Senior Pastor

We are a healthy, debt-free church with a strong staff, a generous congregation, and a long history of loving our pastors well. In 49 years we have had only three senior pastors, and each was sent out to a new ministry with our blessing.

We are praying for a pastor who will lead us in pursuing God, loving well, and serving the world. As you read these pages, we hope you will see a church family ready to follow faithful leadership — and a place where you and your family could thrive.

At Heritage Park Baptist Church, we are committed to following Jesus as He gives grace to us. We want to impact our community and reach new people, both believers and unbelievers, welcoming them into our Christ-following church family. We want to live like Jesus reigns over everything and are looking for a pastor who will build on that culture with us.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a pastor to the whole congregation, a man who cares more about the health and growth of the flock than the size of the crowd. People skills matter more than charisma. This is a man who values serving alongside the people as much as preaching: a shepherd, not a CEO. He is approachable and invests in people, staff, and members alike.

He is a man clearly led by God, who communicates and listens well. He preaches Scripture in a way that feels personal and engaging rather than academic or removed. He is wise, honest, transparent, and trustworthy. He is prayerful, Spirit-led, and compassionate. His character speaks as loudly as his gifting.

Education

A Bachelor's degree is required; working toward or already holding a Master of Divinity or Master of Theology from an accredited seminary is preferred. A doctoral degree, completed or in progress, is a plus.

Experience

Five or more years of vocational ministry experience which includes preaching; prior senior pastor experience is preferred. Beyond years served, he should have strength in leadership, relationships, and discipleship. He is someone who has shown he can inspire generous stewardship in a congregation and navigate conflict well.

Skills and Spiritual Gifts

A committed student of Scripture, saturated with the Holy Spirit. He treats the Word of God as the authority for truth, teaching, and counsel (2 Timothy 3:16)
A confirmed calling to vocational ministry (1 Peter 5:1-2)
Practices pastoral leadership according to Christ's teachings (Matthew 20:25-28)
Comfortable preaching expositionally as well as topically (1 Corinthians 2:4)
A genuine passion for helping people know God and become more Christlike (Ephesians 4:12)
A heart for evangelism, both in preaching and discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20)
A shepherd's demeanor, knowing he and his congregation are imperfect people being made holy (Hebrews 10:14)
Able to offer marriage or personal counseling (1 Timothy 3:2)
Comfortable leading a team of ministers, helping them grow as he grows (Romans 12:8)
Must love, honor, and be faithful to his wife and help train up his children in the way they should go

Responsibilities

The Pastor will lead and carry out the following responsibilities in keeping with the purpose, vision, and values of Heritage Park Baptist Church.

Give preaching the largest share of his time, followed closely by pastoral care and staff leadership
Play an active role in the church's vision and long-range planning
Take responsibility for how well the staff works together and performs
Stay active in the community and keep working alongside other local churches and ministries
Collaborate on worship planning
Shepherd the whole congregation, across every generation
Help lead our church toward stronger relationships within the congregation, reaching young people and families, and strengthening our existing ministries
Lead collaboratively, seeking input from committees and the congregation rather than leading alone

More information about the position, the church, and the community can be found on our Profile Page at http://heritagepark.org/pastor-search.