Pastor
First Baptist Church of MoraviaType: Full Time
Location: Moravia, NY
Position Summary
First Baptist Church of Moravia is a small, Baptist congregation seeking a faithful, humble, and spiritually mature man to serve as Pastor. The Pastor, along with the elders, will shepherd the congregation through the faithful expository preaching and teaching of God’s Word, provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care, equip members for ministry, and help guide the church in fulfilling the Great Commission within our local community and beyond.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a clear calling to pastoral ministry, a commitment to historic Baptist doctrine, and a heart for shepherding a close-knit rural congregation.
Primary Responsibilities
1. Preaching and Teaching
- Faithfully preach and teach the Word of God with theological depth, clarity, and practical application.
- Prepare and deliver biblically sound sermons for weekly worship services.
- Along with the leadership, lead or oversee Bible studies, prayer meetings, discipleship, and ministry efforts.
2. Spiritual Leadership and Shepherding
- Along with the leadership, provide spiritual oversight and direction for the congregation.
- Provide pastoral counseling, visitation, and care (including hospital and home visits).
- Officiate weddings, funerals, baptisms, and observance of the Lord’s Supper.
3. Church Leadership and Administration
- Work collaboratively with leadership.
- Along with leadership, provide vision and direction consistent with Scripture and the church’s mission.
- Along with leadership, oversee church discipline, when necessary, in accordance with Matthew 18 and church bylaws.
- Support and promote missions and evangelism.
4. Community Engagement
- Develop meaningful relationships within the local community.
- Represent the church in the community with integrity and gospel-centered compassion.
- Encourage and lead evangelistic outreach efforts.
Qualifications
Spiritual Qualifications
- Meets the biblical qualifications for elders/overseers as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9.
- A clear testimony of saving faith in Jesus Christ.
- A demonstrable call to pastoral ministry.
- Commitment to prayer, personal holiness, and ongoing spiritual growth.
Theological Qualifications
- Agreement with the church’s Statement of Faith.
- Commitment to historic Baptist doctrine, believer’s baptism, and elder polity.
- Strong conviction regarding the authority, sufficiency, and inerrancy of Scripture.
- Calvinistic in theology.
Education and Experience
- Seminary training is preferred, though other qualifications/experience can be considered instead.
- Previous pastoral or ministry leadership experience is preferred.
- Experience in a small-church context is beneficial.
Authorization to Work in the United States
· Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. No visa sponsorship is available.
Compensation Package (negotiable)
- Total compensation package range: $55k - $62k.
- Compensation value includes 2,044 sq. ft. parsonage.
- The church is minutes away from a beautiful state park.
- Moravia is located in the scenic Finger Lakes region with many lakes and state parks within an hour.
- Health Insurance through NYS Marketplace.
- 3 weeks of annual paid vacation time.
About Our Church and Community
First Baptist Church of Moravia is a Baptist congregation located in Moravia, NY, serving a small community. We are committed to the faithful preaching of Scripture, sincere worship, fellowship, and gospel outreach. Our church family has existed for over 150 years to the glory of God. The church is approaching the end of a multi-year process of constitutional revision to change the church's polity to reflect the Biblical model of elders and deacons.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit:
- Resume
- Personal testimony and call to ministry
- Statement of faith that at a minimum addresses doctrines of the nature of God, the Person of Christ, soteriology, bibliology, and ecclesiology
- Philosophy of ministry and preaching
- Links to recent sermon recordings (if available) and references