Senior Pastor

Westminster Theological Seminary; Northern (KY); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Marissa Presbyterian Church is seeking a gifted senior pastor to lead a mature congregation in worship, teaching, and outreach. The candidate should articulate a clear biblical vision, shepherd a growing body of believers, and build strong ministries that reach families, youth, and the wider community.

The role emphasizes expository preaching, pastoral care, and collaborative leadership with the Pulpit Nominating Committee. A deep commitment to reformed theology and PCA standards is essential.

Qualifications

• Strong biblical preaching and teaching
• Pastoral ministry experience preferred
• Commitment to reformed theology and PCA standards

Responsibilities

• Develop a ministry plan to grow the church numerically and spiritually
• Secure ownership and support of the congregation and lead the vision
• Deliver strong biblical sermons that challenge and exhort
• Provide visitation and shepherding to families, shut-ins, and members
• Oversee outreach, missions, and disciple-making initiatives

Skills

Biblical preaching

Leadership

Discipleship

Pastoral care

Evangelism

Education

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Job description

Dear Friends in Christ,

Marissa Presbyterian Church 201 N. Hamilton

Marissa, IL 62257 www.marissapres.org November, 2025

The Pulpit Nominating Committee of MarissaPresbyterian Church, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), is excited to announce that our church is seeking a gifted senior pastor to serve our congregation. Our mission is to fulfill the Great Commission and "make disciples of all nations." This "Senior Pastor Profile and Information Packet" is designed to share our ministry opportunity and seek those who might be interested in exploring a call to serve with us. Please review the packet and reflect on the role and required skills, and work to discern whether this ministry would be right for you or someone you know.

We are a mature church which stresses the importance of worship, teaching, and outreach, caring deeply for the relationships within the church and is highly mission minded. We believe that God has a special purpose for Marissa Presbyterian Church and we seek a pastor with a vision to guide and inspire our congregation to fulfill that God given purpose.

We ask that you remember the Pulpit Nominating Committee and our congregation in your prayers as we confidently, expectantly, and enthusiastically embark on this God honoring and Spirit guided process.

Marissa Presbyterian Pulpit Nominating Committee Wayne Kinney, Chairman

Senior Pastor Profile and Information Packet

Contents:

Our Calling

Our Story

Our Community

Desired Profile of Pastor

Committee Members

Our Calling

At Marissa Presbyterian Church (MPC), our vision of being "A disciple-making community" includes a vision of building our membership both spiritually and numerically as we reach out to share the gospel with the world. This vision is fleshed out a bit further in the following purpose statement developed by our Session some years ago.

To worship the Triune God as we reach individuals and families with the message of grace, peace, and hope found in Jesus Christ; nurture believers as membersof God's family; and equip believers for works of service.

Following the Lord’s Great Commission before his ascent to his Father in heaven, we seek to serve the Lord and his kingdom work by developing and equipping disciples to go out into the world with the grace and peace of God. To that end, prayer, worship, Christian education, and missions are core to the life of the church.

Core Values

The Priority of Prayer

Prayer is the priority at MPC. This is the Lord's church, and he is the One who will build it. Therefore, prayer must precede and undergird the work of the ministry. Psalm 127:1 states, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." With this in the forefront of our minds, we diligently seek His will in all that we plan and do.

Evangelistic Worship

Worship services are designed to lead believers in worshiping the Triune God while being friendly to the seeker. Expository preaching is Christ-centered and calls for a commitment to faith in Him.

Messages apply the universal truths found within the Bible in a manner that is relevant to the local setting. We utilize a blend of both contemporary and traditional music that helps the worshiper focus on the Triune God.

Every aspect of our ministry, including worship, works hard at creating an atmosphere where people feel accepted, cared for, and respected.

Multiplying Ministry

MPC works to maintain an "outward face." Evangelism must permeate every phase of the ministry – from children's ministries to adult ministries and from mercy ministries to fellowship ministries. We seek to teach and train believers to have an evangelistic mindset and to radiate gospel beauty, whether at church or in the marketplace.

MPC is committed to the development of lay leadership by recruiting and systematically training godly leaders. The training and equipping of leaders emphasizes evangelism, discipleship, mercy ministries, and biblical theology. MPC seeks to motivate believers to serve all of mankind wherever they are.

