Qualifications

The ideal candidate…

• is a born-again, baptized, Bible-believing Christian man who possesses the character required of an elder as described in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9.  
• gives evidence of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ nurtured through the practice of spiritual disciplines such as Bible study and prayer 
• has completed a Bachelors’ Degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent experience (Preferred)
• has three to five years’ experience in a local church serving as a full or part-time staff member (Preferred)
• has strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to work with diverse groups of people from different ages, genders and seasons of life
• possesses the ability to effectively teach people the Bible in one-to-one, small group, and larger settings
• is a leader of leaders with ability to develop teams and new ministries  
• has deep love for and commitment to the local church
• must be willing to relocate within the boundaries of the Elsberry School District

Responsibilities

The Primary Teaching Pastor will…

• faithfully teach God’s Word, in accordance with the church’s doctrine, 80% of the Sundays within a calendar year. He should be committed to an exposition of Holy Scripture that teaches, corrects, rebukes, and trains believers in righteousness while calling non-Christians to repentance and faith
• keep regular office hours (concession on amount of hours to be made)
• oversee the day-to-day function of the church office including the supervision of all paid church staff (If applicable)
• lead weekly staff meetings for planning and prayer (If applicable)
• plan and lead regular meetings of the elder team
• discern, with the elder team, how to be biblically faithful as a church in our particular context and during each season of the church’s life while walking in wisdom toward outsiders
• develop, articulate and oversee the implementation of specific objectives and goals established by the elder team
• provide oversight of the Lord’s Day gathering of the church by working with church staff (If applicable) and/or musicians to plan the various elements of the church’s corporate worship 
• supervise the administration of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
• oversee, with the other elders, all materials, curriculum, and teaching ministries in the church
• coordinate and participate in the pastoral care of all church members and their families
• plan (in conjunction with the elders and deacons) and lead both membership and other special meetings
• participate in the planning and leading of special worship gatherings such as those occurring around Christmas and Easter
• work with the church’s deacons, officers and special committees as they perform their assigned responsibilities 
• set the pace in Kingdom-focused prayer by spending time praying daily for the ministry of the church, and by providing discipleship to others in prayer at the individual, family, and group levels.
• teach classes and facilitate groups as part of the disciple making strategy of our church
• conduct membership interviews with new member candidates
• participate in hospital visitation of church members and their families
• oversee or assign the planning and performance of weddings and funerals for church members and their families

Requirements

The Primary Teaching Pastor must…

• have a clean background without any record of child endangerment or domestic and sexual abuse
• affix his signature to the church’s confession of faith indicating agreement in belief and practice 
• affix his signature to the church covenant indicating a commitment to abide by it in unison with the other members of the church
• complete the church’s membership process (along with spouse [if applicable])
• sincerely commit to serving at First Baptist Church for an indefinite period of time

Reports to

• The Primary Teaching Pastor will be a paid employee of the church with a full-time salary commensurate with stage of life, education, and experience.  This individual is called by and accountable to the members of the First Baptist Church, but is directly accountable to the other elders of the church.