Vocational Elder/Preaching Pastor

SBC Executive Committee; Joplin (MO); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Celebration Church in Joplin, Missouri, seeks a Vocational Elder/Preaching Pastor to lead biblical preaching and shepherding. The candidate will serve under Elder Team, provide pastoral care, and cast vision aligned with Scripture and the church bylaws.

The role requires a calling to ministry, SBC alignment, and at least five years of pastoral experience, with a bachelor’s degree; ordination preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of pastoral ministry experience.
• Bachelor’s degree; seminary preferred.
• Ordination by a Southern Baptist church or willingness to pursue.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver biblically faithful sermons.
• Teach and uphold sound biblical doctrine.
• Lead the church in evangelism, discipleship, missions, and outreach.
• Provide pastoral care through counseling, prayer, visitation, weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Preaching

Teaching

Communication

Team collaboration

Counseling

Vision casting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Seminary preferred

Ordination

Job description

Join Our Church Family!

Celebration Church is a church family prayerfully seeking the man God is calling to serve as our Vocational Elder/Preaching Pastor. We desire a Christ-centered shepherd who senses God’s invitation to join a devoted, Spirit-filled congregation and help lead us in the work He is already accomplishing. Through faithful biblical preaching, servant leadership, and intentional discipleship, he will equip our church to grow in Christ and fulfill the Great Commission.

As a member of our Elder Team, the Preaching Pastor will serve as a spiritual leader and undershepherd of the congregation under the lordship of Jesus Christ. He will provide biblical teaching, pastoral care, leadership, and vision while helping guide the church according to Scripture and our church’s by-laws.

What You’ll Do

• Prepare and deliver biblically faithful, Christ-centered sermons.
• Teach and uphold sound biblical doctrine.
• Lead the church in evangelism, discipleship, missions, and outreach.
• Provide pastoral care through counseling, prayer, visitation, encouragement, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other ministerial responsibilities.
• Work alongside the Elder Team, church staff, ministry leaders, and volunteers to accomplish the church’s mission.
• Help develop ministry goals, strategic plans, and healthy church leadership.
• Mentor and develop future leaders within the church.
• Foster a culture of spiritual growth, servant leadership, and biblical discipleship.

Applicants should:

• Be a born-again believer in Jesus Christ with a clear testimony of salvation and a personal call to pastoral ministry.
• Meet the biblical qualifications for elders found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9, as well as the requirements outlined in Celebration Church’s bylaws.
• Be in agreement with the doctrines of the Southern Baptist Convention and Celebration Church’s Statement of Faith.
• Demonstrate spiritual maturity, godly character, humility, and integrity.
• Possess strong preaching, teaching, communication, and leadership abilities.
• Have a minimum of five (5) years of pastoral ministry experience.
• Hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A degree from an accredited seminary or theological institution is preferred.
• Be ordained by a Southern Baptist church or be willing to pursue ordination.

What We Value

• Has a vibrant, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Models servant leadership and a heart for shepherding people.
• Leads with humility, wisdom, and biblical conviction.
• Values teamwork and collaboration with elders, ministry leaders, and volunteers.
• Has a passion for making disciples and reaching the community with the Gospel.
• Is committed to personal growth, prayer, and continued ministry development.

About Celebration Church

Celebration Church exists to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ through worship, evangelism, fellowship, ministry, and biblical teaching. We are committed to faithfully proclaiming God’s Word, serving our community, and helping people grow into mature followers of Christ. Our church has about 100 people regularly attending Sunday service.