Seniors Ministry

Members of MPC are-encouraged to involve themselves in caring for the needs of the seniors within our church and community. Seniors are encouraged to utilize their wisdom to teach and minister to the members of the church and the surrounding community.

Mercy Ministry

As a Christian family, God calls us to love and care for one another (I John 3:16-20). God's people demonstrate care for one another's needs throughout the Bible, e.g., Acts 2:42-47. MPC is committed to facilitating and nurturing those in need. Our commitment to each other as fellow members of God's family means we will walk through all the ups and downs of life together. Furthermore, we will maintain a fundamental commitment that everyone's needs for life (food, shelter, clothing, nurture, love, and care) will be met through the body of believers.

Children's and Youth Ministry

MPC places great emphasis on the development of strong Children and Youth Ministry programs. These ministries aggressively seek to reach youth with the message of Christ Jesus. As with all ministries at MPC, there is a two-pronged approach – evangelism and discipleship.

In the discipleship phase, participants will be equipped for peer care and peer evangelism. The following theme will help emphasize the importance of having a missional mindset in our everyday life: "How can I impact and influence my world for Christ?"

Marissa Presbyterian Church's Background

Marissa Presbyterian Church began in 1870 when the Synods of the Reformed Presbyterian Church and the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church decided to unite to form the United Presbyterian Church. Hill Prairie United Presbyterian Church was established and changed its name to Marissa Presbyterian Church in 1871.

Construction began on a church building in the summer of 1871 and was completed by November of that same year. In 1900, the original church building was razed to allow for construction of a new, larger one on the same site. Construction was completed in 1902 and is still the congregation's house of worship today. The sanctuary was renovated in 1960 and an education wing was added to accommodate Sunday School classes. A new, brick parsonage was constructed in 1990 to house our minister. In 2005 a new Christian Fellowship Center was completed with additional classrooms, a new kitchen, and a gymnasium.

Missions have always been important to our congregation. The congregation supports missionaries in various parts of the world and at home. One of our members, Miss Evelyn Cathcart, served her lifetime as a missionary to northern India, now Pakistan. In recent years we have seen members go out to serve in such places as Bangladesh and Papua New Guinea. The Marissa church avoids money making projects, believing that God's people will be moved by the Lord to support His work.

With increasing distress over the liberalism and unbelief in the Scriptures which came following the merger of the United Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., the Session and Trustees voted unanimously in 1980 to sever their connection with the presbytery and the denomination. The congregation concurred with a large majority in favor of leaving.

Litigation over ownership of the church's assets ceased in December 1985 with the congregation retaining possession. After a period of remaining independent, Marissa Church was received as a member of the Illiana Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of America in 1990.

In January 2025, the membership of our church was 85 members, and average attendance at the worship service was 52. Sunday School classes are provided for all ages, including three adult classes. Sunday School meets at 9:30 A.M. followed by the worship service at 10:30 A.M. Active organizations in the church include a choir, a church band, Women’s Bible study, and Alphabet Supper Club.

We are currently led by a Session of four Elders. A Board of Trustees manages care of the building and equipment. We also have a Clerk of the Congregation, a Missions Treasurer, a Missions Committee, Women’s Ministry, a Church Treasurer, and a part-time Church Secretary.

Recent History

Our membership has declined over time as older members have gone to be with the Lord and the local employment opportunities have diminished. Many coal mines, once a major employer, have closed and few new employers have emerged resulting in job losses. The result has been families moving and many young people not returning after graduating high school and college. These factors have led to a reduction of our membership from more than 200 to 85 over the past 25 years, a trend that is concerning to members and leadership. A congregational survey conducted in October 2025 reflects a strong desire to reverse that trend. We pray and work to grow both spiritually and numerically.

Congregational Survey Summary

Following is the report to the congregation summarizing the results of the survey conducted by the Pulpit Nominating Committee.

The pulpit nominating committee thanks everyone again for considering and responding to the congregational surveys. Forty-eight surveys were returned, and the information they provided is very helpful as we move forward in our search for our new pastor.

Concerning the congregation, the surveys revealed that friends and family, fellowship, and faithful biblical teaching are significant factors in drawing us to this congregation and keeping us connected. The worship style is another notable factor in keeping us coming to worship here. As much as this helps us understand our congregation a bit better, your views on the man you believe is needed to shepherd us in the future are even more important to assist us in our search.

