Executive Pastor

Vanderbloemen•Grand Rapids, MI

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Cascade Fellowship Christian Reformed Church is seeking an Executive Pastor/Director to serve as the chief operational and administrative leader. This role is a "second chair" partner to the Lead Pastor, responsible for managing day-to-day staff and administrative oversight. The Executive Pastor/Director will translate vision into actionable goals, establish systems, and evaluate team progress, ensuring operational sustainability and supporting the church's growth. The position oversees four primary areas: Strategic Leadership & Alignment, Staff Leadership & Human Resources, Finance & Stewardship, and Operations, Facilities & Growth Support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Organizational Leadership, Theology, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 to 7 years of proven leadership experience in operations, HR, administration, finance, or ministry, preferably in a larger church setting with weekly attendance exceeding 500.
Demonstrated track record of guiding teams through seasons of growth, building organizational systems, and managing complex initiatives (such as capital campaigns or service expansions).
Exceptional Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and relational skills.
Strong operational and administrative capacity, including a working knowledge of business office practices, HR compliance, basic budgeting, and organizational management.
Ability to "manage up" with extreme humility, respect, and loyalty.
Understanding of and theological alignment with Reformed/Calvinist theology and the doctrines of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC).
Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal).
Proven ability to resolve conflicts with grace, diplomatic wisdom, and confidentiality.
Skilled in using organizational management tools (such as Planning Center, Asana, or monday.com) to drive execution, follow-up, and clear project tracking.
Servant-Hearted & Humble: A true "second chair" leader who finds joy in supporting others and helping the Lead Pastor and staff succeed without requiring personal spotlight.
Non-Anxious Presence: Capable of absorbing healthy organizational anxiety and leading steady, incremental change during significant transitions.
High Integrity & Trustworthy: Extremely reliable, disciplined, and consistent, demonstrating psychological ownership of commitments and keeping promises.
Collaborative & Kind: Passionate about building collaborative communities where people are seen, heard, loved, and empowered to use their unique spiritual gifts.
Resilient & Adaptable: Thrives in a growing, dynamic church environment and is comfortable with the flexible, "do-whatever-it-takes" spirit required of a mid-sized staff.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree or relevant theological training.
Ordination (or being able and willing to be ordained) in the Christian Reformed Church.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Lead Pastor to define church-wide strategic initiatives, translating vision into actionable, measurable team goals.
Ensure that all operational systems, programs, and staff efforts directly align with the church's refreshed mission, values, and core priorities.
Attend Council, Personnel, and Finance Committee meetings to report on staff performance, operations, and strategic alignment.
Serve as a supportive and objective buffer, managing communications and trust between the Lead Pastor, the Council, and the staff.
Lead, supervise, and develop the church staff, establishing a culture of unity, growth, collaboration, and mutual trust.
Foster staff health as a dedicated "Staff Champion," conducting regular check-ins, annual reviews, and planning leadership retreats.
Oversee all human resources functions, including hiring, onboarding, Staff Handbook revisions, and employment compliance.
Provide day-to-day oversight of staff goals, introducing healthy accountability while ensuring employees feel relational support and care.
Oversee all church financial operations, including annual budgeting, forecasting, spending controls, and financial policies.
Ensure transparent, accurate, and timely financial reporting for the Lead Pastor, the Council, and the Finance Committee to maximize kingdom stewardship.
Partner with the Treasurer, Accountant, and ministry leads to streamline financial processes and eliminate administrative bottlenecks.
Direct church-wide daily operations, administrative infrastructure, risk management, and IT systems.
Act as a strategic staff liaison to the Facilities/Building and Grounds Committee, assisting in planning the upcoming building project and renovation budgeting.
Identify, recruit, and empower volunteer leaders, supporting the church's strategic goal of "activation" among its professional membership.
Manage future growth support, providing scalable operational structures for potential multiple campuses or multisite expansions.