General Information

Job Title:

Pastor for Discipleship and Community Life Job Description: Forestgate Presbyterian Church

Job Description:

Position Summary

In general, the Pastor for Discipleship and Community Life (PDCL) is to help the Senior Pastor (SP)

and the Session of FPC in shepherding the flock toward accomplishing the church's stated

purpose, with particular responsibilities to oversee Discipleship, Church Growth, Christian

Education, Fellowship, and Family/Individual Care.

The PDCL will work closely with the SP and Session in leading, evaluating, managing, and refining

these areas along with other activities as directed by the SP. In addition, he will work alongside the

rest of the staff to complete designated day-to-day activities of the church while participating in

long-range planning and program development.

This Pastoral position is anticipated to be an Assistant Pastor position, however, candidates with

appropriate experience and gifting may be considered for an Associate Pastor position.

Expectations

The PDCL must be a passionate Christ-centered leader who is a student of God's word and a

humble servant leader, as well as friendly and gentle towards those both within and outside the

church. He should be compassionate towards the weak and burdened, an attentive listener to all,

and a good mentor with a genuine pastoral heart. His personal actions and relationships must

reflect godly character based on Biblical standards, including being trustworthy, approachable,

and personable.

In the PDCL's principal areas of responsibility, he is to work with and alongside existing Ministry

Teams, and when deemed necessary, to develop new ministries or programs that engage,

encourage, and equip FPC for its work of ministry (Eph 4:12) and its growth in conformity to the

image of the Son (Rom 8:29).

FPC affirms the priesthood of all believers and our need of one another in the body of Christ. Each

member of the body has unique gifts and contributions as well as unique personalities. As a leader

in the church, the PDCL must be able to work well with others and also be able to unite those with

different gifts to accomplish common goals. He must also be able to encourage those who are

immature and teach those who are inexperienced so that the whole body might be built up in grace

and love. He must also be able to humbly deal with the ignorant and wayward.

The call to "grow together in Christ," also defines the heart of the PDCL's job to inspire unity,

encourage fellowship, and nurture spiritual maturity in the flock at FPC. In all things, the PDCL

must demonstrate personal righteousness, faith, hope, and love for Christ and others.

Duties

The primary duties of the PDCL include, but are not limited to: discipleship ministries, community

groups, Christian education, visitor and new member assimilation, and visitation of those in need.

While these will take up the bulk of his weekly schedule, the PDCL should also devote regular time

to prayer and growing in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. He is also expected to set aside

time to step back from routine daily tasks in order to view the overall ministry of the church and

subsequently provide suggestions for the staff and Session to improve and/or expand ministries to

meet the evolving needs of the church. He is encouraged to find individuals in the church with

whom he can work as fellow-workers in the gospel.

Discipleship Ministries

The PDCL will work alongside the various Ministry Teams that are focused on discipleship in the

church including: Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Community Groups, and Christian

Education. While these teams work through their own volunteers, he will be a crucial part of

helping the teams know what the goals of FPC are in these areas and how critical their roles are in

fulfilling them. He will work in conjunction with the Assistant Pastor for Youth and Families, to

ensure that similar philosophies of discipleship exist between the youth programs and adult

programs.

Church

The PDCL will develop and implement a plan that takes people from being new visitors to FPC all

the way through membership and full participation and involvement in church ministries, even to

training for possible leadership positions at FPC to include the following:

1. New Christian/New Member Connection and Integration

2. Growth in Biblical Wisdom and Understanding, Maturity, and Devotion

3. Training for Spiritual Leadership

The PDCL will regularly teach God's word addressing these areas in venues such as Sunday

School, community groups, Bible studies, and special meetings.

Preaching & Teaching

Although the SP's highest priority is the regular weekly preaching of the Word of God, the PDCL is

expected to preach at least six times per year as coordinated by the SP. It is important that the

PDCL have additional opportunities to develop and practice his own preaching skills. The PDCL

may preach up to 4 times per year, or once a quarter, as pulpit supply to develop his skills and fill

the needs of other churches within the Presbytery, as long as the PDCL is not needed for preaching

at FPC. Filling pulpit supply opportunities will be approved by the SP, and the Session will be

notified of such occurrences.

