Senior Pastor

BST; Oakland (CA); Vor Ort; USD 90.000 - 130.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church in Oakland, CA seeks a Senior Pastor to lead worship, pastoral care, and community engagement in a diverse, inclusive congregation. The role involves budgeting, overseeing church operations, and guiding outreach through newsletters, social media, and events.

The pastor will work closely with the Church Council and be ordained in good standing with the American Baptist Churches, USA. Expected Start Date is January 1, 2027, with a minimum of 40 hours per week.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent and a graduate degree from an ATS-accredited seminary or regionally accredited university.
• Ordination and good standing with the American Baptist Churches, USA.
• Strong call to leadership by active congregation and collaboration with Church Council.

Aufgaben

• Lead preaching that addresses social justice issues.
• Provide pastoral care across a diverse and inclusive congregation.
• Oversee church budgets, buildings, and boards including the historic children’s center.
• Oversee communications, newsletters, social media, and community events.

Kenntnisse

Preaching

Pastoral Care

Administration

Children & Youth

Marketing

Technology & Livestreaming

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate degree from ATS-accredited seminary

Tools

Church budgets

Jobbeschreibung

Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church is a historic church (166 years) located at the corner of Lakeshore Avenue and Mandana Blvd. in Oakland, CA. LABC is searching for a senior pastor that resonates with its stated mission: “LABC is an inclusive community that embraces all followers of Jesus Christ. We worship, witness and work to advance God’s purpose in all of life. Empowered by the spirit, we strive to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God.”

Minimum educational requirements for the Senior Pastor will be a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and a graduate degree from a seminary accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) or a university accredited by a regional accrediting association. The Senior Pastor will be ordained and recognized by and in good standing with the American Baptist Churches, USA. The Senior Pastor will be called by the active members of the congregation and will work closely with the Church Council. Expected Start Date is January 1, 2027. Expected Hours are minimum of 40 per week.

Professional Specialties Needed:

• Preaching: relevant to the social justice issues of our day both locally and globally; biblically based; progressive theologically.
• Pastoral Care: able and willing to minister to a breadth of age groups in an historically ethnically diverse and inclusive congregation that embraces intersectionality.
• Administration: overseeing church budgets, buildings, and boards as well as those of LABC’s historic children’s center.
• Children and Youth Programs: are very important to us, however, the numbers are waning in these programs. Our hope is that our next pastor will prioritize children and youth ministries.
• Marketing: overseeing the weekly and monthly communications through newsletters, social media, and various community events.
• Technology and social media: overseeing the use of technology for livestreaming, weekly meetings, and LABC’s social media presence.

Position Community Description
Just a few blocks from Lake Merritt—Oakland’s shimmering “jewel”—LABC sits in a neighborhood that reflects the city’s full character: gritty, vibrant, and resilient. Oakland, known affectionately as “The Town,” is the largest city in the East Bay and a major West Coast port, home to roughly 444,839 people as of 2026. Its identity is shaped by extraordinary diversity, a thriving arts scene, and a long legacy of social activism, including its role as the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in 1966.
Lake Merritt anchors the city with its 3.4 mile path and historic status as the nation’s first wildlife refuge, drawing residents from every background. Oakland’s cultural richness extends from its activism to its celebrated culinary landscape, including a renowned “vegan trail” and global cuisine that mirrors the city’s multicultural roots.
In the blocks surrounding the lake, Oakland’s essence is unmistakable—a community defined not by perfection but by depth, creativity, and enduring strength.