Job Overview
The Pastor of Discipleship is to lead the members of Oaks Church in treasuring Jesus Christ by nurturing spiritual maturity in Him, cultivating healthy relationships within His Body, and equipping members for the work of ministry. Through proactive pastoral care and the oversight of our community life, from community groups to leadership development, he seeks to form a people who grow together in greater conformity to Jesus by God's Spirit. He invests in disciple-making disciples, trains servant-leaders, and helps move the church toward local and global mission, all while modeling a life of prayerful devotion to the Lord and the church. The Pastor of Discipleship has primary responsibility and final accountability for the "trellis" on which disciples grow and mature at Oaks Church.
This is a co-pastoral role with our Pastor of Preaching and Teaching that reports to our council of elders. Our greatest desire for the man who is affirmed into this role is that he would be a faithful under-shepherd among our people!
Job Description
Serving Faithfully as an Elder
- Live a life worth imitating, marked by humility, integrity, and compassion
- Exemplify a life of prayerful dependence
- Shepherd the church through the ministry of presence by visiting, welcoming, and walking with people in their joys and burdens.
- Model a life of commitment to fellowship and community
- Work closely with the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching to implement the elders' vision in real, practical ways across the ministries of the church.
Discipleship
- Contribute to the pastoral care and counseling of Oaks Church through proactive and responsive discipleship
- Oversee and develop the Community Groups ministry of Oaks Church through leading one of our Community Groups and conducting regular meetings with its leaders
- Cast vision and support for the Men's and Women's Ministry efforts of Oaks Church
- Oversee the family ministries of Oaks Church, primarily through directing, guiding, and resourcing the Children's Ministry Director and the Youth Ministry Team
- Assimilate new and existing members of Oaks Church into areas of service
Missions and Outreach
- Develop the long-term plan and execution of the mission strategy at Oaks Church
- Lead members to engage in missional and outreach efforts in our local community and around the world, with a special focus on global or local church planting
- Provide ongoing care for missionaries sent and supported by Oaks Church, while also identifying, vetting, and training potential missionary partners
Leadership & Development
- Lead the Deacon Team, including organizing and conducting regular meetings, as well as identifying and training new deacons
- Cultivate a culture of training up elders, church planters, and other leaders through the implementation and oversight of an internship or residency program
- Assist in the hiring of any paid, non-pastoral staff members at Oaks Church in coordination with the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching
Preaching and Teaching
- Share in the preaching ministry of the church in coordination with the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching
- Contribute to the teaching ministry of the church in coordination with the Pastor of Preaching and Teaching
- Regularly participate in the liturgical elements and administration of ordinances on Sunday worship gatherings
Qualifications
- A man with an exemplary life marked by godly character, meeting the qualifications of eldership laid out in Scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-5)
- Proven experience shepherding the souls of believers through relational ministry
- Formal theological education from an accredited college or seminary (preferred)
- Ability to equip and lead others, fostering growth in maturity and mission
- Demonstrated strength in organizational leadership and pastoral care
Expectations
- An active presence in the life of the church and the broader community
- A deep and evident delight in Jesus Christ as the Treasure of his life
- A faithful, joyful, and loving leadership role in his marriage and family
- A visible joy in pastoring and caring for the members of the church
- A heart for the nations and a desire to see all peoples come to know Jesus Christ
- A daily, humble yielding to the Holy Spirit for wisdom, strength, and fruitfulness