New Member Class Administration

The PDCL will conduct membership/orientation sessions twice a year (Spring and Fall) that cover a

range of topics to assist visitors and potential new members in understanding FPC – what we

believe and why we believe it. The PDCL is responsible for total coordination of all aspects of these

sessions including but not limited to scheduling, recruiting teachers, and updating class content

prior to the sessions. After the class sessions, the PDCL will coordinate and schedule new member

interviews with Session members, and he will schedule the congregational presentation of the new

members after interviews are complete.

Hospital and Hospice Visitation

The PDCL will take the lead in making visits to members and regular attenders who are

hospitalized, in extended rehabilitation care, or in hospice. If he is not available to make a visit, he

will ensure that another pastor or ruling elder is notified so that they can make the visit. The PDCL

should notify the SP of all needed visits in case the SP thinks he should make the visit himself.

Management Oversight

The PDCL reports directly to the SP. The Session, with input from other church leaders, develops

the vision for the church and the necessary strategies to carry out that vision. The SP has primary

responsibility for the overall management and leadership of the church on behalf of Session by

overseeing and guiding staff and ministry teams to accomplish the vision set for them. The PDCL is

expected to work alongside the SP in these tasks by demonstrating servant leadership and by

encouraging a spirit of respect, cooperation, and camaraderie.

Other General Responsibilities

In addition to the above, the PDCL is to regularly pray for the congregation, staff, and leaders of the

church. Along with ruling elders, the PDCL is to lead worship and congregational prayer during

church worship services on a regular basis. The PDCL shall assist in the Session's system of

shepherding in which all teaching and ruling elders take proportionate responsibility for

shepherding all member families or individual members of the church. Shepherding occurs not

just by visitation, but also through small group participation, classroom educational opportunities,

and relational discipleship of members. The PDCL may also be called upon by the Session to assist

the SP in providing leadership and training for other elders in how to effectively shepherd. General

church administration is an important skill for the PDCL who will assist the SP with church

administration duties as needed.

The PDCL will attend all stated and called Session meetings as well as all scheduled congregational

meetings. In addition, the PDCL will attend Session retreats to assess ministry effectiveness,

review vision for the future, and establish annual objectives and priorities. He must be ready to

support and encourage all ministries of the church through prayer, involvement, and advice.

When possible, the PDCL should attend Rocky Mountain Presbytery meetings, and in consultation

with the SP, he may serve on Presbytery committees and commissions. With prior approval of and

coordination with the Session and SP, the PDCL may attend General Assembly. If attending

General Assembly, the PDCL may participate on committees and commissions within those courts,

time permitting and in consultation with the SP.

Accountability and Review

Since the PDCL's responsibilities are demanding, it is expected that he will give priority to

maintaining his personal walk with Christ, spending quality time with his family, carving out time

for a restful Sabbath day every week, seeking personal accountability, and utilizing all vacation

days. The PDCL shall maintain regular accountability with the SP and collaborate with the SP in

conducting quarterly and annual reviews of his ministry against this job description. Although the

PDCL reports directly to SP, he is accountable for his own time. However, he must complete tasks

assigned to him in a timely manner or explain to the SP why tasks have not been completed prior to

their expected completion date. It is estimated that his duties will require approximately 50 hours

per week.

Position Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

a. b. M. Div. from a Reformed seminary, however candidates will be considered with appropriate

Master's degree with additional applicable experience.

Ordained or ordainable in the PCA.

c. Alignment with visions and goals of Forestgate.

Preferred Qualifications:

a. Some pastoral experience.

b. Experience in church revitalization or church planting.

