Primary Purpose: The Pastor of Discipleship and Strategy develops healthy pathways for connection and discipleship. This pastor will oversee Small Group ministry, strengthen newcomer connection and assimilation, recruit, develop and support leaders, help to create environments where people are known, cared for, spiritually formed. Working closely with the Pastor of Teaching and Vision and the Elder Team, this pastor translates and helps execute the church’s vision into practical ministry strategies, systems, and rhythms while providing strong pastoral, relational, and organizational leadership.
Primary Responsibilities
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Develop and oversee a clear discipleship pathway for Park | Forest Glen.
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Help people move from first-time guest to connected participant to committed member to growing disciple to equipped servant to multiplying disciple.
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Identify opportunities to strengthen spiritual formation throughout the life of the church.
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Develop resources, environments, and practices that help people grow in their relationship with Jesus.
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Work collaboratively with the Pastor of Teaching and Vision to ensure discipleship is aligned with the church’s theological convictions and vision.
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Identify and develop emerging leaders within the congregation.
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Help ministry leaders understand their role in making disciples.
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Provide oversight for the Connections ministry.
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Ensure Park | Forest Glen provides a welcoming and relational experience for newcomers.
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Develop a clear pathway that helps newcomers move from first-time guest to membership.
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Evaluate barriers that prevent people from becoming connected to the life of the church.
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Work with volunteers and staff to create a "sticky” community experience.
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Establish and maintain systems for follow-up and connection with guests.
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Help newcomers discover appropriate next steps for serving, discipleship, and community.
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Work collaboratively with the Pastor of Teaching and Vision and the Production and Worship teams to create healthy Sunday service environments.
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Assist in ensuring service elements support the church’s larger discipleship and community goals.
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Help equip and schedule hosts, prayer leaders, and other service participants.
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Participate in the planning and evaluation of weekly services.
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Help identify ways Sunday gatherings can move people toward deeper participation in the life of the church.
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Evaluate the effectiveness of services and make recommendations as needed.
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Ensure services are planned at least two weeks in advance.
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Provide oversight for the Small Group ministry at Park | Forest Glen.
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Recruit, train, equip, and encourage Small Group leaders.
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Help establish and communicate the philosophy and expectations of Small Groups.
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Encourage Small Groups to become places of discipleship, pastoral care, mission, and multiplication.
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Oversee Small Group coaches and establish healthy coaching rhythms.
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Develop & maintain systems for assimilating people into Small Groups.
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Establish a consistent rhythm of checking in on each group.
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Monitor the health of groups and provide support when challenges arise.
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Foster the multiplication and growth of Small Groups.
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Lead major transitions in the Small Group model and philosophy of ministry.
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Translate the Pastor of Teaching and Vision and Elder Team’s shared vision into measurable, practical ministry plans.
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Develop action plans, timelines, and ministry rhythms that move strategic priorities forward.
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Work closely with the Pastor of Vision & Teaching to establish a healthy & unified staff culture.
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Help plan staff meetings, retreats, and other staff development rhythms.
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Participate in strategic planning and ministry evaluation.
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Manage the church building shared-space calendar through Planning Center.
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Provide leadership for special projects including the current the Ready Initiative building project.
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Identify organizational gaps and develop systems that improve ministry effectiveness.
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Help ensure staff and volunteer leaders have the clarity, resources, and support necessary to succeed.
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Identify potential leaders throughout the congregation.
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Develop systems for recruiting, training, coaching, and releasing leaders into ministry.
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Create healthy leadership pipelines for Elders, Deacon, and Small Groups along with other ministry environments.
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Equip volunteers to serve effectively and confidently.
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Build a culture in which ministry is increasingly carried by equipped members rather than dependent upon staff.
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Assist with hosting, weddings, baptisms, communion, child dedications, and funerals as needed.
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Preach approximately 12–15 times per year.
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Invest personally in discipleship relationships and pastoral check-ins with attendees and members.
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Provide pastoral counseling as needed.
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Use approximately 10% of work time to develop relationships and serve people outside Park | Forest Glen.
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Participate actively in the life and ministry of the congregation.
The Pastor of Discipleship & Strategy is successful when:
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People are moving intentionally through a clear discipleship pathway.
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Newcomers are becoming intentionally connected to the church.
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Small Groups are healthy, multiplying, and increasingly effective at making disciples.
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Small Group coaches, deacons, & other ministry leaders are equipped, supported, and multiplying new leaders.
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Members are increasingly known, cared for, equipped, and mobilized for ministry.
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Volunteers are increasingly carrying meaningful ministry responsibility.
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Staff and ministry leaders have clarity about priorities and next steps.
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Strategic initiatives move from vision to measurable action.
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The church has healthy systems that support rather than hinder ministry.
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The congregation increasingly experiences Park | Forest Glen as a place where people connect, grow, serve, and multiply.
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The church is faithfully pursuing its mission to make disciples, equip the saints, send them out, and spread far and wide.
The Pastor of Discipleship & Strategy must:
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Meet the biblical qualifications for an elder as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and other relevant passages of Scripture.
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Be a committed member of Park Community Church and abide by the church’s membership commitments and bylaws.
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Be actively involved in a small group and maintain an accountability relationship.
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Demonstrate a growing and deepening relationship with Jesus Christ through Scripture, prayer, worship, and Christian community.
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Model spiritual maturity, humility, holiness, integrity, purity, and freedom from addictive behaviors.
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Demonstrate a commitment to the mission, vision, theology, and values of Park Community Church.
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Possess strong relational and pastoral skills.
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Demonstrate an ability to develop leaders and build healthy ministry systems.
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Possess strong organizational and strategic skills.
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Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively and translate vision into action.
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Live within the city limits of Chicago.
