Job Overview

I. Position Summary:

Work alongside the Valentine Berean (VB) elder board, in an elder led congregation, to lead the flock, full-time. The Lead Pastor will help cultivate a congregation-wide discipleship culture through teaching God's Word and overseeing the church office, staff, volunteers and all ministries.

Job Description

II. What we want Lead Pastor to be:

A) This man will be growing in spiritual maturity and intimacy with Christ.

Maintaining spiritual and physical disciplines to cultivate character, integrity and a balanced healthy lifestyle, so that he can freely choose to lay his life down, without burning out.
Regularly resting both physically and spiritually, taking a weekly Sabbath and annual vacation time.
Honoring his wife as his first ministry. Maintaining a healthy marriage and therefore a wife who is glad her husband is in ministry.
Having regular accountability with a godly man or men and in compliance with the Pastor's Covenant in Constitution & By-laws.

B) This man will be growing in the character qualities necessary for church leadership listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.

Demonstration of calling to full-time ministry, a heart of a shepherd and the spiritual gift of teaching.
Must be a self-starter, shepherd, servant, and yet teachable.
He shall have an annual performance evaluation conducted by the elders board.

C) This man will be in agreement with the first-order and second-order doctrines of VB.

Note: agreement on third-order issues is not required but teaching of the listed doctrines is requested.
Sign the Pastor and Doctrinal Covenant in the VB Constitution & By-laws.
Being found agreeable to teach the VB Constitution & By-laws, II. Doctrine Statement.

D) This man will be able to communicate, cast and carry out vision for the church.

Be committed to expositional Bible teaching and preaching.
Be committed to training up disciples of Jesus Christ.

E) This man will strive to be a team player, working in unity with the VB staff, volunteers, elder board and flock.

III. What we want the Lead Pastor to do (see also Constitution & By-laws Lead Pastor Responsibilities):

A) Preach and teach God's Word along with oversight of all teaching.

Preach 38-42 Sundays per year with 4 vacation Sundays and an additional 15 office days off per year.
Prepare and deliver biblically faithful, exegetically focused, Christ centered sermons, helping the flock to understand and apply the message.
Provide theological oversight to protect and ensure doctrinal integrity.

B) Provide shepherding of corporate worship, counseling, prayer and pastoral care.

Manage one's time of sermon preparation, all pastoral care, and involvement in the lives of the flock and community in balance.
Plan and officiate corporate worship services including observances of the ordinances of baptism and communion.
Provide biblically sound spiritual guidance, counseling and prayer support to members/attendees, including during times of crisis, illness, grief, or hardship.
Provide day to day leadership of ministries, events and facilities such as weddings, funerals, seminars, trainings, etc.
Promote adherence to church policy and procedures, initiate church discipline in a loving, Scripturally aligned manner.
Serve as a representative of VB in our community and beyond.

C) Provide vision and strategic shepherding in plurality with elders.

Lead to establish, clarify, and communicate near and long-term vision for VB.
Lead/assist in planning, development, goal setting and accountability for church ministries in plurality with the elders.
Work to develop and align volunteer leaders and promote church and individual growth.
Continually evaluate the spiritual growth and ministry effectiveness of church functions, as well as identify and implement improvements.

D) Provide discipleship and leadership development.

Disciple present and future elders to be shepherds at home and to one another.
Take an active role in identifying, mentoring, and multiplying ministry leaders for future growth and health of the church.
Challenge and equip volunteers to serve according to their gifting.
Honestly engage in mutually accountability with the elders to safeguard against leadership failures or abuses.
Promote a culture of grace and truth in all interactions.

E) Provide oversight and administration of all staff.

Effectively communicate, delegate, collaborate and fulfill ministry work alongside the elders and deacons to ensure needs are being met.
Participate in finance/budget planning and exercise stewardship oversight.
Ensure compliance with legal and organizational standards as required.
Oversee staff hiring, evaluations, and development of staff and support positions as applicable.

IV. Qualifications of the Lead Pastor:

A) The Lead Pastor must have gift of teaching, skilled in leadership, have vision and be a people person.

Gift of Teaching = Clear, interesting, energetic, giving a blend of information & life application. Able to connect the Scripture text to the struggles and worldview of the congregation.
Skills in Leadership = A person who naturally attracts and influences others.
Vision = Ability to see the whole picture of the church and not just specific ministries or people, and to see what God is doing internationally, nationally, and locally, and how this church fits in that vision.
Team Building = Passionate about building and maintaining healthy teams.
People skills = Is able to graciously relate to and converse with a wide variety of people.
Stewardship of time = The ability to discern when God wants them to say yes or no.

B) This man should have experience in sermon delivery, teaching, and disciple making.

Have experience in a Senior Pastor role within a church of comparable size is preferred.
Be able to demonstrate priorities in building spiritual depth and maturity above programs.

C) The Lead Pastor should have a Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Bible or Theology.

He must possess (or be willing to possess) licensing and ordination in BFC.

V. Compensation and Benefits:

A) Salary base of $65,000-$75,000, based on successful ministry experience and education, with support for relocation costs. Parsonage is provided. Health insurance, retirement, social security and utilities may be negotiable.

While this is a full-time position, some flexibility can be afforded to allow for limited bi-vocational pursuits provided it does not conflict with meeting the demands of the position.
Continuing education, ministry expenses, book expenses, and travel is budgeted and reimbursed separate from salary.
Paid vacation is listed in the vacation policy. Sabbatical time can be found in the Constitution & By-laws under Lead Pastor responsibilities.

Lead Pastor