Associate Pastor of Community Life

Covenant Seminary; Columbia (SC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Community Church in Columbia, SC is seeking an Associate Pastor of Community Life to shepherd disciples from birth through adulthood. You’ll oversee Children’s, Middle School, High School, and Adult/Small Groups, report to the Lead Pastor, and preach regularly as part of the teaching team.

This elder-track role involves developing leaders, walking with families, and providing pastoral care in times of life’s joys and hardships.

Qualifications

• Meets the biblical qualifications for elder (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1).
• Seven years of ministry experience, including five in pastoral leadership.
• Proven track record shepherding people and leading teams in a pastoral setting.
• Affirms EFCA faith and RCC's Reformed, gospel-centered convictions.
• Holds EFCA ministry credentials or willingness to pursue them.
• M.Div. or equivalent seminary training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the vision and pathway for lifelong discipleship across life stages.
• Hire, train, shepherd, and evaluate staff leaders of children, youth, and adults.
• Champion lay leadership and model identifying, training, and releasing leaders.
• Preach regularly and teach in youth settings.
• Provide direct pastoral care to families in crisis, conflict, or transitions.
• Partner with elders on membership care and safeguarding related to families.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Staff management

Discipleship

Preaching

Family ministry

Children's Ministry

Education

M.Div. or equivalent seminary training

Job description

Associate Pastor of Community Life

Riverside Community Church | Columbia, SCFull-time, exempt | $65,000 to $80,000 (salary + housing allowance), plus healthcare stipend

ABOUT RIVERSIDE

Riverside Community Church is an elder-led church in Columbia, South Carolina, affiliated with the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). We hold to the EFCA Statement of Faith, and as a church we also hold Reformed, gospel-centered convictions, including unconditional election, effectual grace, and the perseverance of the saints. 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.

THE ROLE

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. Reporting to the Lead Pastor, he oversees the staff and lay leaders of Children's Ministry, Middle School, High School, and Adult/Small Groups, and he 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.

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)
• Has at least seven years of ministry experience, including five years in a pastoral leadership or oversight role
• A proven track record of shepherding people and leading teams of adults in a pastoral staff setting
• Affirms the EFCA Statement of Faith and RCC's Reformed, gospel-centered convictions
• Holds EFCA ministry credentials, or is willing to pursue them
• M.Div. or equivalent seminary training preferred

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for a pastor who wants to help build a high-functioning pastoral team marked by trust, candor, and mutual accountability. He receives correction without getting defensive, delegates without giving up pastoral ownership, and stays steady under pressure. He's comfortable building new frameworks from a starting point rather than a finished blueprint.