Lead Pastor – Bethany Baptist Church

Lead Pastor – Bethany Baptist Church

The lead pastor will serve as the main preacher and spiritual leader for the church. He will model a growing Christian life, provide direction, and equip the people through teaching the scriptures, training the people, managing the staff, and overseeing the weekly programs and worship services. This will be done with the purpose of moving Bethany Baptist forward in achieving its mission and vision.

The lead pastor is called by the church and is accountable, first and foremost, to God and His Word and secondly to the Board of Directors and membership of Bethany Baptist Church, working collaboratively with the Board and the staff. This position is full time based on a 40-hour work week and requires great flexibility in hours available for work, including evenings and weekends. Sundays are considered part of the work week, as they are the focal point for this role. Due to the nature of this position, flexibility at specific times and seasons to accommodate ministry events is necessary. A basic weekly work schedule will be agreed upon with the Board of Directors. The salary for the successful candidate ranges from approximately $85,000 to $110,000 and is based on experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is offered. More information will be provided during the interview process.

Key Responsiblities

Public Ministry

• Provides the major preaching voice for the church during the year, giving the necessary time in prayer and preparation in order to be an effective instrument of God in the pulpit.
• Delivers Christ-centred preaching/teaching that inspires spiritual growth, thoughtful dialogue, and action, engaging and challenging a variety of ages and backgrounds.
• Leads the planning and development of in-person and online worship services; advises and directs those involved in leading worship, helping them to develop an understanding of worship.
• Oversees the rites of the Christian church, such as baptisms, communion, church membership, weddings, funerals, and child dedications, involving other pastoral staff and/or lay leadership whenever feasible.
• Responsible for the overall efficient and harmonious operation of all church programs and committees, effectively equipping both pastoral and lay leaders for the work of ministry, with an emphasis on community outreach.
• Promotes and encourages unity and fellowship within the church body through intergenerational and intercultural engagement, with commitment to small group ministry.
• Works with the Board in matters of church conciliation and discipline where deemed appropriate.
• Provides short-term pastoral counsel when appropriate and as necessary, visits people in the midst of crises where pastoral care is required, demonstrating warmth, openness, and sensitivity to the needs of those involved.

Ministry Administration/Leadership

Board of Directors

• Engages the Board of Directors as ‘Ministers together’ in the shepherding of the body.
• Provides spiritual leadership to the Board to equip them as shepherds of the flock, as well as in their role to govern with diligence.
• Serves as a non-voting member of the Board of Directors.
• Gives direction and guidance to leadership development of future directors.
• Leads, guides, and collaborates with the Board of Directors to develop an overall church vision.
• Adheres to the Boundary Principles as set in the Bethany Baptist Board Governance Manual.

 
Staff

• Leads and manages staff in fulfilling their role responsibilities, building and maintaining an increasingly capable and cohesive staff team.
• Leads executive director and ministry staff in developing long-term and annual strategic goals to fulfill the mission, vision, and values; holds the staff accountable to the overall vision and mission of the church.
• Develops relationships of genuine trust with the staff where they mutually challenge each other to lead lives of authentic and radical commitment to Jesus Christ.
• Provides opportunities for recreation and renewal that will refresh and revitalize the staff.
• Engages the staff in ongoing dialogue regarding the goals and objectives of their ministries, forming strategies to facilitate effective ministry and identifying appropriate opportunities for continuing professional development.

 
Broader Church Relationships

• Cultivates community relationships and involvements that particularly aid in the concern for outreach by the church, especially in the Hamilton-Queensborough area.
• Represents the church publicly where pastoral representation is desirable and approved by the Board of Directors, e.g., North American Baptist ministry, BC Association, and local ministerial events.
• Cultivates positive relationships with other churches and Christian organizations in the local community, as well as in an area-wide and national context.

 
All the above should be pursued as time and opportunity permit.

Requirements and Qualifications

Job Requirements

Responsibility to God

• Loves God with heart, soul, strength, and mind
• Joyfully responds to God’s call to ministry and servant leadership
• Maintains a fresh relationship with God through appropriate spiritual disciplines
• Faithful steward of financial resources

 
Responsibility to Self & Family

• Displays integrity, high morals and ethics
• Maintains personal health through recreation and relaxation
• Manages financial matters with integrity
• Grows in ministry effectiveness through reading, ongoing education, and professional development

 
Responsibility to Bethany Baptist

• Fulfills character qualifications as highlighted in 1 Timothy and Titus
• Is a committed Christian and must become a member of Bethany Baptist Church
• Agrees with the Statement of Beliefs of Bethany Baptist Church and will sign agreement upon acceptance of position
• Holds a commitment to confidentiality of personal information of the congregation and staff

 
Skill Set

• Collaborative leader and team-builder
• Approachable and able to connect with all cultures and age groups
• Strong interpersonally
• Skilled in conflict resolution
• Effective communicator (verbal and written)
• Able to adapt to changing circumstances or priorities
• Well organized

 
Education and Experience

• A degree in theology/pastoral ministry or equivalent from an accredited institution (preference given to a master’s level or higher degree, e.g., M.Th, M.Div, or PhD)
• Experience as a lead pastor (5+ years) in a multi-staff environment, with a proven track record in spiritual and ministry leadership in a multicultural setting
• Familiarity with various social media platforms, and Microsoft Office would be an asset

Special Notes

How to Apply

A copy of the full, detailed job description can be found here: https://www.bethanybaptist.bc.ca/WorkWithUs.

Please forward a PDF of your cover letter, CV, and statement of your call to pastoral ministry to search@bethanybaptist.bc.ca. Include “Bethany Baptist Church – Lead Pastor” in the subject line.