Lead Pastor

Belmont Baptist Church, Abilene; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Belmont Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, seeks a Senior Pastor to lead expository preaching, spiritual formation, and mission in the local church and community. The candidate will shepherd a fellowship of believers, appoint elders and deacons, oversee worship and discipleship, and model Christlike shepherding with a heart for gospel-centered ministry.

Qualifications include robust biblical doctrine, 10 years pastoral leadership, and a Master’s in Theology preferred.

Qualifications

• Meet biblical qualifications for elders and shepherding leadership described in Scripture.
• Strong preaching and leadership abilities; capable of equipping others in sound doctrine.

Responsibilities

• Preaching and Teaching.
• Provide Spiritual Leadership and Vision for the church.
• Raise up Elders and Deacons and work with fellow elders to advance the mission of the church in Abilene and beyond.
• Shepherd and care for the congregation through prayer, counseling, and discipleship.

Skills

Preaching

Leadership

Counseling

Evangelism

Education

Master’s Degree in Theology

Job description

Senior Pastor

Belmont Baptist Church

Who We Are:

At Belmont Baptist Church we believe that God has ordained the local church to be the main place where disciples are made and the gospel is displayed to the world. This is made evident when the apostles interpreted Jesus' commission to make disciples of all nations by gathering as a local church as their first act after Pentecost (Acts 2:42-47).

The church is not a building, but a people who have been born again by the Spirit, are trusting in Christ, and have committed to one another in love as a covenant community.God has commanded that members of Christ's universal body gather together as local churches in His name (Heb 10:23-25). We believe that the Bible regulates how we gather as a local church. There are certain elements, such as preaching, prayer, giving, and the gospel ordinances, that are prescribed by Scripture. We seek to order our service in a manner that recognizes God's authority over every element of our worship.

To that end, we gather every Sunday in order to worship God through faith in Jesus Christ at 2117 Palm Street, Abilene, Texas 79602. Belmont is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. At present, we gather for Sunday School at 9:30 AM, Corporate Worship at 10:45 AM, and a Wednesday Bible Study at 5:30 PM. We currently average 29 children and 32 adults at a given Sunday service.

Qualifications:

• Meet the biblical qualifications for elders from 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
• Healthy and mature spiritual walk with Christ, relying actively on God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and prayer for his personal life and ministry. Commitment to pursue holiness in all his interactions and take initiative to be transparent with fellow elders.
• Strong Preaching and leadership abilities. Self-motivated and able to take initiative and follow through in the shepherding needs of the church. Gifted in equipping others in sound doctrine and for the work of ministry.
• Biblical and Historic Baptist Ecclesiological Convictions. Must be aligned with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 which significantly informs our Constitution and by laws.
• Commitment to Christ-centered Expositional Preaching, prayer, plurality of elders within congregationalism, biblical understanding of the gospel and biblical theology, meaningful membership, a culture of personal evangelism and discipleship, church discipline, corporate prayer, and church-centered missions.
• Personal and warm relational skills, with the ability to love and counsel people well.
• Humble and approachable. Able to listen well to others, to consider others charitably, to solicit and receive feedback, and to provide wise biblical counsel.
• 10 years of prior experience as a Senior Pastor
• Master’s Degree in Theology preferred

Responsibilities:

• Preaching and Teaching.
• Provide Spiritual Leadership and Vision for the church.
• Raise up Elders and Deacons and work with fellow elders to advance the mission of the church in Abilene and beyond.
• Shepherd and care for the congregation through prayer, counseling, and discipleship.

Final notes

• References welcome with resume
• Theology questionnaire and background check will follow application
• Pay will be based on education and experience level

General Information:
1. Share your testimony of repentance and faith in Jesus.

2. Have you been baptized? What do you believe concerning baptism?

3. Describe your current relationship with Jesus Christ.

4. What is the Gospel?

5. Are you in full agreement with Belmont Baptist Church statement of faith and church
covenant?

6. To the best of your ability to discern, do you think you meet the qualifications for
pastors given in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:5–9?

a. Which of the character qualifications listed in the passages above do you feel
are strengths?
b. Which of the character qualifications listed in the passages above do you feel
are weaknesses?