Application Deadline

11/30/2025

Job Type:

Full Time

Salary Range:

$71k-$90k

General Information

Church/Organization Name

Forestgate Presbyterian Church

Contact Name & Contact Info

Industry

Church

Denomination

Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)

City, State

Colorado Springs, CO

Description of Organization

Who is Forestgate?

Forestgate was planted out of Village Seven Presbyterian in the mid-1980s and built her first

building in 1999. By God's grace, Forestgate has been debt-free since the early 2000s. The late

Rev. Dr. Jim Urish served Forestgate from 2000-2014, having served only two churches when he

retired honorably for medical reasons. Rev. Dr. Matt Giesman became Forestgate's Senior Pastor in

2015. Since his arrival, Forestgate has added a second worship service and launched a second

daughter church in 2021, Waypoint Church, planted by Forestgate's former assistant pastor Steve

Stanton. (Forestgate also planted High Plains Fellowship in nearby Falcon, CO, in the early 2000s.)

Forestgate is a thriving, multi-generational church in a fast-paced, sometimes transient, affluent,

highly educated community with many active and former military families, located just a mile from

the United States Air Force Academy in beautiful Colorado Springs. Forestgate is home to around

350 members and averages around 300 in attendance at two services. Forestgate exists to glorify

God and make disciples of Christ in Northern El Paso County, for long-time residents and those

who will call the Springs home for a short time.

While the Springs is home to many Christian non-profit organizations, there is still a great need for

more churches, as only 16% of residents identify as evangelical protestants. For this reason and

out of a desire to obey God's command to make disciples, Forestgate seeks to increase the health

of its congregation and to plant more churches as the Lord wills. Forestgate has been part of the

Western Church Planting Network (comprised of PCA churches within Rocky Mountain Presbytery)

since 2018.

After years of prayer, Forestgate is seeking a new Pastor of Discipleship and Community Life

(PDCL) to work alongside our Senior Pastor and Assistant Pastor of Youth and Families. Forestgate

is also seeking a new Church Planting (CP) (who would start as an Assistant Pastor of Forestgate)

with the hope that he will plant Forestgate's third daughter church.

More information about these positions can be found in the Job Descriptions, the Church Planting

Vision Statement, and our Philosophy of Church Planting.

What kind of a church is Forestgate?

We are an ordinary means of grace church committed to the ministry of word, prayer, sacraments,

and discipline. We believe in exalting the Lord through Biblical worship (guided by the regulative

principle), using old and new songs with old and new tunes. We believe in encouraging one another

to love and good deeds, with over a dozen ministry teams focused on a particular goal aligned with

our mission statement, many family community groups (around 10 at our last count), several men's

and women's Bible studies, an active Sunday School program for all ages, and a weekly Youth

Group meeting. We believe in Equipping the saints to serve the Church and the Kingdom, through

the aforementioned ministry teams and other avenues of discipleship and mentoring. We believe in

Engaging the Culture around us with the message of the Gospel, through individual engagement,

mercy ministry, and our Engagement Ministry Team.

With many different ministries, many transplants who are not native to Colorado, and many current

or former military families, it is essential that the pastoral staff at Forestgate exhibit excellence,

grace, and flexibility. God calls us to excellence in all we do (1 Cor. 10:31), but we expect our

members and staff to still be works-in-progress (Romans 7; Phil. 1:6), which will require flexibility

(James 4:13-16) as we reassess goals and timelines on a regular basis. As we shepherd a growing,

multi-generational, and sometimes transient congregation, patience and personal growth are

constantly needed, as well as mutual submission (to the will of the Session, and to the

congregation's ability to navigate change). The same Gospel message that transforms us and those

we hope to reach also reminds us that we are not defined by our accomplishments but by our new

identity as adopted children of a gracious Father, who welcomes the foremost of sinners (1 Tim

1:15), those bankrupt in grace (Phil. 3:7-10) and assures them that their new status is fixed and

secure in Christ (John 10:28-30).

As we seek to grow in grace together, we trust that God will use us to grow His Church and

Kingdom as He sees fit.

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