Teaching Pastor Southwest Harbor Congregational Church Tremont, ME

Reformed Theological Seminary; Maine; On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Reformed Theological Seminary is seeking a pastor to shepherd a congregational church on an island community in Maine. The role emphasizes preaching, teaching, and spiritual oversight in partnership with elders, with responsibilities spanning worship leadership, pastoral care, evangelism, and discipleship.

The pastor should demonstrate a strong biblical foundation, mature character, and a commitment to the church’s faith and authority, including governance with the Board of Elders.

Qualifications

• Clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and active church involvement.
• Biblical qualifications for elders as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.
• Commitment to doctrinal statements and church governance.
• Experience in pastoral leadership and preaching ministry.

Responsibilities

• Shepherding the congregation and providing spiritual oversight with elders.
• Preach and teach the Bible exegetically, lead teaching ministries.
• Plan and lead worship services, administer sacraments weekly when present.
• Provide pastoral care through visitation, prayer, and counseling.
• Foster evangelism and disciple-building within the church.
• Collaborate with elders, deacons, and ministries to align with mission.

Skills

Preaching

Teaching

Leadership

Pastoral care

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Theology

Ordained or willing to be ordained

Job description

Job Description

1. Shepherding and Spiritual Leadership
   • Serve as a shepherd to the congregation, providing spiritual oversight in partnership with the other elders.
   • Model Christ-centered living with humility, integrity, and faithfulness.
   • Encourage spiritual growth, unity, and discipleship within the church body.
2. Preaching and Teaching (Primary Responsibility)
   • Faithfully preach and teach the whole canon of Scripture exegetically and not topically, with clarity, accuracy, and application.
   • Lead and contribute to the church’s teaching ministry, including Sunday services, classes, and small groups.
   • Equip members to grow in biblical understanding and spiritual maturity.
3. Worship Leadership
   • Plan and lead worship services in collaboration with ministry leaders.
   • Ensure services are Christ-centered, biblically grounded, and spiritually edifying.
   • Administer the Lord’s Supper and Baptism.
4. Pastoral Care and Counseling
   • Provide pastoral care through visitation, prayer, counseling, and support during times of need.
   • Officiate weddings, funerals, and other pastoral services.
   • Offer guidance with wisdom, compassion, and confidentiality.
5. Evangelism and Discipleship
   • Promote and support a culture of evangelism and disciple-making.
   • Equip and encourage the congregation to live out the Great Commission in their daily lives.
6. Leadership and Church Governance
   • Serve as a Teaching Elder within an elder-led governance model.
   • Collaborate with the Board of Elders in providing spiritual leadership, direction, and oversight of church ministries.
   • Work alongside deacons, ministry leaders, and ministry teams to ensure effective coordination and alignment with the church’s mission.

Qualifications

Spiritual and Character Qualifications

• Manifest a clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a growing, vibrant relationship with Him.
• Demonstrate biblical qualifications of an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
• Exhibit integrity, humility, and a servant-leadership mindset.
• Committed to the Church’s statement of faith and biblical authority.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in theology, ministry, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of pastoral or ministry experience.
• Licensed and ordained (or willing to become ordained within a specified timeframe).

Core Competencies

• Strong biblical preaching and teaching ability.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and team collaboration skills.
• Ability to disciple, mentor, and develop others.
• Organizational awareness and sound stewardship of church resources.

Additional Expectations

• Exercise self-awareness regarding the burdens and demands of ministry and establish healthy boundaries, rhythms of Sabbath and rest, and personal care practices that support long-term spiritual, emotional, and vocational sustainability.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing spiritual and professional growth.
• Engage actively in the life of the congregation and local community.
• Administer The Lord’s Supper weekly when present.
• Preach regularly throughout the year, normally covering approximately 48 Sundays annually, accounting for four weeks of vacation. Up to six Sundays may be used for developing other qualified men in preaching ministry. The pastor is also expected to preach during major holiday services such as Christmas and Easter unless otherwise approved.

About the Organization

OUR CONGREGATION

Our congregation is dedicated to the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Christ. We belong to the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference and consider ourselves conservative and evangelical, believing in the Bible as the inerrant word of God. We come from diverse religious backgrounds, but we are a loving, caring community of faith. Because we live on an island and in a small community, we are a church family who lives, works, and worships together. We have 54 members with many young families. Our average worship service attendance is 60. Our numbers swell in the summer with seasonal visitors.

OUR ORGANIZATION AND MINISTRIES

The Sunday morning worship service is at 10:30 a.m. It is traditional in style, Bible-based and Christ-centered. We enjoy music as a meaningful part of worship and begin each service with praise songs. Prayer is a very important part of our worship services and of the life of our church. Communion is celebrated every Sunday. Sermons are recorded and shared on the church website every week. There is a coffee fellowship time after the service downstairs during the colder months, and lemonade on the front lawn each Sunday during the summer. Sunday School for adults and children is at 9:00 a.m., year-round. As a congregational church, we recognize Christ as the only head of the Body and understand that Jesus vested final earthly authority to the assembled congregation. We recognize two Biblical offices, those of Elders and Deacons. We also have three administrative officers: Clerk, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Trustees. The Pastor is the elder primarily responsible for the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, as well as the administration of the sacraments. We have active Men’s and Women’s ministries, as well as home groups that meet weekly during much of the year. We support a number of missionaries around the world and in the U.S.