Our church planting resident will initially be a member of our current Faith Church pastoral staff and elder board. In this environment, you will be able to work alongside our existing Faith Church staff and elders, observing activities in all current ministries, learning through serving, growing through leadership opportunities, and being empowered and encouraged to start new ministries in the planted church consistent with the overall vision of Faith Church. Throughout this process you will be coached, assessed, and supported, toward a goal of successfully launching a new church plant. During at least the first year, the job will include assisting the teaching pastor who is leading our Spanish-speaking congregation.
While church planting timelines are difficult to quantify initially, our notional approach to planting a new church is as follows. Our church planter will be expected to refine the following notional approach to a new church plant.
Year 1 Work closely with our current elders and staff to:
- Develop a detailed church plant plan, to include organizational, discipleship, and community outreach considerations
- Recruit potential church plant members and leaders such as future elders, deacons, small group leaders, and other members who would be part of the church from day 1
- Work with Faith Church elders to develop initial new church budgets
- Support the Faith Church lead pastor as a member of the pastoral staff. In year 1, support the existing, and growing, Spanish-speaking congregation meeting on-site at Faith Church.
Year 2 Launch the planted church:
- With significant financial support from Faith Church
- While staying connected on the elder board and church staff
- With the assistance of Faith Church leaders and church members
- Begin implementing a stand-alone elder team for the new church
- Implement community outreach events and activities
- Implement discipleship and small group initiatives
Year 3 Move toward autonomy:
- Implemeting plans for longer-term church growth
- Moving toward financial autonomy
- Functioning with an elder team, and possibly staff, independently from Faith Church
- Transitioning the job role from church planter to lead pastor
Biblical Qualifications
- Qualified to be an elder in accordance with the qualifications in Scripture.
- Committed to the centrality of the gospel in doctrine, life, and ministry (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Galatians 1:6-10; Philippians 3:7-14)
- Has a clear understanding of sound doctrine (Acts 20:28-31; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 1:5-9; 2:1, 15; Jude 3)
- Effectively builds new relationships (Romans 15:2; 1 Cor. 9:19-23; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8)
- Demonstrates a passion for reaching others through relationships and evangelism (Matthew 9:37-38; 28:18-20; Romans 1:16; 10:10-17; 2 Timothy 4:5)
- Experienced in establishing and multiplying small groups (Acts 14:21-23)
- Proven ability to make disciples (1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philippians 2:22)
- Lead his family in a lifestyle that praises Christ (Matthew 7:12; 20:25-28; 1 Timothy 3:2-7; 4:12; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5: 2-3)
General Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from accredited university is strongly preferred.
- 2+ years of pastoral experience is required; experience in church planting preferable.
- Bilingual (English and Spanish) is preferable but not required.
- Teachable, a man of prayer, persevering and committed.
- Passionate about the multiplying vision, core values, and ministry of Faith Church, (please refer to Faith Church Distinctives)
- Demonstrated leadership aptitude in church settings
- Experience in establishing and leading small prayer, discipleship, and/or “life” groups.
- Technologically proficient, or at least functional.
Responsibilities
- Serve as an Associate Pastor at Faith Church during the initial time of residency.
- At the time of the launch of a church plant, serve as the lead pastor of the church plant
- Develop and execute a church planting master plan.
- Prepare messages and preach/teach regularly in small and large group settings.
- Recruit, disciple and develop leaders.
- Provide administrative direction and assistance.
- Be willing and flexible to join other team efforts as needed.
Commitment
- Full-Time Salaried
- Four weeks Paid Time Off
- 8 weeks of sabbatical every 5 years (above and beyond paid time off)
- Relocation assistance may be available (to be negotiated)
Faith Church Distinctives
- Member of the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) – West District
- Fully supportive of the EFCA Statement of Faith:
Statement of Faith — Evangelical Free Church of America (efca.org)
- Faith Church is Complementarian, in that all pastors and elders are men, and Faith Church is supportive of the Danvers statement on biblical manhood and womanhood:
The Danvers Statement – CBMW
- EFCA churches are committed to a congregational form of government.
- The Faith Church congregation has adopted an elder-led form of government.
- Additional information regarding Faith Church distinctives available upon request.