After reviewing your responses, it is evident that we should be seeking a younger man who is a strong biblical preacher/teacher, who has the ability to lead, and who has a desire to reach others, especially young people and families. When we consider this part of the survey in three broad categories – his strengths, character traits, and leadership abilities; where he prioritizes his energy and efforts; and what we expect of his preaching and sermons – we find fairly consistent responses across the age groups of those who responded.

In terms of his strengths and traits, preaching and teaching is clearly very important for our new pastor, as we would expect. Based on your responses, visitation, particularly of the sick and shut-ins, a focus on worship, and a passion for youth and young families should be important to him. Leadership and vision casting, evangelism, and community involvement also received notable emphasis in these questions and carry over into the next area concerning his priorities.

Attracting new members is clearly a high priority we, as a congregation, have for our new pastor’s time and efforts. Vision casting and maintaining strong, biblical, uplifting worship are also efforts that should receive higher priority. Varying a bit more based on age of the responder, visitation and community involvement are also significant activities to be considered.

With the clear importance of worship to our church, it is useful to consider how his preaching affects our perception of that worship. It is clear from the responses that we want compelling, biblical sermons that are challenging and thought provoking. More specifically, his preaching should call us to a personal faith in Christ that leads us to repentance and the application of our faith to our daily lives. Furthermore, it should spur us on to spiritual growth and putting hands and feet to the gospel in works of service, evangelism, and whatever other opportunities the Lord may place before us.

While none of this may seem earth shattering or even surprising, it is important that we take time to confirm this rather than rushing forward based on assumptions that could be invalid. If you would like more detailed information or to discuss this further, please contact Wayne Kinney.

Our former pastor of 24 years announced his retirement in June of 2025 and prior to his departure in September 2025 led the congregation very effectively in preparation of the interim period. The search for a new pastor began in August 2025 with the election of a 7-member Pulpit Nominating Committee.

The congregation is now eagerly seeking to work with a new pastor to continue and expand existing ministries and especially to reach out to young families and youth.

Our Community

In 2020, Marissa, IL, had a population of 1,826 people with a median age of 46.7 and a median household income of $48,393. Between 2010 and 2020 the population of Marissa, IL declined from 1,933 to 1,826, and its median household income declined from $48,644 to $48,393.

The population decline in Marissa is primarily driven by the long-term decline of the coal mining industry, which has eroded the local tax base, job market, and business community. This local factor is compounded by broader, statewide trends of migration out of Illinois, particularly affecting its rural areas.

Local economic factors

1. Decades of industrial decline: Marissa's history is deeply intertwined with coal mining, which provided generations of residents with jobs. The industry's decline began in the late 1900s, hastenedby new pollution-control standards in the 1990s that forced many mines to close. This has had a direct, damaging effect on the town's workforce.


2. Job losses and limited opportunities: As the coal industry has faded, so have the jobs it once provided. For many lifelong residents, the closing of the mines means an end to a family career path. Though new energy projects, like a potential solar farm, have been explored, the economic transition has been slow. Residents lament that there are fewer opportunities for younger people, pushing them to move away.


3. Fewer local businesses: As the town's population and financial resources have shrunk, many local businesses have closed. This creates a downward spiral where a lack of shops and services makes the town less appealing for residents, further contributing to population loss.

Our community of Marissa is approximately 82% White of European descent with other racial groups making up the remaining population. Our membership is overwhelmingly reflective of that demographic. To put a more encouraging perspective on the growth opportunities at MPC, our membership now includes about half of our congregation who drive 15 to 30 minutes or more to attend MPC. (17 families and 27 adults). Many are relocated family members who grew up in the church and continue to attend for the teaching of sound biblical reformed truth, as well as the music and fellowship. Others have found MPC for these same reasons and have found the 30-minute drive not excessive and are active in midweek activities, committees, session members, etc.

We are, in many cases the nearest PCA church for those who are seeking sound reformed worship and teaching. Especially as you go toward the more densely populated areas closer to the St. Louis metropolitan area. For this reason we have established a target area of a 30 minute drive from MPC where we can have an impact for the Lord. The total population within our target area is approximately 70,000.

