Job Description

The senior or lead pastor is appointed by the conference to oversee the affairs of the local church or district. The senior pastor is ordained / commissioned or is preparing for ordination / commissioning and by virtue of, is qualified to function in all rites and ceremonies. 

Skills, Education, and Experience Required:

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education: Minimum BA in Theology or Religious Studies. MDiv preferred
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 3-5 years of experience as a pastor.
  • Working with boards focused on fulfilling the mission and vision of Jesus.
  • Supervising employees such as secretary, treasurer, or Bible Workers.
• Competencies (skills and personal characteristics that an individual should possess in order to be successful in this position)
  • Service Orientation – actively look for ways to help people in and out of the church(es)
  • Instructing – Teaching others how to use their spiritual gifts, passions and talents
  • Speaking/preaching – The ability to talk to others to convey information effectively
  • Planning/organizing – Ability to schedule and plan future events
  • Analytical – Able to think through issues
  • Problem solving – Ability to hear all sides of an issue and come to a collaborative conclusion
  • Job motivation/initiative – Be able to work alone
  • Time management – Ability to assess priorities
  • Technology – Ability to easily use Microsoft Office or similar on any type of computer
• Membership in a local, Florida Conference church
  • Must be a Seventh-day Adventist member, in good and regular standing, within six months, if transferring from outside this region
  • Must be willing to contribute tithes and offerings to the local church

Expectations

• Spiritual maturity: The pastor is expected to model a deepening relationship with Christ through prayerful dependence, studying scripture, having a missionary mind-set, intentionally creating relationships through vibrant leadership, all of which produces living the fruits of the Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control
• Financial stability: The pastor is expected to lead the church through conservative budgeting, practicing sound stewardship, preaching at least one series of sermons a year on stewardship and encouraging new giving units to give to both the local church and tithe.
• Excellence, not perfection: The pastor is to lead the church to do their very best in all ministries, producing efficient and effective ministries for their members and surrounding community
• Enthusiasm: The pastor is expected to create an atmosphere of enthusiasm for Christ and His church, generating “Missional Momentum” and attracting in a contagious, effective way the local communities.
• Growth: The pastor is expected to nurture grow those under his/her care through old and new ways with the goal of increasing Christ’s kingdom in the Florida Conference.
• Discipling: The pastor is expected to engage in and promote discipling relationships.

Typical Physical Demands

Must be able to read, speak, and hear. Must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing. While performing the duties of this job, the pastor is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, walk, bend, kneel, and lift. The pastor may frequently be required to use stairs. The pastor is required to be able to lift and carry items that can weigh 25 pounds or more for short distances.

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.

Working Conditions

The Senior/Lead Pastor position requires great flexibility in hours available for work, including evenings, weekends and holidays. The position is a full time, salaried position and while the salary is based upon a projected 40 hours per week, the actual number of hours required during any given week are those needed to fulfill the responsibilities of the position. Furthermore it is recognized that the schedule may vary at different times of the year. Pastors are expected to speak/teach each Sabbath morning in one of their churches, with no more than eight Sabbaths away from their pulpit(s). Pastors may select one day each week as their day off.

Job Responsibilities:

• The pastor is to be the congregation’s spiritual leader and adviser.
• The pastor is to instruct and train others in their duties and plan with them for all lines of church work and activity.
• The pastor is a member of the church board and serves as its chairperson. If the pastor desires to be relieved of the responsibility, an elder may serve as chairperson in cooperation with the pastor.
• The pastor, with the assistance of elders, is expected to plan for and lead out in all spiritual services, such as Sabbath morning worship and prayer meeting, and should officiate at the communion service and baptism.
• The pastor is expected to cooperate with the locally elected church officers.
• The pastor is to model and train members in evangelism, assimilation, and all systems of the church.
• The pastor is not nominated or elected by the church but appointed by the conference committee, which may be changed at any time.

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