7. What is your educational background?

8. How/why do you think God is leading you to this position at Belmont Baptist Church?
Secondarily, are you running from a problem at your current church?

9. In what ways have you served churches you have been part of in the past?
10. If chosen, would you be willing to make a five-year commitment to this position
(barring extenuating circumstances)?

Marriage/Household:
11. How did your wife become a Christian and when, where, and why was she baptized?
12. How did you meet your wife and how long have you been married?

13. How would you describe the condition/quality of your marriage?
14. How would you describe your wife’s spiritual maturity? Her greatest weaknesses and
strengths?
15. How would your wife and children describe your leadership in the home?
16. List some specific ways you lead your family.
17. What encouragements or concerns would your wife have about you taking this job?
How has she expressed her support or concerns?
18. Have you ever been divorced?
19. Do you (or have you ever) hit or physically coerced your wife? If so, under what
circumstances?
20. How are your household finances? Do you carry any personal debt?

Personal
21. Have you looked at (or peered at) any pornographic images in the last year on your
computer, TV, a magazine, or otherwise? What are the ways that you actively seek
to guard your heart against lust?
22. How are you intentionally protecting your sexual purity? If married, how do you
protect your faithfulness to your wife in your thoughts, speech, and conduct?
23. What are your regular habits of personal devotion and, if applicable, family worship?
24. What has God taught you in your personal devotions recently?
25. Have you ever had any addictions? If so, describe.
26. What would your wife say your greatest weaknesses are?
27. Describe your leadership style. What are some strengths and weaknesses in this
area?
28. Have you ever been accused and/or convicted of a sexual offense involving minors?
29. Have you ever been involved in homosexual, bisexual, transgender or other non-
binary activities or relationships?

30. In Scripture, Elders are distinct from deacons primarily by the ability to teach (see
Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:2). What can you tell us about your ability to teach and preach?
31. Pastors are called to shepherd the body of Christ (1 Pet 5:2). Who are you currently
shepherding / discipling, and in what ways?
32. Give an example of a time you had to confront or correct someone in the church.
How did you go about it?
33. Describe a recent evangelism conversation you have had.
34. Who are your favorite Christian authors, preachers, or theologians? Why?

Theology
35. What are some theological issues that you consider important, but other Christians
may consider less important?
36. What do you believe about church membership? Why is membership in a local
church important?
37. What is the relationship between baptism and membership?

38. What is the role of women in the church? What are your views on manhood and
womanhood?
39. What are your beliefs with regard to church discipline? (if necessary, read Matthew
18:15–20 and 1 Corinthians 5:1–13). Relate any personal experience. How would you
handle a case of scandal or immorality by a church member?

40. What is the role of "leadings" in the Christian life? How do we make decisions?

41. Please explain what you believe the Bible teaches about the following:
a. The Bible (inerrancy, inspiration, sufficiency, authority, what is the canon)
b. God the Father
c. Jesus Christ (deity and humanity)
d. The Holy Spirit
e. The Trinity

f. Mankind and his sinful nature
g. The Gospel
h. Salvation (how is a person saved)
i. Justification
j. The Atonement
k. Sanctification
l. Perseverance (eternal security)
m. Glorification
n. Election (include in this how you see Scripture reconciling man’s
responsibility to believe with God’s sovereignty in salvation).
o. Last Things
p. The Scriptures
q. The Church
r. Baptism
s. The Lord’s Supper
t. Gender Roles (within the family and within the church)
u. Spiritual Gifts (particularly your view regarding signs and wonders, the
perpetuity or cessation of some of or any of the spiritual gifts listed in
Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12).
v. Divorce and Remarriage
w. Sanctity of Life
x. Church Discipline
y. What, if any, are the areas of biblical teaching that you feel less informed
about?

Vision
42. Why do you want to come to Abilene?

43. Have you been to Abilene before?
44. When you think about Belmont Baptist Church’s future what do you envision it could be?
45. Describe your philosophy of ministry.