Demographics of the target area are not unlike those of Marissa and southern Illinois in general. The exception would be that the northern part of the target area is more densely populated and closer to St. Louis, thereby having a more diverse population and increased employment opportunities.

As a small town about 40 miles from downtown St. Louis we have the advantage of being able to enjoy the entertainment, shopping, sports and other cultural events found in larger cities, without the traffic and congestion of city life. For the outdoorsman there is ample opportunity for hunting, fishing, camping and boating.

People in Marissa have an average commute time to work of 25 to 30 minutes. This is similar to the drive time from the farthest reaches of our target area.

Marissa does have a higher percentage of poverty than other parts of our target area with about 20% living below the poverty line. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 35-44, followed by Males 25-34 and then Females 75+. A population that we have opportunity to serve through local support of the food pantry, and mercy ministry.

The median property value in Marissa was $87,000 in 2023. The home ownership rate in Marissa is 72.6%, which is higher than the national average of 65%. The median property tax in Marissa is $425.

Estimated percentage of evangelicals

In the counties of St. Clair, Randolph and Washington surrounding Marissa, evangelical Christian presence varies. St. Clair County has approximately 14% of the population identify as evangelical protestants in 2020. Of the three counties within our target area, St. Clair Co. has by far the largest total population at 257,400.

Randolph County has a more prominent evangelical population with approximately 31% of the population identifying as evangelical protestant. The population of Randolph County is approximately 30,000.

Washington County is the least populated of the three surrounding counties with a population of 13,500. Evangelicals represent approximately 25% of the religious community in Washington County.

MPC Church Statistics Current Ministry Size: Membership 85

Average Attendance 52

Adults Over 65 35

Adults Under 65 23

Teens 8

Children 7

Budget 2025:

Total Income 259,534

Benevolent Disbursements 29,465

Church Expenses 239,909

Desired Profile of Pastor

God has given us a membership of strong mature Christians with a heart for taking the gospel to the lost with strong biblical preaching and teaching. We would like our senior pastor to lead us in setting specific long-term goals in the following areas:

1. Numerical growth


2. Reaching young families and youth


3. Community Service

More specifically these are the roles, philosophy, behaviors, and traits we seek for in the senior pastor.

Senior Pastor Role

Vision – Develop with the leadership a ministry plan to grow our church numerically and spiritually.

Leadership — Secure the ownership and support of the congregation and execute the vision and ministry plan. Develop lay leadership.

Preaching and Teaching – Prepare and deliver strong biblical sermons that are challenging and thought provoking.

Communication – Visitation with families, shut-ins, etc. and keep members informed of progress in long term goals and objectives.

Traits

Teaching – Strong biblical teaching with practical application to life and culture. Counsel – Prayerful and compassionate

Discipleship — Exhibits a daily walk with the Lord and seeks to help others to do the same. Outreach – Desire to reach others, especially young people, and families

Fellowship – Connects well with people, knows the body, is perceptive of needs, and shepherds the flock

Change – Willing to change when change is needed, respect tradition but is willing to try new ministry ideas and opportunities

Personality – Winsome, approachable, and engaging

Theology and Ecclesiology

Committed to reformed theology and PCA standards

Appreciation of the universal church and willing to work with other churches and ministries Theologically astute and discerning

Respected for convictions

Experience and Education

Master of Divinity required

Pastoral ministry experience desired but not mandatory Significant preaching experience desired but not mandatory Proven ability to lead and build a team

Experience working with youth desired

Philosophy of Ministry/Mission, Vision, and Values

The successful candidate must be motivated by a vision to grow numerically and spiritually, while maintaining our core values, to build a ministry that will be embraced by young families and youth, extending beyond Marissa and into our larger target area.

CORE DISTINCTIVES

Strong Biblical Preaching and Teaching

Balance of traditional and contemporary worship and music Evangelism through personal witnessing

Strong Missions Program Christian Caring and Fellowship

DESIRED GROWTH

Worship that glorifies God, strengthens the believer, and evangelizes the unchurched A magnetism, community vision and energy that draws the community into worship Grow to become a body of 100-200

Local outreach and community involvement Music (as outreach and worship)

AREA TO EXPLORE

1

Re-examination of vision to update, clarify and improve upon 2

Ministry that utilizes elements