Description

Page Zion Evangelical Church, a non-denominational congregation in Millstadt, Illinois, is prayerfully seeking to hire a full-time pastor to replace our current pastor who is retiring after over 20 years of ministry at Zion. Our goal is to identify a qualified person to provide a balanced ministry of spiritual leadership and teaching, administrative guidance, pastoral care, and organizational leadership to the congregation to enable the church to grow to its full potential in membership and spiritual vitality. The ideal candidate has been called to shepherd the entire body of the congregation, from infancy to elder care.

Zion is located in Millstadt, Illinois. Millstadt, established in 1836, is located in the Southern Illinois county of St. Clair. We are a township of 6,500 residents with surrounding farmlands. Millstadt is known for its German heritage and has a variety of businesses and restaurants in town, including a library and grocery store. It has the convenience and benefit of being located approximately 15 miles east of St. Louis and near Scott AFB, while maintaining a small town feel. It is a peaceful, family oriented community with a strong school system.

Zion was established in 1835 by German immigrants as an Evangelical – Lutheran and Reformed – union church. We joined the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America. In 1957 Zion entered the denominational merger that formed the United Church of Christ (UCC). But, in 2005 Zion withdrew from the UCC over conflict with doctrinal, social, and moral issues, to restore our Evangelical and Reformed faith and heritage. In 2012, Zion joined similarly minded churches in the Evangelical Association of Reformed and Congregational Christian Churches (founded in 1998). We have a membership of 261 active members and 136 inactive members, including a blend of multi-generational families and newer members with diverse denominational backgrounds.  

We uphold the whole counsel of the Word of God, the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments. We believe in the Trinity, one God in three persons. We believe in salvation through faith alone. Our church practices infant baptism, but also provides for adult baptism. The mode of baptism is by sprinkling of water rather than immersion. After baptism, youth confirm their faith through a confirmation program based on the Evangelical Catechism. We practice open communion for all those who profess to belong to Christ and confess our faith through the Apostle's Creed. We believe in the biblical guidelines for marriage between one man and one woman.  

Zion Evangelical has many opportunities to provide services to its congregation and surrounding communities:

1. Church services: Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, streaming supported

2. Sunday School: 3 years -7th grade

3. Adult Bible Study

4. Confirmation:  8th grade- one night a week and Sunday church

5. Zion Pre-School: 3 and 4 year olds

6. Community-wide Vacation Bible School: one week in June

7. Sister's in Faith: a fellowship of women

8. Z-Team: a fellowship of men maintaining the church properties

Zion also takes part in many diverse missions throughout the year. The community outreaches for the Millstadt area are the Millstadt Senior Center, Food Pantry, Kids for Christ and the Crosswalk on Good Friday.

Zion is missing a youth ministry in our church.  We would love to grow and be able to attain this in the future.  We did have youth ministry in the past.

Our church government is set up as a council of nine church members, consisting of both men and women. The council has a president,vice president, assistant treasurer, and secretary. The council oversees the financial health and administrative functions of the church. In addition to the pastor, the church employs a church secretary/treasurer, janitorial staff, cemetery groundskeeper, and preschool teacher. The church has semi-annual congregational meetings. There is a three church member Board of Christian Education to oversee the youth education curriculum.

The church properties include the church sanctuary originally erected in 1863. A Fellowship Hall and an education wing have been added. Also on the sanctuary grounds, is a parsonage, available for pastoral housing. Zion also has a beautiful Fellowship Park, which is used for summer Sunday worship services and other fellowship activities. Zion also manages two cemeteries in Millstadt.

Pastoral Responsibilities:

·     To preach, lead in worship, and provide a teaching ministry which will lead to spiritual growth of the membership

·     To officiate weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmation, and communion services

      To act as staff administrator in coordinating the staff activities

·     To provide active leadership to the council, congregation, and its organizations, and in developing programs that will enable the church to grow

·     To provide pastoral care including: pastoral calling (home/hospital visits), pre-marital counseling, and handling of crisis situations

·     To develop an active youth program which will bring young people into the church

·     To encourage sound stewardship growth

·     To guide and support a Christian educational ministry including Sunday School, confirmation and bible study

·     To participate in community service and activities outside of our church

·     To inspire people to grow in their faith, and apply it in their daily life

·     To work at bringing new members into the church

Requirements

How to Apply

Primary Contact: Barb Scharf

Email: zionsearchcomm@gmail.com

Phone: 618-973-0289

Apply Online: View