JOB DESCRIPTION: Bivocational Senior Pastor

The Journey Baptist Church, Elizabethtown, Kentucky

A Southern Baptist Church

CHURCH INFORMATION

The Journey Baptist Church is a small Southern Baptist fellowship in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Founded in 2011 as a house church, The Journey is a welcoming and diverse community of Christ followers with an informal and contemporary worship style, along with a strong commitment to Biblical integrity and life transformation. The church has deep roots in local addiction recovery ministries, and has a track record of faithfully supporting state, national and international missions.

Located 50 minutes from Louisville and 15 minutes from Fort Knox, Elizabethtown is a vibrant and family-friendly community with a population of approximately 30,000 people from a cross-section of ethnicities, cultures and religions. “E-town” includes a historic downtown, scenic neighborhoods, and a beautiful park, along with thriving business, recreation, and education offerings. It’s a great place to live.

We are seeking a Bivocational Senior Pastor to shepherd our church body toward more fruitful service for the greater advancement of God’s kingdom in our local community and beyond, as we embark on a new phase of The Journey’s role in the unfolding of God’s great redemption story.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The Senior Pastor is responsible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach the Bible in a way which clearly communicates the practical impact of the message on our lives and choices. The Senior Pastor will engage in pastoral care ministries, as he leads the church body in answering God’s calling on the people of The Journey at such a time as this. The Senior Pastor shall exercise oversight of all areas of church life and of the staff, both ministerial and non-ministerial. The Senior Pastor will be a vision caster, leading the church to understand, embrace, and accomplish its mission to make disciples both locally and globally.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Senior Pastor Roles

· Preacher/Teacher: The principal communicator of God’s Word, in public worship and in biblical instruction (cf. Acts 6:4; II Timothy 4:1-5; Titus 1:9)

· Shepherd: Models the heart of the Chief Shepherd and ensures that the church is well led, cared for, and protected (cf. Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-4)

· Equipper: Partners with other leaders to empower and equip members for significant service and ministry by discovering, developing, and deploying their spiritual gifts; ensures that the Church is growing to maturity in Christ (cf. Ephesians 4:11-14; II Timothy 2:2)

· Elder/Overseer: The principal leader, vision caster, and shepherd of the church (cf. Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; I Peter 5:1-4)

· Evangelist: Models the practice of personal evangelism and ensures that the church is challenged and equipped to be obedient to the Great Commission (cf. II Timothy 4:5; Matthew 28:19)

Senior Pastor Responsibilities

· Effectively proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and lead the congregation in support of ongoing Bible teaching and discipleship ministries.

· Work with church leadership to clearly set forth vision, mission, goals and service opportunities which members can understand and support.

· Equip, educate, and edify the church, leading members to embrace and to exercise their God-given gifts to build up the body of Christ and to make disciples both locally and globally.

· Exercise biblical authority in matters of governance and discipline as set forth in the constitution and bylaws.

· Model and mentor others in an authentic Christian lifestyle and witness.

· Participate in the planning of worship services and events, and equip staff and lay leaders to successfully coordinate those services and events.

· Provide pastoral care as requested, for example biblical counseling, marriage counseling, weddings, and funeral services.

· Partner with the elders and church members in care ministries, such as visiting the sick and homebound.

· Oversee and lead (includes delegation of tasks) community outreach ministries and events.

· Oversee staff development and ensure that ministerial staff have the resources necessary to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.

· Cooperate with associational, state, and denominational leaders in matters of mutual interest and support the work of Southern Baptist missions and the Cooperative Program.

· Effectively plan, prioritize and manage schedule, balancing Senior Pastor job duties with family and other responsibilities in a healthy and God-honoring way.

QUALIFICATIONS

· Called of God and set apart to the gospel ministry, called by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by a body of believers through ordination (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 3:1)

· Agrees with the statements in the “Baptist Faith and Message” (2000 revision)

· Qualified to minister in the church as required in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9

· Committed to living and serving in a manner consistent with the standards set forth in Scripture

· Exemplifies a godly character, is compassionate toward others, and demonstrates a high level of competence

· Possesses at least a 4-year Bible college degree from an accredited institution

· Has established a demonstrably strong track record of consistent faithfulness to Christ and effectiveness in the duties of a pastor

In addition to the foregoing, the ideal candidate is a man motivated and energized by his close walk with Christ and by a firm conviction of God’s pastoral ministry calling on his life. He exudes love for God, love for people and a sense of urgency for sharing Christ with others. He is an effective communicator, a self-starter, and a self-disciplined leader who enjoys mentoring and partnering with other believers. He has a Christlike compassion for the broken, relates well to people of all backgrounds, and is uncompromising in his faithfulness to Scripture.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

The Senior Pastor will be expected to maintain a flexible work schedule, with long and irregular work hours at times. He will need to fulfill his day-to-day responsibilities consistently and with little to no supervision. He will need to decisively adjust his activities when needed in response to unplanned challenges and crises requiring his leadership or pastoral care. He will need to keep regular office hours (by mutual agreement). He will need to exercise wisdom to follow through on commitments while balancing multiple tasks simultaneously.

While the Senior Pastor job by its very nature is intense and demanding, The Journey’s pastor will not be expected to “do it all.” He will be expected to proactively and regularly communicate with the elders (and with other leaders as applicable) regarding opportunities for them and for the church body to support him in healthy fulfillment of his job duties, through mentoring, training and co-laboring consistent with members’ God-given gifts.

COMPENSATION: $25,000 – $35,000

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

Email your resume and a cover letter to thejourneypastorsearch@yahoo.com.

Or mail them to:

Pastor Search Committee

c/o The Journey Baptist Church

P.O. Box 1593

Elizabethtown, KY 42702

The Journey Baptist Church

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