Preaching Elder

Job Overview

First Baptist Church of Mt. Carmel is a confessional Southern Baptist congregation committed to the authority of Scripture, the historic doctrines of the Christian faith, and the faithful shepherding of God's people. Guided by its church covenant and led by a plurality of Elders, the church affirms the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as its broader doctrinal framework while the Elder team aligns closely with the historic Reformed Baptist theology expressed in the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. Together, these commitments shape the church's understanding of biblical truth, church leadership, Christian discipleship, and life together as a covenant community of believers.

Position Statement

The position of Preaching Elder is grounded in Scripture, the doctrines of grace, expositional preaching, pastoral shepherding/counseling, and the shared leadership of a plurality of Elders.

The qualified Preaching Elder as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and 1 Peter 5:1–4 serves as one of the spiritual shepherds of the local congregation, with primary responsibility for preaching and teaching the Word of God, guarding the church's doctrine, equipping the saints for ministry, and providing pastoral leadership in accordance with Scripture.

The Preaching Elder is committed to the theological convictions and ecclesiology shared by the current Elder team, including the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, the doctrines of grace, believer's baptism, regenerate church membership, meaningful church discipline, and the centrality of the local church in God's mission.

Working collaboratively with the other Elders and serving the congregation with humility, integrity, and love, the Preaching Elder seeks to cultivate a church that glorifies God through faithful worship, sound doctrine, meaningful discipleship, evangelism, and mutual care.

Job Description

Primary Responsibilities

Serve as the only full-time staff Elder, maximizing his time for study and care of church members in the following ways:

• Preach the Word of God faithfully, regularly, and expositionally, explaining the meaning of Scripture and applying it to the life of the congregation.
• Develop sermons that are Christ-centered, doctrinally sound, textually faithful, and pastorally relevant.
• Equip members to understand, apply, and communicate biblical truth in their homes, workplaces, and community.
• Oversee or coordinate the church's broader teaching ministry, including adult education, discipleship, and theological instruction.
• Know, love, pray for, and shepherd the members of the congregation by spending meaningful time with them to understand their lives, teach them faithfully, and provide spiritual care.
• Provide pastoral counseling, spiritual encouragement, and biblical guidance during seasons of suffering, conflict, grief, and uncertainty.
• Help members grow in spiritual maturity, personal holiness, family discipleship, and service to others.
• Visit members who are ill, homebound, hospitalized, grieving, or experiencing significant life or spiritual challenges.
• Encourage meaningful relationships and mutual accountability among church members.
• Help identify and address spiritual neglect, relational conflict, and patterns of unrepentant sin with patience and biblical wisdom.
• Guard the congregation against doctrinal error, unbiblical practices, and unhealthy patterns of leadership.
• Help establish and communicate the church's theological direction and ministry priorities.
• Serve as a member of a plurality of Elders, sharing responsibility for the spiritual oversight of the congregation.
• Encourage, identify, mentor, and develop future Elders, deacons, teachers, and other ministry leaders.
• Work collaboratively with fellow Elders in prayer, biblical discernment, decision-making, and pastoral care.
• Uphold the authority, inspiration, inerrancy, sufficiency, and final authority of Scripture.
• Encourage personal Bible study, prayer, fellowship, evangelism, and participation in corporate worship.

Supplemental Responsibilities

• Equip parents to disciple their children and encourage faithful Christian living in the home.
• Model personal evangelism and encourage members to share the gospel faithfully.
• Support local and global missions consistent with the church's theological convictions.
• Participate in Elder meetings, ministry planning, and the development of church priorities.
• Work with deacons and ministry leaders to ensure that practical needs are addressed and ministries function effectively.
• Contribute to the preparation and oversight of the church budget as assigned.
• Communicate clearly with the congregation regarding biblical priorities, ministry direction, and significant decisions.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and safeguards in pastoral ministry.
• Participate in regular evaluation, prayer, professional development, and theological study.
• Participate in member's weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other pastoral responsibilities as appropriate.