Job Overview

Grace Church of Ridgewood is seeking a gospel-centered, relational, and mission-driven Lead Pastor to provide spiritual leadership and shepherd our congregation in alignment with our core convictions to Gather, Grow, Give, and Go. The Lead Pastor will be responsible for preaching and teaching the Word of God with biblical faithfulness and theological depth, guiding the church toward spiritual maturity and outreach impact. This role involves vision-casting in partnership with elders and staff, equipping the church to live missionally in Ridgewood and beyond, and cultivating a culture of discipleship, mercy, and multiplication.

The ideal candidate will exhibit humility, relational warmth, and a deep love for Jesus, while embracing our commitment to disrupt suburban complacency with gospel transformation. This full-time position requires strong leadership, pastoral experience, and alignment with the church's doctrinal convictions and vision.

Job Description

What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like:

• A Deep Love for Jesus and a Gospel-Centered Life: Personal holiness alongside humility demonstrates a persistent relationship with Christ which shows through joyful obedience to God's Word. A gospel-rooted life emerges from a foundation of prayer practices and studying Scripture while relying on the Holy Spirit's guidance. Demonstrates intense dedication to spreading Christ through both speech and action.
• Biblical Faithfulness & Gospel-Driven Preaching: This speaker displays strong communication skills and delivers Bible messages through expository teaching while continually teaching about Christ's redeeming actions. This individual harmonizes complex theological concepts with daily living while preparing believers at all spiritual levels to grow into Christ's image.
• Relational Warmth & a Shepherd's Heart: Shows deep love for others while leading with truth and grace and listening compassionately. Demonstrates profound concern for the congregation's spiritual and emotional health. Demonstrates Christ's love through a shepherd's heart by providing encouragement and counsel while imparting discipleship in a relational community.
• Alignment with Grace Church's Vision & Mission: Embraces Grace Church's mission to "disrupt suburban comfort and complacency" by developing disciples who follow the cycle of gathering, growing, giving, and going. The church thrives in gospel impact both locally and globally by following biblically grounded leadership which remains missionally driven.
• Collaborative Leadership & Team-Based Ministry: The organization employs a team-led system where staff members work together with elders, ministry directors, and lay leaders to build unity and promote creative collaboration and shared ministry ownership. The church actively recognizes its members' various abilities and promotes their growth which results in spiritual development and service expansion.
• Training, Credentials & Pastoral Experience: Has obtained an MDiv degree or comparable theological training from a recognized seminary and maintains an ordination status or is eligible for ordination following the tenets of an aligned religious tradition. Demonstrates valuable church leadership abilities with a proven history of faithful, gospel-based guidance during ministry work.