Executive Pastor Mission Church

Manhattan Christian College; Topeka, Northern (KS, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Church of Topeka seeks an Executive Pastor to lead strategically and operationally beside the Lead Pastor. You will align people, resources, and culture, ensuring ministries function with excellence through strong systems, staff development, and clear execution.

This role calls a gifted leader who builds culture, develops people, and turns vision into action within a local church context. Topeka, KS offers a supportive community with a growing congregation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s preferred in Divinity, Ministry, or Leadership.
• Proven leadership experience in church or nonprofit settings.
• Experience supervising teams and developing high-performing staff.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong administrative, relational, and strategic strengths.

Responsibilities

• Lead with Vision & Strategy.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to staff and ministry leads alongside the Lead Pastor.
• Run weekly staff meetings, one-on-ones, and annual reviews.
• Translate the Lead Pastor’s vision into clear priorities, plans, and systems.
• Build and sustain a healthy staff culture aligned to core values.
• Lead hiring for key staff positions, including onboarding and ongoing development frameworks.
• Preach and teach throughout the year as needed and as gifted.
• Drive Operational Excellence.
• Oversee ministries reflect Mission Church’s mission and direction.
• Oversee annual ministry planning, calendaring, and major initiatives.
• Develop and maintain systems for assimilation, discipleship pathways, serving pipelines, and group structures.
• Partner with Novum to align financial decisions with strategy.
• Represent the Lead Pastor in key meetings and decisions.
• Oversee Sunday service operations: teams, volunteers, communication, and execution.
• Ensure every ministry — Kids, Students, Groups, Connections, Worship — is equipped with the systems and support needed to thrive.
• Oversee the Administration of Mission Church’s Group ministry.
• Evaluate ministries regularly for health and alignment with our mission.
• Build sustainable volunteer pipelines across all ministries.
• Train, equip, and empower volunteer leaders to own their areas with excellence.
• Implement leadership development rhythms for staff and volunteers.
• Oversee internal communication systems, including planning, decision flow, and ministry coordination.
• Supervise external communication — website, email, social media, and branding.
• Project-manage church-wide events, initiatives, and growth strategies.

Skills

Proven leadership experience

Experience supervising others

Strong administrative, relational, and

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in Divinity, Ministry, or Leadership

Job description

Meet Mission Church of Topeka

Mission Church is a Christ-centered, community-rooted church in Topeka, Kansas, committed to loving God, loving people, and advancing God’s Kingdom in our city and beyond. We are part of the big “C” Church — building bridges across denominations, ministries, and organizations to share the good news of Jesus with a hurting world, regardless of social status, ethnicity, or faith background.

Our culture is marked by authentic biblical community, radical generosity, a passion for justice, and a deep commitment to the next generation. We believe Mission always trumps personal comfort — and we show up every week with that conviction. 100% of undesignated offerings are given to local and global missions. 100+ volunteers participate in reaching Topeka for Jesus and inviting them into an authentic, grace filled family of 250 worshipers on a Sunday morning.

Mission Church currently partners with Novum Church Solutions for bookkeeping, HR processing, and budget support. As a result, the XP’s focus is on leadership, systems, ministry alignment, communication, staff development, and Sunday execution — not technical finance management.

Job Description

Mission Church exists to help people discover Jesus and live like Jesus. That mission requires exceptional leadership — and we’re searching for a proven, Spirit-led Executive Pastor to help us fulfill it.

The Executive Pastor (XP) serves as the primary strategic and operational leader alongside the Lead Pastor. This role aligns people, strategy, resources, and culture so that Mission Church thrives in health, unity, and Gospel effectiveness. The XP ensures the church’s ministries function with excellence through strong systems, leadership development, staff coaching, and operational clarity.

This is not merely a management role — it is a ministry calling. If you are a gifted leader who feels called to serve the local church, loves building culture, developing people, and turning vision into action, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Lead with Vision & Strategy.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to staff and ministry leads alongside the Lead Pastor.
• Run weekly staff meetings, one-on-ones, and annual reviews as assigned by the Lead Pastor.
• Translate the Lead Pastor’s vision into clear priorities, plans, and systems.
• Build and sustain a healthy staff culture aligned to our core values.
• Lead hiring for key staff positions, including onboarding and ongoing development frameworks.
• Preach and teach throughout the year as needed and as gifted.
• Drive Operational Excellence.
• Ensure all ministries reflect Mission Church’s mission, values, and strategic direction.
• Oversee annual ministry planning, calendaring, and major initiatives.
• Develop and maintain systems for assimilation, discipleship pathways, serving pipelines, and group structures.
• Partner with Novum to ensure financial decisions align with church strategy.
• Represent the Lead Pastor in key meetings and decisions as a trusted extension of leadership.
• Oversee Sunday service operations: teams, volunteers, communication, and execution.
• Ensure every ministry — Kids, Students, Groups, Connections, Worship — is equipped with the systems and support needed to thrive.
• Oversee the Administration of Mission Church’s Group ministry.
• Evaluate ministries regularly for health, fruitfulness, and alignment with our mission.
• Build & Empower.
• Build sustainable volunteer pipelines across all ministries.
• Train, equip, and empower volunteer leaders to own their areas with excellence.
• Implement leadership development rhythms for both staff and volunteers.
• Oversee internal communication systems, including planning, decision flow, and ministry coordination.
• Supervise external communication — website, email, social media, and branding — in collaboration with staff and volunteers.
• Project-manage church-wide events, initiatives, and growth strategies.

Required Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in a church, nonprofit, or executive organizational setting.
• Experience supervising others and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong administrative, relational, and strategic strengths.
• Excellent communication skills — written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Masters in Divinity, Ministry, or Leadership is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in an Executive Pastor, Operations Pastor, or organizational management role.
• Experience leading multi-staff teams in a church environment.
• Experience developing systems in a fast-growing church.

Faith & Character

• A vibrant, growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a life that reflects it.
• Deep alignment with Mission Church’s Statement of Faith, core values, and philosophy of ministry.
• A track record of integrity, humility, and healthy relationships.
• A heart for justice, generosity, and authentic community — not just as concepts, but as lived convictions.
• Active membership (or willingness to join) Mission Church.

What it’s like to live in Topeka, Kansas

Living in Topeka, Kansas, offers a quiet and affordable lifestyle with a small-town feel while still having the conveniences of a city. As the state capital, Topeka has a mix of historic neighborhoods, local restaurants, parks, and community events, with plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. The cost of living is relatively low, and the slower pace can make it a comfortable place for families and people who prefer a more relaxed environment. While it does not have the same level of entertainment or nightlife as larger cities, Kansas City is only about an hour away, making it easy to take a day trip for shopping, dining, or larger events.