Job Overview

Deer Creek Church trains church planters to plant PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) churches through our residency process. For 2 years, a resident joins our staff and works on relevant skill and character development needs for church planting. They take leadership of significant areas of ministry at Deer Creek, join our staff Executive Team, preach consistently, start at least one new ministry or initiative, learn the culture, and begin developing relationships with potential core team members.

In the 3rd year, residents shift their focus to the launch of the church plant. They identify a location, gather a core team (from inside and outside of Deer Creek Church), work on a website/logo, make connections in the target community, purchase equipment and settle on a launch date.

An ideal residency candidate has some ministry experience, but is looking to grow as a leader, pastor and preacher. Experience living in Colorado, or at least visiting is extremely helpful. We are looking for someone who is humble, teachable, entrepreneurial, evangelistic, a good communicator, and open to being challenged about contextualization issues.

Pastors who are already ordained and have planting experience can do an abbreviated residency.

Job Description

Position Summary:

Engage in a customized learning program with the goal of receiving a green light to move toward planting a church in the Denver Metro area.

Goals for the Residency:

• Learn Deer Creek Church's culture and philosophy of ministry.
• Address developmental goals based on church planter competencies document.
• Gain additional pastoral ministry experience.
• Make a significant contribution to the ministry of Deer Creek Church while serving on staff during the apprenticeship.
• Identify a target site and begin ministering there prior to launch, laying the groundwork for the new church.
• Begin the new church with a healthy launch team.

Role During Residency:

• Residents are given the leadership of our Christianity Explored, Hope Explored and Discipleship Explored small groups.
• Residents engage in our welcome ministries. This provides them with the opportunity to make relational connections with new people who might then be part of a church plant in the future.
• Other areas of leadership are determined by their development plan and new opportunities and needs at the church.

Major Objectives: (3-Year Resident Example)

Year 1 (Orientation to DCC)

• Participate in all staff functions (meetings, retreats, etc.)
• Meet weekly with pastoral leadership team
• Lead a Small Group
• Preach 3-5 times at Deer Creek. As available, preach in other PCA churches/plants in our Presbytery
• Work with staff team to identify areas of ministry in which to contribute
• Conduct demographic research on potential target sites; develop a site profile for 1 or more promising sites
• Complete Ordination if not already completed

Year 2 (discipleship and mission)

• Continue participating in all staff functions
• Hone in on a target site (and possibly move there)
• Engage in hospitality and pursue non-Christians
• Preach 3-5 times at Deer Creek. As available, preach in other PCA churches/plants in our Presbytery
• Continue working in appropriate DCC ministry areas

Year 3 (if appropriate; preparation to launch)

• Work with DCC staff to create a comprehensive Church Planting Proposal
• Continue participating in all staff functions, showing hospitality, engaging in evangelism
• Develop a launch team
• Develop multiple groups
• Preach 2-4 times at Deer Creek

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Five years of related experience and/or training preferred
• Seminary Master's Degree required.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certificates:

• An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) or in the ordination process.