Associate Pastor

Evangelical Free Church of America; Port Orchard (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement contributions

Vacation based on experience

Sick leave based on experience

Flex time

Nine holidays per year

Training opportunities

Job summary

A local church in Port Orchard is seeking a pastoral leader who is passionate about transforming lives through the gospel. The role involves overseeing ministries, providing pastoral care, and developing leadership within the congregation. Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree in theology and be open to ordination. Benefits include competitive salary, medical coverage, and retirement contributions. Join us in advancing our mission with a church community average attendance of 350, blending long-standing members and young families.

Qualifications

• Must have completed a season of formal theological education.
• Willing to pursue ordination within the EFCA.
• Passionate about seeing lives transformed by Jesus Christ.
• Highly relational personality.
• Ability to finish tasks and follow through.
• Desire to collaborate with pastors, staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Oversee small group and men's ministries.
• Assist senior pastor with day-to-day duties.
• Share the gospel and disciple the congregation.
• Undertake new ministries/outreaches as needed.
• Assist senior pastor with day-to-day duties.
• Assist in planning and running Sunday services.
• Coordinate elder meetings and teaching ministries.
• Collaborate with staff on ministry operations.
• Disciple and enfold visitors into membership.
• Provide leadership development and training.

Skills

Relational personality

Communication skills

Collaborative spirit

Understanding of the gospel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in theology (minimum)

MDiv preferred

Job description

This role is ideal for someone who is deeply rooted in the gospel and senses a clear call to pastoral ministry. The candidate should be highly relational, clear in communication, collaborative and motivated to engage both the church body and the surrounding community.

The ideal candidate will have completed a season of formal theological education (minimum bachelor’s degree; MDiv preferred) and be willing to pursue ordination within the EFCA. Above all, we are seeking someone who is passionate about seeing lives transformed by Jesus Christ and who aligns with our vision: Building a Community of Grace by Transforming Broken People into Committed Followers of Jesus Christ.

We are seeking someone with:

• A clear understanding and response to the gospel
• A call to pastoral ministry
• A season of formal education
• A highly relational personality
• An ability to start and see tasks through to completion
• A desire to be collaborative with other pastors, staff and volunteers

This person should be competent in these key ministry responsibilities:

Ministry Leadership and Oversight

• Oversee the small group ministry
• Oversee the men’s ministry
• Oversee the deacon board (specific ministry areas)
• Willingness to undertake new ministries/outreaches if needed
• Assist the senior pastor in day-to-day pastoral duties
• Assist in the planning, staffing, running of Sunday services
• Assist the planning/agenda of all elder board meetings
• Assist in the teaching ministry (various functions and occasional preaching on Sunday)
• Coordinate with staff members and ministry leaders in ministry and operational matters

Pastoral Care

• Share the gospel with those who don’t know Jesus
• Disciple and grow the body of Christ
• Enfold visitors into Harper Church through our membership process
• Embrace our vision for ministry and pass it on to those you serve
• Provide encouragement to elderly and shut-ins
• Perform weddings and funerals or assist in the planning

Leadership Development

• Build relationships across the church to identify potential leaders
• Employ discernment when recruiting leaders to serve in Harper
• Identify training for people to serve in various ministries
• Collaborate with the senior pastor when training teachers and key leaders
• Lead by example

Events Coordination

• Recruit and organize volunteers for events
• Oversee annual functions that serve our church family
• Coordinate with other ministry leads to accomplish church-wide functions
• Employ management skills with overseeing church wide functions

Administrative Responsibilities

• Assist the senior pastor and staff with annual budgets
• Assistance in planning membership meetings
• Oversee facilities and financial details with administrative assistant, property board
• Chairman and finance board chairman

Relationships

• Accountable to the senior pastor
• Collaborate with various staff for church wide functions
• Assist Staff/Volunteers to run the Sunday services with excellence
• Collaborate with administrative assistant as needed

Employment Status: Full Time

• Competitive Salary (depending upon education and experience)
• Medical benefits
• Retirement (contributions into a 403b)
• Vacation (depending on years of experience)
• Sick Leave (depending on years of experience)
• Flex Time (weekly schedule and summer hours)
• Holidays (nine per year)
• Training (classes/seminars/conferences)

About this Church

Harper Church, an EFCA congregation in the Pacific Northwest with a rich 100-year history, is seeking a pastoral leader to join our team in advancing the mission of the gospel in our community. With an average attendance of 350 and a blend of long-standing members and a growing number of young families, we are prayerfully looking for the right individual to partner with us in meaningful ministry.