Executive Pastor of Leadership & Ministry

Position Summary:

The Executive Pastor of Leadership & Ministry is responsible for articulating and advancing the ministry philosophy of Real Life Church while ensuring the health, development, and effectiveness of ministry staff and teams. This role provides direct oversight to the Directional Team (Adult Ministry, Next Gen, Outreach, and Creative), ensuring alignment with church-wide goals and fostering a thriving staff culture. This role functions as a strategic partner alongside the Lead Pastor and the Executive Pastor of Strategic Advancement. The Executive Pastor of Leadership & Ministry also serves as a key liaison to Human Resources and a representative for replication and leadership development initiatives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Philosophy of Ministry Articulation and Accountability

• Champion and communicate the church’s ministry philosophy across all departments.
• Ensure all ministry strategies and practices align with the church’s mission, vision, and values.
• Provide accountability and coaching to ministry leaders to maintain theological and philosophical alignment.

Ministry Goal Execution

• Collaborate with the Directional Team to develop and execute ministry-specific goals that support the church’s strategic plan.
• Monitor progress and outcomes, providing support and course correction as needed.
• Facilitate cross-ministry collaboration to maximize impact and resource sharing.

Staff Health, Culture, and Development

• Cultivate a healthy, Christ-centered staff culture marked by trust, collaboration, and spiritual growth.
• Lead initiatives that support staff well-being, professional development, and team unity.
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and leadership development for ministry staff.

Human Resources Liaison

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Executive Team and Human Resources.
• Partner with HR to ensure effective hiring, onboarding, performance management, and conflict resolution processes.
• Promote a culture of clarity, accountability, and care in all HR-related matters.

Replication Representative

• Lead efforts to identify, develop, and deploy leaders for future ministry expansion and church planting.
• Oversee leadership pipelines and training programs that support replication and succession planning.
• Represent Real Life Church in external networks and partnerships related to leadership development and church multiplication.

Team Oversight

• Provide direct supervision and support to the Directional Team (Adult Ministry, Next Gen, Outreach, and Creative).
• Facilitate regular team meetings, one-on-ones, and strategic planning sessions.
• Ensure ministry leaders are equipped, empowered, and aligned with church-wide priorities.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in leadership, theology, or related field preferred.
• 7+ years of ministry leadership experience, including staff supervision and strategic planning in a church or nonprofit setting
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven ability to lead through influence and build high performing teams
• Deep understanding of ministry systems, staff development and organizational health
• Ability to manage complex projects and lead change effectively
• High emotional intelligence and relational discernment
• Ability to lead through influence and build consensus across teams

Spiritual Requirements:

• Regular involvement in RLC activities and events.
• Signed acknowledgement of Real Life Church’s “Statement of Faith” and “Staff Covenant/Lifestyle Agreement” forms.
• Signed acknowledgement to policies and procedures as stated in RLC Employee handbook and Pastor handbook.
• Exhibits a personal devotional life that is consistent and meaningful.
• Practices biblical stewardship in their personal finances and applies those truths to the church’s management of all resources.
• Ability to serve in the pastoral responsibilities at RLC; such as pastoral care, pastor on call and additional pastoral duties
• Be certified and trained to lead funerals, premarital classes and workshops, and officiate weddings.
• Ability to assist and guide people through various life stages and transitions.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate. Some travel required.

Employment At-Will:

All employees of Real Life Church are at-will, and as such, are free to resign any time without reason. Real Life Church, likewise, retains the right to terminate and employee’s employment at any time with or without reason or notice. Nothing contained in this job description, or any other document provided to the employee is intended to be, nor should it be, construed as a guarantee that employment or any benefit will be continued for any period of time. Any salary figures provided to an employee in annual or monthly terms are stated for the sake of convenience or to facilitate comparisons that are not intended and do not create an employment contract for any specific period of time. No manager, supervisor or employee of Real Life Church has any authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time or to make any agreement for employment other than at-will.