Pastoral Resident

watersedge; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid position with benefits

Job summary

The Local Church Grand Rapids is offering a Pastoral Resident role for a two-year, full-time paid residency with mentorship and leadership opportunities. Reports to the Executive Pastor and aligns with site ministry teams to practice pastoral work and learn hands-on ministry in a local church setting.

Ideal candidates are seminary graduates or students, committed to pursuing ministry, and willing to relocate to Grand Rapids, MI for the duration of the program.

Qualifications

• Seminary graduates, seminary students, or those able to begin seminary.

Responsibilities

• Engage in real pastoral ministry under mentorship.
• Participate in two-year residency with coaching and feedback.

Skills

Ministry leadership

Integrity

Academic excellence

Education

Seminary degree or in progress

Job description

Pastoral Resident

Time: Full Time, Salaried (weekly and evening/weekend hours) - 2 year assignment
Reports to: Executive Pastor
Primary work relationships: Executive Pastor, Lead Pastor, Site Mentor

Program Overview

The Local Church Pastoral Residency is a two-year mentoring program designed to train and equip church
leaders of tomorrow. Believing the local church, as God designed it, is the hope of the world, TLC seeks to
provide aspiring church leaders with a healthy church environment to learn, grow, and practice ministry after
completing their degree.

Why Consider Our Residency?

We look for those who are eager to explore what it looks like to work in a local church setting and who have
felt a real calling from God to go into ministry. We offer a Residency for those who have just finished (or are
finishing) their Seminary degree, or those who are ready for hands on ministry while pursuing a Seminary
education. Our Residency program seeks to be the bridge to transition from the academic world into real,
hands on ministry. It gives real leadership and responsibility in a ministry context paired with coaching and
mentorship that prepares students to be launched into a vocation of ministry. For those enrolled in
Seminary: upon completion (or nearing completion) of his or her degree, each student will serve a two-year
residency at The Local Church on Pastoral Staff. For those planning for seminary but not yet enrolled, we
offer an extended Residency experience that allows for simultaneous full-time Seminary enrollment. The
Pastoral Residency, a full-time paid position with benefits, provides a wide range of potential ministry
opportunities suited to each Resident’s gifts, abilities, and eventual ministry focus, with multiple
opportunities for mentorship available.

What does a Residency look like?

A Residency at The Local Church focuses on doing real Pastoral ministry in a coaching environment, beyond
what seminary classrooms can teach. Our heart is for the Church to thrive and to see leadership raised and
sent to do the work of ministry. We believe the church acts as a “training hospital” of sorts, training and
developing Pastors to do the work of ministry.

Expectations

We understand that for some, this is the first real ministry experience they will step into. For others, this is an
extension of their ongoing journey and calling into ministry. No matter what, the Residency aims to provide
a full ministry experience in a local church context. This includes real ministry responsibilities to plan,
execute, and maintain throughout the year and provides a chance to get behind the scenes and discover
church life with various meetings and planning sessions to understand how churches operate. All of this is in
tandem with training and development where mentors guide and help shape you in your ministry life. You
will discover practical ministry and formation-based Competencies that focus on ministry-specific skills and
the life of a Pastor.

Who are we?

The Local Church Grand Rapids started 9 years ago on the East side of Grand Rapids. We are a multiplying
church helping the next generation fall in love with Jesus to create better futures. We are a vibrant
community who seeks to love our city and follow Jesus with all that we are. Check out our MANIFESTO to
learn about what values drive us.

Some unique things about us:

• We’re passionate about reaching the next generation: 75% of our church is under the age of 35. The most
  mature in Christ need to be doing the most sacrificing to intentionally pass the faith on to the generations
  coming up behind us. We are serious about reaching the next generation.
• We are intentional about reaching those who do not have a spiritual home. 37% of those who attend TLC
  were not attending church before coming to TLC. We want TLC to be a place that people are constantly
  finding Christ, being captured by his love, and through intentional community living out our discipleship
  to him by sharing him with others.
• We’ve seen well over 200 individuals give their life to Jesus or recommit their life to Him in the last 5 years
  and well over 100 public proclamations of faith through baptism.
• We are trying to be both generous and intentional to invest back into the city we love through our
  partnerships with Ken-O-Sha Elementary, ICCF, and multiple social service organizations (Samaritas,
  Bethany, and others) to provide support for foster care/adoption/refugee placements throughout our city.
• In May of 2025 we planted our first church, sending out two full time staff members and 200 people to
  reach others for Christ on the West side of Grand Rapids.
• Grand Rapids is located in beautiful West Michigan and is one of the fastest-growing cities in Michigan. Just
  miles away from Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is a thriving city of diverse people from all walks of life. Our
  city has a large medical community with multiple Hospitals and is home to large and influencing businesses
  and yet provides fertile ground for fresh start-ups and opportunities.
• For more information check out our church’s website or get to know our city some more.

Requirements

The Local Church desires to select Seminary graduates, seminary students, or those able and ready to begin
seminary (and work towards completing their degree within the time frame of the residency) with “integrity
of heart and skillful hands” (Psalm 78:70-72) to participate in this program. Applicants must demonstrate a
commitment to following Christ, ministry leadership ability, a heart for serving the local church, and
academic excellence. Those selected for the Residency commit to moving to the Grand Rapids area (either
upon completion of their degree or prior to starting their degree), where they will serve at TLC as a Resident for two years.