ministerial leadership position.
• The candidate must have experience supervising a staff and leading a congregation to fulfill church goals, mission and values.
• Experience developing outreach programs for young adults preferred.

Responsibilities & Skills

• Superior communication in delivering biblically-sound sermons.
• Articulate a vision for the church that emphasizes and inspires continuous spiritual growth and development.
• Encourage members to use their God-given gifts and talents in living for and serving Christ.
• Promote evangelism beyond the walls of the church.
• Promote and lead in discipleship and growing our members in maturity in Christ.
• Promote unity between the church, the community, and other local churches and Christian organizations.
• Provide management oversight to church staff, ministries, programs, finances, and administration.
• Develop and train staff and church leaders in performing assigned responsibilities.
• Collaborate with church leadership on decisions and manage the varied resources of the congregation with effectiveness and efficiency.
• Plan and conduct worship services, serve as the lead in the observance of ordinances, and conduct and teach in weekly prayer meetings and Bible study.
• Provide pastoral counseling, preside over church business meetings, perform wedding ceremonies, conduct funerals, and perform children’s dedications.
• Continue studying and learning through books, conferences, and seminars.
• Visit the sick and homebound.