Senior Pastor

Vanderbloemen•Fayetteville, NC

About The Position

First Presbyterian Church Fayetteville is a Christ-centered, mission-driven congregation grounded in the Reformed tradition. The Senior Pastor serves as the congregation’s primary spiritual, administrative, and visionary leader and as Head of Staff, guiding the church’s internal life and outward mission. The role works closely with pastors, ministry leaders, support staff, the Session, and the Presbytery to foster a collaborative culture of servant leadership and align ministry with the church’s mission and vision, including the theme “Deep Roots, New Fruit.” The Senior Pastor’s central ministry is preaching and teaching God’s Word, leading worship, administering the sacraments, and providing pastoral care. The pastor also equips the congregation through education, counseling, and spiritual guidance, and helps communicate a clear vision for the church’s future and its community impact. The ideal candidate is an experienced pastor who adheres to the Reformed tradition and can help an established congregation grow. A Master of Divinity is required; a Doctor of Ministry is preferred. Experience in a multi-staff congregation is also sought.

Requirements

Master of Divinity degree.
Experience in a multi-staff congregation.
Experience as a pastor and adherence to the tenets of the Reformed tradition.
Commitment to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
Warm, approachable, empathetic manner and ability to relate to all age groups.
Ability to build relationships inside and outside the church, deepen spiritual commitment, and help the church grow in numbers.
Wisdom in judgment and decision-making.
Ability to balance responsibilities while protecting personal and family time.
Ability to lead others in day-to-day responsibilities and future planning.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
Time-management and organizational skills.
Administrative and management skills, including knowledge of business and management principles, human resources modeling, strategic planning, and coordination of people and resources.
Financial management skills, including audit and control.
Competency with current communications technology.
Delegation and follow-through skills.
Critical-thinking skills.
Ability to negotiate and persuade.
Ability to maintain confidentiality as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Doctor of Ministry degree.

Responsibilities

Provide administrative leadership to pastors, church staff, volunteer leaders, ministry teams, and support staff, fostering a culture of Christ-like servant leadership.
Encourage teamwork, recognize and equip others’ gifts, support team members in their responsibilities, and build mutual trust, respect, and cooperation.
Serve as moderator and spiritual guide to the Session.
Provide leadership within the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina as appropriate.
Represent the church in the community and build connections through participation in community groups and encouragement of others to participate.
Plan and lead worship, preach and teach the Word of God from the Old and New Testaments, administer the sacraments, and pray for the congregation.
Coordinate with others to develop worship services, sermons, music, programs, and creative resources that challenge, fulfill, educate, and motivate the congregation.
Articulate and clarify God’s Word to reach the hearts and minds of the congregation.
Identify educational needs of staff and congregation and assist in developing programs and classes.
Work with staff and ministry teams to integrate discipleship, stewardship, service, and evangelism into congregational life.
Share responsibility for counseling and pastoral care, providing care and hope according to individual members’ needs.
Officiate at weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other events as needed.
Coordinate worship activities for liturgical seasons and special services.
Work with the Session to discern and clarify the church’s vision for learning and sharing God’s Word.
Communicate the church’s vision to the congregation, staff, and community and empower them to participate in ministry.
Continuously evaluate the relevance of the vision and set goals to fulfill it.
Perform other duties as assigned.