Associate Pastor

Trinity Methodist Church

Job Description – Associate Pastor

POSITION TITLE: Associate Pastor – Emphasis on Discipleship/Spiritual Formation

POSITION STATUS: Full-Time Exempt 

DIRECT REPORT: Senior Pastor 

PURPOSE:  To preach, teach, shepherd and make disciples; giving particular oversight to discipleship and spiritual formation ministries; in support of senior pastor and conjunction with ministerial staff.  [Note: This job description is a general outline of responsibilities and is not all-inclusive. The Senior Pastor may assign other duties as appropriate.]

Position Summary

The Trinity Associate Pastor has the primary responsibilities of assisting the Senior Pastor in providing biblical preaching and teaching, spiritual leadership, pastoral care, and oversight to the Trinity congregation and assisting in expanding Christ’s kingdom through evangelism and discipleship.  This person will work collaboratively with lay volunteers and ministry staff to develop and implement the vision and overall mission of Trinity. Specifically, this position is responsible for the overall development and oversight of adult spiritual formation at Trinity through a discipleship pathway.

Passion

We seek an individual who loves God and God’s people and honors God’s word.  The Associate Pastor will desire to proclaim the gospel of Christ, see lives transformed, and equip people for ministry and making a difference in our community and world.  Our ideal candidate will possess a deep sense of call to the spiritual development and Christian formation of men, women, and families.

Character

The Associate Pastor must be a person growing in the grace of God with a deepening relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, regularly pursuing patterns to that end . . .  such as personal Bible study, prayer, worship, accountability, biblical stewardship, etc.  The Associate Pastor will demonstrate character through integrity, humility, personal responsibility, and hard work and will also deliberately seek to maintain a healthy family life, if applicable.

Qualifications and Experience

• A passionate love for Jesus Christ demonstrated through faith and obedience to God’s Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
• Ability to preach and teach; communicate biblical and evangelistic messages.
• Experience in teaching/preaching preferred.
• A desire to minister to people.
• Ability to build teams and delegate responsibilities.
• Must be comfortable in both traditional and contemporary worship settings. 
• College degree (Master’s degree preferred).
• Experience working on church ministry (staff) team preferred. 
• Alignment with Trinity on the essential Christian doctrines (statement of faith).  

Responsibilities and Duties

• Support the ministry of the Senior Pastor.
• Inspire, motivate, and strategically lead programs designed to bring about the growth and spiritual maturity of our people. 
• Cultivate relationships, manage the spiritual needs of church members, and assist with the growth of ministry programs.
• Serve as an active and contributing member of the church staff. 
• Participate in the planning, vision, and programming of the church as a whole.
• Attend staff meetings, church council meetings, and any other meetings as directed by the Senior Pastor.
• Be an active and cooperative partner with church staff and other ministry teams to accomplish church-wide ministry goals. 
• Act as a pastoral resource to the congregation and community, including visitation, counseling, etc., as needed.
• Functions collaboratively with the Trinity leadership team and actively participates in the life of the congregation and local community.
• Act as a resource to lay volunteers.
• Assist other staff as necessary in the successful completion of regular worship events and special events.
• Involved in outreach to church members, newcomers, and visitors.
• Assist as needed in any other areas of ministry as directed by the Senior Pastor and/or SPRC.
• Assist church staff in recruiting, training, coordinating, and supervising lay volunteers.
• Perform administrative duties such as compiling reports, preparing expense reports, and completing purchasing orders, as required.
• Available to assist in funerals and weddings.
• Commit to ongoing skill development through training opportunities/conferences.