General Information

Job Title:

Senior Pastor: Central Presbyterian Church

Job Description:

OVERVIEW Central Presbyterian Church's next Senior Pastor/Head of Staff will be responsible for shepherding the congregation, organizing and leading the ministerial team, and serving as the Moderator of Session. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES Worship ● Plan and lead worship services that are inspiring and responsive to the needs of the congregation. Worship should point to the church's long-term vision and mission, be thoughtfully curated for the congregation, and remain welcoming to visitors. ● Prepare and preach sermons that are Biblically sound, thought-provoking, and inspiring, while remaining clear, relevant, and accessible. ● Administer the sacraments of baptism and communion. ● Maintain ongoing study in theological, cultural, and ethical disciplines to help keep the congregation informed on essential issues.

Pastoral Care and Discipleship ● Build and nurture relationships with members, attendees, and visitors, with particular focus on the spiritual formation of regular attendees and covenant partners. ● Oversee care and counseling ministries that address congregational needs, including pastoral counseling, one-on-one discipleship, ministering to the sick and bereaved, connecting with homebound members, end of life counseling, hospital visitations. ● Officiate weddings (with pre-marital counseling) and conduct funerals, providing care and comfort to grieving families. ● Provide staff and volunteers with guidance, resources, and oversight for the spiritual formation of children, youth and adults in line with our denomination's core tenets and beliefs. ● Promote spirit-led ministries of love and mercy that seek the welfare of the Merced community. Organizational Leadership ● In partnership with Session, and through discernment of God's will, establish a long-term vision for the future of CPC while providing pastoral oversight and leadership to execute that vision. ● Align all covenant partners, leaders and staff to the vision of the church, ensuring that each person's work is in line with the core mission and vision of CPC. ● Moderate Session meetings, setting agendas that focus on key priorities; Session will be led to grow spiritually in its leadership of the Congregation; deliberations and decisions by Session and commissions will reflect nurturing oversight of the Pastor. ● Promote an emotionally and spiritually healthy culture within the staff of the church — directing and encouraging each team member to a standard of excellence. ● Ensure the church's resources are wisely stewarded for their highest and best use, while promoting the long term stability of the organization.

Position Qualifications:

JOB REQUIREMENTS ● Committed Christian faith in the Reformed Tradition adhering to all of ECO's Essential Tenets ● Strong expertise in Biblical and theological matters ● Effective planner and leader of worship, responsive to the needs of the congregation ● Deeply relational and encouraging of spiritual development ● Visionary leader and strong administrator ● Clear vision for cultivating a hospitable, missional church ● Participant in denominational activities including Presbytery and Synod

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS ● Master of Divinity ● Ordination in or eligibility for ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians

Application Deadline

12/12/2025

Job Type:

Full Time

Salary Range:

$90k+

General Information

Church/Organization Name

Central Presbyterian Church

Contact Name & Contact Info

Industry

Non-Profit/Ministry

Denomination

Presbyterian - Other

City, State

Merced, CA

Description of Organization

The City of Merced is a vibrant and growing community in California's Central Valley. Long rooted in agriculture, Merced is now experiencing a season of transformation and growth, fueled in large part by the presence of the University of California, Merced—one of the nation's newest public research universities. Despite this rapid development, Merced retains the close-knit, relational spirit of a small town. Neighbors still know one another, and it's common to pause for conversation with a friend in the grocery store. With a revitalizing downtown, expanding university, and diverse population, Merced is a city in transition and full of opportunity.

Central Presbyterian Church (CPC) has been part of Merced's history since 1912. Located in the heart of downtown, CPC has served as a spiritual, architectural, and cultural landmark for over a century. As one of the first Protestant churches in Merced, our roots run deep. While recent years have brought challenges, we remain committed to being a Christ-centered presence in our downtown community.

In 2022, we adopted the vision statement: "Formed by Christ for the renewal of the city." This vision expresses both our heritage and our hope. CPC has long been a place of faithful biblical teaching, vibrant youth and children's ministry, and a rich community. We recognize the need to clarify and renew our approach to discipleship in this season. At the same time, we continue to discern what it means to participate in the renewal of our city—connecting with Merced's diverse neighborhoods, business community, academic institutions, and both lifelong residents and newcomers alike.

We seek a pastor who will help us live more fully into this vision—rooted in Christ, formed in discipleship, and committed to loving our city well in a changing time.

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