PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Preaching & Spiritual Formation 

• Deliver Christ-centered sermons, rooted in Scripture, that connect faith to everyday life. 

• Form a biblical worldview through clear, practical teaching rather than cultural commentary or partisan agendas. 

• Prioritize discipleship that shapes marriages, families, and vocational life.

Shepherding & Community 

• Maintain a visible presence, knowing the congregation by name and story.

• Provide pastoral care through prayer, counsel, and support during crises or transitions.

• Maintain and strengthen the church’s culture of warmth, hospitality, and relational health through shared life and small groups as expressions of community. 

• Foster an outward-facing, invitational culture that welcomes people from diverse backgrounds, both inside and outside the PCA. 

• Ensure continued engagement and support of missions.

Vision & Direction 

• Lead the church with a clear sense of direction rooted in prayerful discernment of God’s calling for Hope. 

• Build on the existing foundation rather than pursuing disruptive change. 

• Translate vision into achievable steps that the congregation can embrace, suited for a maturing church, seeking rootedness and a church home, in a fast-growing city. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Lead collaboratively with the Session through dialogue and shared discernment and empower deacons, staff, and volunteers through effective delegation. 

• Invest in developing leaders and sustain a healthy staff culture marked by fellowship, trust, and spiritual leadership. 

Governance & Operations 

• Moderate the Session, be actively engaged in the South Texas Presbytery, and regularly attend General Assembly. 

• Wisely steward church resources to support ministry as the church grows, pursues facilities, and increases in organizational complexity. 

• Lead meetings and decision-making processes with clarity, organization, and respect for volunteers’ time. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Character & Theology 

• Spiritual Maturity: Evident love for Jesus marked by humility, integrity, and emotional security under pressure. Leads with character and is emotionally mature. 

• Theological Alignment: Confessionally reformed (PCA) with gracious, clear positions on the essentials of the faith while being non-dogmatic on non-essentials in alignment with the values and mission of Hope. Biblically faithful and theologically grounded. 

Education & Experience 

• Credentials: Ordained/ordainable in the PCA with an M.Div. or equivalent theological education. 

• Experience: Demonstrated experience in pastoral ministry, including preaching, leadership, and shepherding with a minimum of 7 years. Prior service in a collaborative leadership context and experience leading or being part of a church moving from founding and growth to rootedness and early maturity. 

Key Skills & Attributes 

Faithful. Gifted, biblically faithful preacher who connects Scripture to real life. 

Mature. Relational awareness, high emotional intelligence, and navigates conflict redemptively.

Adaptive. Ability to lead a growing, diverse congregation still forming its long-term identity. 

Teachable. Humble, teachable, and willing to listen before leading change.

Collaborative. Effective team leader who encourages, equips, and multiplies others. 

SUCCESS PROFILE (First 12–18 Months) 

• Relational Trust: Establish relational credibility through listening and pastoral care and presence. 

• Strategic Alignment: Articulate a clear, shared direction that resonates with Hope’s history, culture, and future. 

• Leadership Development: Build trust with the officers and staff through effective delegation and strengthening team cohesion. 

• Future Readiness: Prepare Hope spiritually and organizationally for facilities decisions and long-term rootedness while preserving and strengthening our culture.