Bivocational Pastor Position
Position Summary: The Pastor of Little Zion Baptist Church is responsible for the spiritual welfare, overall program, growth, and life of the church. The pastor provides spiritual leadership in all areas of evangelism and discipleship, which requires developing, communicating, and coordinating vision with the church’s Deaconate Ministry as they minister and serve the church family and community. The pastor is responsible for the oversight and leadership of worship services and special events.
Reporting Relationships: The Pastor reports directly to the Church Board of Deacons.
Major Duties and Responsibilities:
Preaching and Worship Leadership
Prepares and delivers sermons that are relevant and challenge members and unchurched alike to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Ensures that overall weekly worship services are effective and on target regarding content, style, structure, and design. (Meets weekly with the Chief Musician to critique prior worship services and to plan future worship services regarding music selection, transitions, humor, and atmosphere.)
Suggests and assists with planning of special worship services such as Christmas, Easter, Children’s/Youth Sundays, and other special programs and outside speakers with the objective of boosting morale and worship attendance. Works with staff to ensure timely and proper advertising and publicity. Plans messages that are relevant and appropriate for each occasion.
Leadership Development and Discipleship
Takes the initiative in recommending and implementing actions that fulfill the vision and mission of Little Zion Baptist Church.
As Pastor, leads, teaches, and trains the board in their duties as board members, spiritual leaders of the congregation, and witnesses to the community. Ensures proper preparation of meeting agendas. Provides effective leadership of meetings by ensuring time is spent on important issues and minimizing time spent on minor issues and details.
Schedules and leads an annual board retreat that educates and motivates elders and other leaders of the church regarding vision, mission, strategy, and other key matters. Selects and meets with leadership team. Obtains potential speakers or acts as the speaker.
Provides for overall training, inspiration, and motivation of Little Zion Baptist Church staff to ensure that they are maturing in their faith, growing in their relationships with each other, and updating their skills. Schedules periodic staff retreats for training and developing better teamwork and closer working relationships. Inspires staff to strive for high goals through their development and implementation. Maintains and improves working relationships with staff by periodically scheduling staff meetings, dropping in on program events, and meeting with staff to personally review their ministry/program recommendations and results.
Vision, Creativity, and Strategic Planning
Takes initiative and exhibits creativity in recommending and implementing vision of Little Zion Baptist Church.
Leads staff and board in developing strategic plan and vision for the next three (3) years for Little Zion Baptist Church. Determines best opportunities for growth and monitors church growth. Anticipates future staff requirements and recommends what positions should be filled, changed, and deleted, and in what sequence.
Takes proactive approach toward identifying problems or challenges and offers creative solutions for resolution.
Teaching and Discipleship
Organizes and teaches a weekly congregational Bible study series that provides an in-depth look at and interpretation of Scriptures.
Teaches one (1) session of each Inquirers/New Members Class pertaining to the following subject areas: What the Bible says about the church, What we believe at Little Zion Baptist Church. Vision, philosophy of ministry, covenant of behavior, and personal testimony.
Congregational Relations and Pastoral Care
Provides pastoral care in conjunction with other staff, commissions, and deacons through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
Visit or contact church members to encourage their involvement or to address their personal needs (especially all homebound church members).
Make appropriate referrals when necessary and quickly respond to crisis situations that arise in the congregation.
Conducts baptisms, weddings, and funerals as requested and as needed.
Greets people in sanctuary before and after worship services; intentionally lingers with people around the church.
Places phone calls and sends thank you letters as needed.
Reacts promptly to emergencies/crisis.
Attends spiritual programs and social events for various church groups.
Provides pastoral counseling as requested.
Other Miscellaneous Duties and Responsibilities
Convenes, organizes, and advises the elected Nominating Committee every 2years.
Computer literacy. Working knowledge of Microsoft programs.
Writes Pastor’s Message for church publications and/or the church website.
Meets with and encourages various church ministries as needed.
Provides leadership and input regarding special projects and events, such as building committees and congregational meetings.
Devotes some time to spiritual, mental, and physical development and well-being through devotional time, study, and exercise.
If and when time permits, participates in organizing community events to foster community relations and outreach.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essentials functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.
The noise level in wok environment is usually quiet.
Approved by the Little Zion Baptist Church Pulpit Committee.