Ministry Context
West Shore Baptist Church (WSBC) exists to make disciples who believe our God and live out His word, belong to one another in community, bridge the Gospel to those who do not yet know Christ, and become more like Jesus through one-on-one discipling relationships. We are seeking an Associate Pastor who embraces this vision.
Congregational Life Focus
Our next Associate Pastor, under the leadership of the Senior Pastor, will focus their gifts & energy in the areas of congregational life. Main areas of ministry (detailed below) will include overseeing men’s ministry, supporting the growth of middle/high school youth ministry, congregational care & preaching/teaching.
Position Responsibilities
1). Men's Ministries. The Associate Pastor will be responsible to provide oversight for and facilitation of Gospel-centered discipleship of our men.
- Currently, lay leaders offer a community group for men that meets every other week.
- Opportunities for expanding this ministry might include developing an annual retreat, engaging in one-on-one mentoring, multiplying community groups focused on building accountability and encouragement among men, etc.
2). Middle/High School Youth Ministries. Under the direction of the Senior Pastor and in partnership with the Children’s Ministry Director, the Associate Pastor will aid in helping our middle school ministry to grow and, eventually, our high school ministry to develop.
- Currently, our Children’s Ministry Director and Senior Pastor provide a weekly discipleship opportunity for our middle school-aged students.
- Opportunities for expanding this ministry might include connecting with the Camp Hill middle/high school, building a team of volunteers to serve with our middle schoolers, facilitating discipleship opportunities for parents, and expanding opportunities for our youth to grow & serve.
3). Congregational Care Ministries. Discipleship of the congregation takes many forms and varies by season. The Associate Pastor, together with the Senior Pastor, will exercise congregational care by:
- Providing pastoral care & counseling.
- Maintaining a robust ministry of visitation.
- Meeting regularly for intentional discipleship with a small number of mentees.
4). Preaching & Teaching Ministries. Under the direction of the Senior Pastor, the Associate Pastor will aid in leading the worshiping life of our congregation by:
- Providing Gospel-centered preaching on rotation (approx. every 6 weeks).
- Participating in significant life events such as weddings, funerals & baptisms.
- Facilitating the liturgy (Gospel welcome, pastoral prayer, etc.) on rotation & co-officiating communion.
- Serve on a Sunday School teaching rotation with the Senior Pastor and others.
5). Other Duties.
- Participate in weekly staff meetings & monthly Advisory Council meetings.
- Provide pastoral oversight & support to at least one board, as assigned by the Senior Pastor.
- Upon direction from the Senior Pastor, participate in other pastoral activities, as assigned. This role may grow and change with the needs of the church and the continued growth of the associate’s strengths.
Qualifications
Required Skills:
- The ability to articulate a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ and a sense of calling to pastoral ministry.
- Commitment to WSBC’s vision of making disciples who believe, belong, bridge & become.
- Possessing strong interpersonal skills, i.e. self-awareness; communication (verbal, written, and online); ability to self-differentiate in the presence of conflict or difficult situations; and an ability to interact with others from a foundation of theological and biblical integrity; relationally-oriented.
- Ability to build healthy relationships and teams.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, including responding appropriately to communications in a timely manner.
- Possess good skills and comfort level with Microsoft products and basic communication technologies.
Education:
- Master of Divinity or equivalent from an ATS accredited institution, preferred.
- Bachelor's degree and relevant ministry experience will also be considered.
Credentials:
- Ordained in the American Baptist Churches, USA, preferred
- If not ABC-USA affiliated, the Associate Pastor will be asked to sign the ABC-USA Minister’s Council code of ethics &, with the assistance of the Church leadership, pursue ordination within ABC-USA, if not yet ordained
Assumptions
- Establish residence within a reasonable distance from WSBC.
- Willing to take direction from Senior Pastoral leadership.
Accountability
The Associate Pastor is supervised by the Senior Pastor and accountable to the Advisory Council. He or she will be reviewed after 90 days by the Senior Pastor & a Trustee Board representative; annually thereafter.
Compensation
This is a full-time position with paid benefits, retirement benefits, hospitality & book allowance, mileage reimbursement, and continuing education allotment. In addition to the above compensation, cash salary (including clergy housing allowance) will be determined based on experience and qualifications (see above) within the range of $45,000 - $54,000.
Application Process
Interested persons should submit a cover letter, in the form of an email, along with the following as attachments (Word or PDF format) to [email protected]:
- A brief statement of faith, explaining what fuels your pastoral vision and including your sense of calling to this position;
- A current résumé and, if ABCUSA affiliated, an updated American Baptist Personnel Services (ABPS) profile;
- Names & contact information for two personal & two professional references.
A signed authorization form for a background check will be required of final candidates. The Search Team will request additional supporting items as the process moves forward.
Pay: $45,000.00 - $54,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
