Job Overview

A two-year, full-time ministry residency within the congregational life of Pepperell Christian Fellowship in Pepperell, Massachusetts that encourages a passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ and prepares men for ministry in New England, whether pastoring an existing church or planting a new one.

PCF provides a full-time salary and health insurance for each pastoral resident. Some fund-raising may be required if anticipated living expenses exceed the salary package.

The Pepperell Christian Fellowship Pastoral Residency provides two years of full-time, on-the-ground preparation as men transition from formal theological training at seminary (or Bible college) into church planting or pastoral ministry in a New England church. We partner with the Village Green Collective to provide coaching and preparation for church planting. Our aim is to develop men whose treasuring of the glory and the sovereignty of God overflows in a passion to reach the people of New England with the gospel. The responsibilities of pastoral residents will include preaching, teaching, leading, and shepherding responsibilities.

Residents will be mentored by and work alongside PCF's leadership, including Lead Pastor Stephen Witmer and Andy Sweet, our pastoral residency director. Residents will also interact regularly with the elders and church staff to learn all aspects of church life and administration. Additionally, residents will have opportunities to partner with Christ Church Townsend, a church planted from PCF in 2023, and to participate in Small Town Summits, a New England ministry which PCF helped to launch and with which it now partners.

Job Description

PCF Pastoral Resident Job Description

The Pepperell Christian Fellowship (PCF) Pastoral Residency is intended for men who are committed to long-term ministry in New England. Residents will be expected to be actively doing the work of ministry across the full spectrum of responsibilities that any pastor has. The Residency will also involve mentoring and training.

General Requirements

• Though requirements for previous preparation will be decided on a case-by-case basis, it will generally be expected that incoming Residents have graduated from a seminary or Bible college.
• The Pastoral Resident will reside in (or near) Pepperell, Massachusetts for two years and will be deeply involved in the life of PCF during that time.
• The Pastoral Resident will become a member of PCF and will regularly attend church services.
• The Pastoral Resident will devote substantial time weekly to the responsibilities of the Residency; specific time commitments will be negotiated with the Pastoral Residency Leadership Team (composed of the Lead Pastor and Pastoral Residency Director).

Responsibilities

• PCF will provide numerous ministry opportunities for its Residents with pastoral responsibilities that may include preaching, leading a Life Group, teaching an Adult Education class, praying with others, doing personal discipleship, personal evangelism, involvement in the broader community, and organizing church events.
• The Pastoral Resident will perform all duties and responsibilities and will conduct his personal life in alignment with the church's biblical teachings and practices.
• In each case PCF will seek to provide helpful feedback as the congregation observes his ministry. This feedback will include written notes and/or personal conversations with pastors and/or laypeople who have observed the teaching and ministry of the Pastoral Resident. Areas of constructive critique regarding teaching could include content, style and delivery, clarity, sustaining the interest of those being taught, pastoral application, faithfulness in holding to time limits, excellence in planning, etc.
• The Pastoral Resident will participate regularly in the weekly PCF staff meetings, experiencing the regular workings of a small-town church and helping its staff to make and implement decisions.
• The Pastoral Resident will participate regularly in PCF Elder meetings, observing the shepherding and strategic leadership decisions that are a regular part of those meetings.

Opportunities

• As appropriate, the pastors will include the Pastoral Resident with them in other ministry opportunities such as hospital visitations, public prayers offered at community events, funerals, weddings, Elders' meetings, etc, with a view toward growing his pastoral experience.
• The Resident will learn through experience and observation how to encourage congregants who are struggling and suffering: what to say and what not to say in visits, how long to visit, how to listen well, and how to pray in a specific and encouraging way.
• The pastors will also seek to provide the Pastoral Resident with opportunities to meet with groups of other area pastors with whom they regularly meet and pray, and to attend conferences that will further his experience and opportunities to connect with other ministers. These gatherings regularly provide valuable opportunities for ministers to grow in friendship, to learn from the best practice of others, to pray together, and to receive counsel on difficult questions of leadership, pastoring, and theology.

Accountability

• The Pastoral Resident will report to (and be supervised by) the Pastoral Residency Leadership Team, which is itself accountable to the Board of Elders.
• The Resident will meet weekly with the Lead Pastor (Stephen Witmer) and will also meet regularly with the Pastoral Residency Director (Andy Sweet). These meetings will provide numerous opportunities to discuss theology as well as practical ministry issues such as preaching, counseling, conducting services such as funerals and weddings, and much more.
• Ministry situations addressed will include topics such as dealing with personal conflict, criticism, and opposition; ensuring that counseling sessions are conducted safely and in a manner that is above reproach; bringing peace into situations where church members are experiencing conflict among themselves; and many more.
• There will also be opportunities for personal discipleship, spiritual formation, growth in awareness of the importance of global missions, and prayer.

The hope and prayer of Pepperell Christian Fellowship is that, at the end of the two-year residency, each Pastoral Resident will be more equipped and more excited to preach, teach, and shepherd God's people in a New England church.