Associate Pastor of Community Life

Evangelical Free Church of America; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Community Church in Columbia, South Carolina, is seeking an Associate Pastor of Community Life to shepherd the spiritual health of disciples from birth through adulthood. The role leads children’s, youth and adult/small groups staff, and preaches on a regular rotation.

The elder-track position emphasizes personal development of leaders, pastoral care, and partnership with elders on membership care and safeguarding. This is a hands-on, shepherding ministry.

Qualifications

• Meets biblical qualifications for elder (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
• At least 10 years of ministry experience, including 5+ in pastoral leadership or oversight
• M.Div. or equivalent seminary training preferred

Responsibilities

• Own the vision and pathway for lifelong discipleship across every life stage, in partnership with the lead pastor and elders
• Hire, train, shepherd and evaluate the staff leaders of children’s, middle school, high school and adult/small groups ministries
• Champion lay leadership as the primary vehicle for discipleship, and model how to identify, train and release lay leaders
• Preach from the pulpit on a regular rotation and teach often in youth settings
• Provide direct pastoral care to families in crisis, conflict, grief or major transitions
• Partner with the elders on membership care, church discipline and safeguarding as they relate to families and children

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Staff development

Preaching

Shepherding

Education

M.Div. or equivalent

Job description

The Associate Pastor of Community Life is a shepherding pastor responsible for the spiritual health and direction of discipleship at Riverside, from birth through adulthood. He oversees the staff and lay leaders of children’s ministry, middle school, high school and adult/small groups. He also preaches on a regular rotation as part of our teaching team. This is a shepherding role, not a coordinating one. He will teach, develop leaders personally and walk with families through the joys and hardships of life. The role is elder-track: After a season of membership and evaluation, he is expected to be affirmed as an elder at RCC.

Full-time, exempt
$65,000 to $80,000 (salary + housing allowance), plus healthcare stipend
Reports to the lead pastor

Key responsibilities:

• Own the vision and pathway for lifelong discipleship across every life stage, in partnership with the lead pastor and elders
• Hire, train, shepherd and evaluate the staff leaders of children’s, middle school, high school and adult/small groups ministries
• Champion lay leadership as the primary vehicle for discipleship, and model how to identify, train and release lay leaders
• Preach from the pulpit on a regular rotation and teach often in youth settings
• Provide direct pastoral care to families in crisis, conflict, grief or major transitions
• Partner with the elders on membership care, church discipline and safeguarding as they relate to families and children

Qualifications:

• Meets the biblical qualifications for elder (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1)
• At least 10 years of ministry experience, including five or more in pastoral leadership or oversight
• A proven track record of shepherding people and leading teams of adults in a pastoral staff setting
• M.Div. or equivalent seminary training preferred

Riverside Community Church is an elder-led EFCA church in Columbia, South Carolina, part of the EFCA Southeast District. We hold to the EFCA Statement of Faith and as a church we also hold Reformed, gospel-centered convictions on election, effectual grace and perseverance. We practice believer’s baptism, and we welcome members who were baptized as infants.

Our mission is to multiply healthy disciples and gospel communities across our city and world.

What shapes us:

Gospel Shaped: Everything from preaching to small groups flows from the story God tells in Jesus.
Covenanted Family: We want everyone at Riverside to love and be loved, and to know others and be known.
Active Rest: We come alongside one another to bear Jesus’s yoke, giving and receiving rest.
Kingdom Unity: We pursue reconciliation within the church and partner gladly with like-minded churches.

We gather on Sundays around the Word, the ordinances and prayer, and we do much of our discipleship through small groups led by lay leaders. We’re a church-planting church, and we’re looking for a pastor who loves equipping others for ministry.