Senior Pastor | Cairns Baptist Church

Queensland Baptists; Cairns Regional; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Cairns Baptist Church is seeking a full-time Senior Pastor to lead gospel-centred ministry, discipleship, and local mission in a growing tropical city.

We are a diverse church with English and Chinese-speaking congregations, seeking a spiritually mature pastoral leader who loves Jesus, teaches the Bible faithfully, casts vision with humility, and develops leaders to strengthen our teams under the Eldership.

Qualifications

• Bible teaching and faithful sermon delivery.
• Relational leadership and team development.
• Experience in local mission and community engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the church in mission and vision with the Eldership.
• Preach and oversee preaching team and discipleship pathways.
• Develop pastoral staff and ministry leaders; foster unity and growth.

Skills

Bible teaching

Pastoral leadership

Team development

Multicultural leadership

Education

Theological/ministry qualifications (undergrad)

Job description

Lead a multicultural church family. Serve a growing tropical city. Join God’s mission in Cairns.

Cairns Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking a full-time Senior Pastor to lead us into an exciting next season of gospel-centred ministry, intentional discipleship, and local mission.

For 90 years, CBC has been part of the Cairns community, sharing the hope of Jesus and serving people beyond our church walls. Today, we are a warm, diverse and multicultural church family with English and Chinese-speaking congregations, people of many ages and backgrounds, and a growing ministry base in Kanimbla.

Our ministries include children’s and youth ministries, a Chinese Fellowship, men’s and women’s groups, regular outreach on the Cairns Esplanade, and Street Level Youth Care, which supports disadvantaged and at-risk young people in our city.

We are seeking a spiritually mature pastoral leader with a clear sense of God’s call—someone who loves Jesus and people, teaches the Bible faithfully, casts vision with humility and courage, and enjoys developing leaders and building healthy teams. You will lead alongside our Eldership, Associate Pastor, Chinese Mission Pastor and ministry leaders to strengthen discipleship, foster unity across our congregations, and help CBC reach the diverse and growing community around us.

Cairns offers a relaxed tropical lifestyle, with the reef, rainforest and beaches on our doorstep, alongside significant opportunity for gospel ministry in a diverse regional city.

Could God be calling you to Cairns?

The Role

• Lead the church in fulfilling its mission and vision in partnership with the Eldership
• Preach and teach God’s Word faithfully, and oversee and develop the preaching team
• Cast vision, equip the church for ministry, and develop intentional discipleship pathways
• Lead, encourage and develop the pastoral team, staff and ministry leaders
• Build a culture of prayer, unity, spiritual growth and outward mission
• Provide pastoral care and leadership across the life of the church
• Provide oversight and strategic direction for Street Level Youth Care
• Lead well in a multicultural context, supporting the flourishing of both English and Chinese congregations

Who We Are Looking For

• A mature follower of Jesus with a clear call to pastoral ministry and to CBC
• A strong, gifted Bible teacher and communicator
• A relational leader who builds teams, develops leaders and empowers others
• Someone with experience in local mission, community engagement and team leadership
• A person able to meet the requirements for membership at CBC, registration with Queensland Baptists, a Marriage Celebrant’s Licence, and a Child Protection Suitability Card
• Theological or ministry qualifications at undergraduate level, or equivalent
• If married, a spouse who is supportive of the call and ministry

Additional Information

• This is a full-time position, including Sundays
• Remuneration follows the Queensland Baptist Ministerial Remuneration and Stipend Guidelines
• The full position description is available on request