Senior/Lead Pastor

SBC Executive Committee; Clarksville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Living Hope Baptist Church in Clarksville, TN is prayerfully seeking a spiritually mature Senior/Lead Pastor to preach and teach God’s Word with clarity, shepherd people with compassion, and lead our church toward renewed unity, health, and mission. We seek an approachable servant leader who loves people across generations, equips believers to make disciples, and provides steady leadership.

Responsibilities include preaching biblically sound sermons, shepherding through prayer and care, and

Qualifications

• Pastoral leadership and doctrinal fidelity
• Ability to teach Scripture clearly and apply it pastorally
• Effective shepherding and people skills
• Collaborative leadership with staff and lay leaders

Responsibilities

• Preach biblically faithful, gospel-centered sermons and oversee church ordinances.
• Shepherd the congregation through prayer, presence, and meaningful relationships.
• Lead toward unity, spiritual health, and a clear ministry direction.
• Strengthen prayer, small groups, and disciple-making pathways.
• Provide healthy leadership to staff and lay leaders and equip members to serve.

Job description

The Ministry Opportunity

Living Hope Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking a spiritually mature, biblically faithful Senior/Lead Pastor to preach and teach God's Word with clarity, shepherd people with compassion, and lead our church toward renewed unity, health, and mission. We seek an approachable servant leader who loves people across generations, equips believers to make disciples, works collaboratively with staff and lay leaders, and provides steady, transparent leadership.

A humble shepherd. A caring and unifying leader. A disciple maker. A faithful preacher.

Priorities for the Next Season

• Foster unity, healing, trust, and alignment around a clear gospel-centered mission.
• Strengthen corporate prayer, spiritual renewal, worship, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
• Sustain a deep hunger for Scripture through faithful, applicable preaching and teaching.
• Equip members to follow Jesus, make disciples, serve, and develop as ministry leaders.
• Lead collaboratively and transparently with staff, deacons, trustees, ministry leaders, and the congregation.
• Champion multigenerational ministry, evangelism, community engagement, and missions.

Biblical and Personal Qualifications

• Demonstrates a credible call to pastoral ministry and a spiritually mature relationship with Jesus Christ marked by prayer, humility, wisdom, integrity, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
• Meets the biblical qualifications for an elder/pastor expressed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4
• Affirms and faithfully teaches the doctrinal convictions of Living Hope Baptist Church as expressed in its Statement of Faith, Constitution, and Bylaws, and fully agrees with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000
• Handles Scripture faithfully and communicates biblical truth with conviction, clarity, grace, relevance, and practical application.
• Loves people, listens well, relates across generations and backgrounds, and demonstrates mature pastoral care.
• Leads as a servant, welcomes accountability and wise counsel, communicates openly, and navigates disagreement redemptively.

Core Responsibilities

• Preach biblically faithful, theologically sound, Christ-centered sermons and lead the church in the ordinances.
• Shepherd the congregation through prayer, presence, pastoral care, and meaningful relationships across every life stage.
• Lead the church toward unity, reconciliation, spiritual health, and a clear, shared ministry direction.
• Strengthen prayer, Sunday School, small groups, and a coherent pathway for discipleship and spiritual formation.
• Provide healthy leadership to staff and partner effectively with deacons, trustees, committees, ministry leaders, and volunteers.
• Develop and equip members to serve, lead, share the gospel, and make disciples.
• Support ministries serving children, students, young adults, families, adults, and senior adults.
• Lead within the church’s governing documents and established processes, honoring transparency, accountability, financial safeguards, and the responsibilities assigned to other leaders.

Experience and Education

Meaningful pastoral ministry experience is expected, including regular preaching and teaching, shepherding people, and leading ministry. Experience collaborating with staff and lay leaders and helping a church pursue health, unity, discipleship, outreach, or organizational clarity is strongly preferred. Formal Bible college or seminary education is preferred; however, an exceptionally qualified candidate without a traditional seminary degree may be considered when calling, doctrine, character, biblical competence, ministry fruit, and readiness are well demonstrated.

Compensation and Application

Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with the responsibilities of the position and the selected candidate’s experience and education, subject to church approval and applicable policies.