Senior Pastor/Elder

Charleston Bible Church); Oakland (SC); On-site; USD 76,500 - 93,500; Full time

Job summary

Charleston Bible Church located in Oakland, South Carolina, is seeking a Senior Pastor to shepherd and lead its congregation. The role involves providing biblical instruction and care while collaborating with a dedicated elder board. Ideal candidates will exhibit godly character and a commitment to doctrinal faithfulness.

This position offers a competitive salary starting at $85,000 annually commensurate with experience and includes considerations for housing and retirement. Interested candidates should apply by submitting their resume and cover letter.

Qualifications

• Meets biblical qualifications for an elder as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
• Demonstrates agreement with the doctrinal convictions of Charleston Bible Church.
• Possesses proven ability in the faithful exposition and teaching of Scripture.
• Has pastoral leadership experience in a local church context.

Responsibilities

• Shepherds, teaches, and leads Charleston Bible Church.
• Provides biblical instruction, pastoral care, and discipleship.
• Works collaboratively with the elder board to advance the church's mission.

Skills

Biblical exposition

Pastoral care

Leadership

Discipleship

Theological soundness

Education

Bachelor's degree

Formal theological training

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Senior Pastor serves alongside a plurality of elders in shepherding, teaching, and leading Charleston Bible Church. As the primary preaching elder, he provides biblical instruction, pastoral care, discipleship, and leadership while working collaboratively with the elder board to advance the mission of the church.

The Senior Pastor must be a biblically qualified elder who demonstrates godly character, doctrinal faithfulness, a shepherd’s heart, and a commitment to the faithful exposition of Scripture. He should be a humble leader who equips the saints for ministry, develops future leaders, and serves as a faithful steward of Christ’s church.

What We Believe God is Calling Us To

Charleston Bible Church exists to glorify God by bringing sinners to Christ and saints to Christ-likeness among all nations.

We pursue that mission through the faithful teaching of God's Word, fellowship, the exaltation of Christ in worship and witness, and prayer, following the pattern established in Acts 2:42. We seek to cultivate a church family marked by biblical discipleship, helping both children and adults grow in maturity as followers of Christ. We are also committed to proclaiming the gospel locally and globally through missions, evangelism, and compassionate ministry to a lost and dying world.

What You Can Expect From Us

• A healthy plurality of engaged elders committed to collaboration, transparency, and mutual accountability
• A congregation that loves the Bible and values careful, expositional teaching
• A financially stable church with a 75-year history of faithful ministry
• Twenty-one years of stable pastoral leadership and a strong foundation for future ministry
• A volunteer-driven culture with members eager to serve
• A church family with many young families and children
• A strong youth ministry
• A culture of relational discipleship and meaningful fellowship
• A commitment to local and global missions
• A pastoral transition being approached intentionally and prayerfully
• A competitive salary package commensurate with experience, including considerations for housing and retirement, not to be less than $85,000 per year

What We Expect of You: Qualifications

• Meet the biblical qualifications for an elder as outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1
• Demonstrate agreement with the doctrinal convictions of Charleston Bible Church
• Affirm the authority, sufficiency, and inerrancy of Scripture
• Affirm believer's baptism
• Possess proven ability in the faithful exposition and teaching of ScriptureHave pastoral leadership experience in a local church context
• Be able to serve effectively within a plurality of elders and an elder-ruled church structure
• Have a bachelors degree

Education and Experience Preferences

• Formal theological training, including seminary education or equivalent preparation
• Previous experience serving as a lead or senior pastor
• Experience serving in churches of similar size and ministry philosophy
• Demonstrated effectiveness in pastoral care and discipleship
• Experience developing leaders and equipping members for ministry
• Experience providing biblical counseling within a local church context
• Administrative and organizational competency appropriate to pastoral leadership

Desired Competencies

Among biblically qualified candidates, Charleston Bible Church places particular value on the following strengths:

Teaching

• Faithfully and clearly exposits Scripture
• Applies biblical truth to everyday life
• Demonstrates doctrinal soundness and theological depth

Humility

• Is correctable, teachable, and spiritually mature
• Receives feedback well
• Leads with a servant's heart

Leadership

• Provides clear biblical leadership while working collaboratively with fellow elders
• Exercises sound judgment and wisdom
• Leads through influence, conviction, and example rather than force of personality

Discipleship

• Equips believers for ministry and spiritual growth
• Invests personally in the development of others
• Encourages a culture of discipleship throughout the church

Innovation and Problem Solving

• Identifies challenges and opportunities with wisdom and discernment
• Helps strengthen ministries, systems, and structures where needed
• Thinks strategically while remaining grounded in biblical priorities

About Charleston Bible Church

Charleston Bible Church is a 75-year-old independent Bible church located in the Charleston, South Carolina area. We are a medium-sized congregation averaging approximately 180–220 in weekly attendance, with many young families and children actively involved in the life of the church.

CBC is broadly Reformed in soteriology, credo-baptist, and committed to expositional preaching and teaching. While our elders and congregation share strong agreement on core doctrines, we allow charitable diversity on matters such as eschatology.

Our worship is substantive rather than production-driven. We sing both hymns and modern worship songs, placing primary emphasis on lyrical faithfulness, doctrinal clarity, and congregational worship. We seek to use God’s blessing of music to connect our emotions to the truths of scripture.

The church is elder-ruled and led by a plurality of elders. The Lead Pastor serves as first among equals within the elder board and works closely with fellow elders in shepherding and leading the church.

CBC is financially healthy, missions-minded, and volunteer-driven. We support local, regional, and global missions, including missionary families, international partnerships, short-term mission efforts, and local outreach.

Discipleship at CBC is relational and organic rather than highly programmatic. Fellowship groups, personal relationships, pastoral care, and shared ministry life all contribute to the spiritual formation of the body.

We are entering an important season of transition as our current senior pastor prepares to step away from the senior pastoral role after 21 years of faithful ministry while remaining an elder. We are seeking a pastor who can honor that legacy while helping lead CBC faithfully into its next season of ministry.

Ministry Context

Charleston Bible Church is located in the greater Charleston area, one of the fastest-growing regions in South Carolina. The area includes a mix of long-time residents, military families, professionals, tradesmen, young families, retirees, and newcomers from across the country.

This provides significant opportunity for faithful gospel ministry, biblical teaching, discipleship, hospitality, and missions. CBC desires to continue growing in spiritual maturity, congregational health, leadership development, and gospel witness.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Doctrinal statement or statement of faith
• Links to recent sermons, if available

Applications may be sent to: [e-mail]