Pastor of Care

Highland Park Presbyterian Church; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas seeks a Pastor of Care to lead the Congregational Care ministry with compassion and spiritual guidance. The role emphasizes pastoral care, deacon leadership, and ECO-aligned ministry.

You will mentor deacons, provide counseling, teach classes, and lead weddings and funerals while offering pastoral presence at key church events and in parishioners' seasons of need.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and M.Div. (or equivalent) from accredited institutions.
• Ordained Pastor by ECO.
• Minimum 2+ years of work in a church as a minister and public speaking experience.
• Strong oral and written communication; ECO Ordination required.
• Organized, administrative and dependable.

Responsibilities

• Provide pastoral care to church members, families, and staff.
• Design, implement, and maintain processes to equip pastors/staff to provide care.
• Co-Lead the Deacon Ministry with the Director of Congregational Care.
• Lead the Deacon Lead Team and Deacon Service Team Leaders for spiritual formation.
• Place, train, and support deacons on service teams.
• Coordinate annual Deacon nominating process with ONC.
• Teach the New Officers Training course.
• Ensure a compelling volunteer experience for deacons.
• Teach church classes, events, and Bible studies.
• Provide pastoral counseling appointments.
• Lead worship services, prayers, preaching, sacraments.
• Plan and officiate weddings, funerals, memorials.
• Hospital/home visitation; Pastoral Presence at events.
• Pastor on Call on assigned weeks.
• Other duties per ECO and ordained duties as requested.

Skills

Oral communication

Written communication

Administrative

Dependable

Wisdom

Piety

Understanding

Teaching

Mercy

Encouragement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Ordained Pastor by ECO

Job description

Department:

Care

Exempt or Non-Exempt:

Exempt, Full Time

Reports to:

Director of Congregational Care

Direct Supervisor of:

N/A

Tier:

Pastor

Work Schedule:

Sun-Thurs (9am-5pm)

Our vision: leading all generations to find and follow Jesusfor the flourishing of our city and beyond

PURPOSE OF THIS POSITION

The Care Department seeks to advance that vision through love, relationships, & encouragement as we offer God’s healing to our church family. We facilitate people’s spiritual formation by directly providing personal pastoral care, especially in seasons of crisis and transition.

The Pastor of Care supports the Care Department and the vision for Highland Park Presbyterian Church by leveraging our ‘care-as-evangelism’ strategy to:

• help individuals find and follow Jesus more closely, to spiritually flourish during life’s challenges,
• help train and equip deacons to be effective ministers, and
• provide pastoral care for church members and their families.

DESIRED RESULTS/IMPACT OF THIS POSITION

• Congregants experience compassionate, effective pastoral care during seasons of need, crisis, grief, transition, and growth.
• The church maintains a sustainable and expanding care ministry that reflects the love of Christ.
• Deacons, prayer teams, pastoral staff, and care volunteers are equipped and supported to provide excellent care.
• Staff in the ordination process and emerging church leaders receive meaningful pastoral mentoring and ministry experience.
• Care, counseling, prayer, and support ministries operate collaboratively and effectively.
• The congregation experiences pastoral leadership that promotes spiritual maturity, healing, discipleship, and flourishing.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Care

• Provide pastoral care to church members, their families, and staff
• Design, implement, and maintain processes to effectively equip and support pastors/staff from all departments to provide effective pastoral care to people in our church and community

Deacon Ministry

• Co-Lead the Deacon Ministry with the Director of Congregational Care to effectively accomplish its mission
• Provide strategic leadership to the Deacon Lead Team (DLT) and the Deacon Service Team Leaders and help facilitate their personal spiritual formation and growth
• Work alongside leaders to place, train, and support deacons to serve on their chosen service team(s)
• Coordinate w/ Officer Nominating Committee (ONC) annually throughout deacon nominating process
• Teach the annual New Officers Training course
• Ensure that the church provides a compelling and fulfilling volunteer experience for those serving as deacons

General Pastoral Ministry

• Teach in church classes, event, and bible study venues
• “Contact Work” and individual spiritual guidance and pastoral counseling appointments with parishioners
• Help lead worship services by praying, speaking, preaching, administering the sacraments, etc.
• Plan and officiate weddings, funerals, memorials, committals/inurnments
• Hospital / home visitation for parishioners and families
• “Pastoral Presence” at key events throughout the various ministries of the church and on Sunday mornings (when not already leading, teaching, or facilitating a specific event)
• Serve as the Pastor on Call (POC) on assigned weeks
• Any other duties defined by ECO, of Assistant Pastors including: all sacerdotal functions, participation in meetings and ministry of the Presbytery of Texas (as a member), participation in Session meetings, serving as a Commissioner at Synod, and denominational service as requested

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree and M.Div. (or equivalent) from accredited institutions, at minimum
• Professional Certification / License(s): is an ordained Pastor by ECO
• Minimum Experience: 2+ years of work in a church as a minister (or similar role while in engaged in the ordination process); prior professional public speaking experience

• Knowledge and Skills: Strong oral & written communication skills; all biblical, theological, and organizational knowledge required through ECO Ordination. Is organized, administrative and dependable.
• General computer / software proficiency required for modern office

• Abilities: Ability to maintain composure under pressure.
• Gifts: Wisdom, Piety, Understanding, Teaching, Mercy, Encouragement

WORKING CONDITIONS AND ABILITIES

• Frequent lifting under 30 lbs
• Ability to maintain composure under pressure

WORKPLACE EXPECTATIONS

• Loves Jesus, the people of HP Pres, the city of Dallas and the world
• Affirms and supports ECO (our denomination) Essential Tenets
• Acts as an advocate of the culture and vision of HP Pres
• Commits to and exhibits our Team Culture Values:
  • Deeply abiding in Jesus
  • We > Me
  • Defiant joy in the trenches of ministry