Job Overview
A full-time position responsible for assisting with the pastoral needs within Local Church St. Pete during the first year and planting a new church in St. Pete in the second year. Primary focus includes discipleship, periodic teaching, and developing a core planting team.
Learn more about Local Church St. Pete and our strategy and vision for church planting HERE.
Job Description
What You'll Do:
Year 1-
Pastoral Care
- Shepherd the church through prayer, pastoral care, discipleship and leadership development.
- Participation in Sunday gatherings, including prayer, communion, benediction, administration, care and periodic preaching.
- Serve in the rotation of Sunday Service Directors.
- Provide care through biblical counseling, weddings, funerals, visitation and ongoing member care.
- Immediately begin the Eldership Process with the goal of ordination by the end of the first year.
- Lead classes like Belong Here, Essentials of the Christian Faith and One to One Bible Reading.
- Develop resources such as Sunday handouts and discipleship guides.
- Lead a House Group with the intention of multiplying into additional House Groups led by church plant core team members.
- Build relationships within the community, including local business leaders and church leaders/pastors.
Church Plant Development
- Host interest meetings for anyone interested in joining the church plant core team. These meetings will be open to LCSP attendees as well as the broader community.
- Identify a core team of 50 adults who are committed to supporting the church plant in its initial launch. This team should include individuals from within and outside of LCSP.
- Identify leadership roles from Core Team including a worship leader and children's ministry coordinator.
- Find a meeting location in St. Pete for the plant.
- Work with the LCSP elders and finance team to develop a budget for the first year of the church plant.
- Develop a church planting prospectus that states the vision, mission, values, timeline, and budget for the plant.
Year 2-
Lead Pastor
- Lead direction of the church with any staff and volunteers, ensuring you filter all you do through the mission of "Disciples who make disciples to impact the city of St. Pete for Jesus".
- Provide direction over Sunday gatherings and church calendar. This includes collaborating with staff members and volunteers to develop elements for corporate worship gatherings and other church-wide events.
- Comprehensive participation in Sunday gatherings through primary preaching, prayer, and communion.
- Lead and train other preachers and teachers, setting the preaching calendar and providing regular feedback.
- Oversee Sunday morning and any other corporate prayer gatherings. Set the pace of prayerful Spirit-dependence.
- Invest in focused formal and informal leadership development, including identification, training and care of elders and deacons, as well as church-wide educational/equipping classes and external opportunities.
- Provide oversight and care for full-time and part-time staff.
- Provide high-level oversight of the assimilation process, lead membership classes and Member's Meetings.
- Provide oversight and actively participate in pastoral and member care, including baptisms, dedications, visitations, weddings and funerals.
- Direct the church's missional focus by investing in and encouraging local and foreign mission groups and church plant partners.
- Represent the church in partnerships with Acts 29, Leader's Collective and any other affiliations. Engage with local pastors and participate in peer cohorts.
- Identify a finance team, compensation committee and elders to ensure the overall financial health of the church and fidelity to approved budgets.
How You Will Be Equipped for Planting:
Leader's Collective Church Planting Pastor Cohort
In years 1 and 2, you will participate in a church planting pastor's cohort through Leader's Collective. The Leader's Collective cohort allows pastors to spend extended time developing the characteristics necessary to sustain healthy ministry while building deep relationships with peers for ongoing encouragement and support.
Acts 29 Church Planter's Assessment
In year 1 or 2, you will go through an Acts 29 Church Planter's Assessment. During this assessment, you will be evaluated and advised on their preaching, pastoring, strategic planning and overall fittedness to plant a church within the Acts 29 network.
Care for Your Wife
Because the wife of a pastor bears a unique burden and role in the life of the church, we would seek to invest well in your wife (if married). We want the wives of LCSP pastors to feel supported, encouraged, and prepared to step into church planting life. We will seek to serve your wife in the following ways:
- Personal and couples mentoring with mentor couple
- Regular meeting or relational connection with other LCSP elders' wives
- Prayer and encouragement
What We're Looking For
- Character and gifting must fit the biblical requirements for an Elder laid out in 1 Timothy 3:1-12; Titus 1:5-9 and Acts 20:28. Be familiar with the identity and mission found 1 Thessalonians 1:3-10 and 1 Peter 2:9-10. These are foundational passages to Local Church St. Pete.
- Ministry experience, training, education – minimum 5 years of full-time pastoral ministry preferred
- A love for the local church and an understanding of God's purpose for it, with a desire to plant a church in St. Pete or the Tampa Bay area
- Skills in communicating the bible and imparting vision
- Ability to organize, direct and motivate others
- A clear understanding and respect for biblical theology and disciple-making
- Embody the characteristics of LCSP's core values and culture
- A maturing Christian life marked by a love for God, his Word, and his people
- Theological alignment with Local Church St. Pete
- Humility, teachability, and a desire to grow
Beginning: Early 2027
Compensation: Salary varies depending on experience. Includes a generous benefits package with medical, life and disability insurance, 401(k) and paid time off (PTO). Salary and benefits will be paid for two years from hire date.