Senior Pastor

U.S. Church Ministries•Ann Arbor, MI

17d

About The Position

That Neighborhood Church (TNC) seeks a spiritually mature, relationally gifted, and mission-minded Senior Pastor to lead the church into its next season. Building on fifteen years of trusted ministry in North Toledo, the pastor will provide biblical teaching, pastoral care, organizational leadership, community engagement, and partnership development to strengthen the church’s spiritual health, neighborhood impact, and long-term sustainability. The role extends beyond Sunday preaching: the pastor is expected to participate in neighborhood life, connect meaningfully with people from diverse backgrounds, develop leaders, cultivate ministry and financial partnerships, and help people encounter the transforming love of Jesus. TNC serves neighborhood residents and families, including people facing poverty or instability; participants in a nearby Volunteers of America re-entry program; and people from surrounding communities who worship and serve with them. The church also ministers to neighborhood children through an after-school program and weekly Kids Church, often reaching children whose parents do not attend Sunday services. The Senior Pastor will be the congregation’s primary spiritual leader and shepherd; preach and teach; provide pastoral care; guide vision, staff, and organizational leadership; champion children’s and re-entry ministries; maintain a visible neighborhood presence; and build and steward partnerships that support the church’s mission and financial sustainability. The pastor will work with the Elders, Lead team, staff, and ministry leaders to establish priorities, goals, ministry systems, budgets, and a sustainable vision, while honoring TNC’s history and founding mission. Initial priorities include building trust with the congregation, staff, volunteers, neighbors, VOA participants, partners, donors, and supporters; developing a healthy transition relationship with the founding pastor and church leaders; learning the church’s history and context before making major changes; creating a partnership plan; and helping church leaders establish a focused, sustainable vision. The position requires licensing with The Christian & Missionary Alliance. Applicants should submit an application including their testimony, resume, and other relevant background information. Candidates should not contact the church directly.

Requirements

A deep and growing relationship with Jesus Christ and alignment with TNC’s statement of faith, mission, values, and ministry approach.
Meet the biblical qualifications for pastoral leadership described in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and 1 Peter 5:1–4.
Demonstrate integrity, humility, emotional maturity, relational warmth, courage, strong listening skills, and a servant’s willingness to participate in everyday ministry.
Several years of pastoral or significant ministry leadership experience, including biblical preaching, staff or team leadership, volunteer development, and mentoring.
Demonstrated ability to serve across diverse backgrounds and build trust with people affected by poverty, addiction, incarceration, rejection, trauma, or institutional failure.
Experience developing partnerships and financial support through churches, nonprofits, community organizations, businesses, donors, or foundations.
Formal theological education through a Bible college, seminary, or denominational program, or an equivalent combination of training and ministry experience.
Willingness to complete required background checks.
Licensing with The Christian & Missionary Alliance is required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the congregation’s primary spiritual leader and shepherd, leading through prayer, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and obedience to God’s Word.
Prepare and deliver Gospel-centered, biblically faithful, practical messages accessible to people from varied backgrounds.
Keep reaching people who do not yet know Jesus central to the church’s mission and build pathways for salvation, discipleship, service, and leadership.
Equip members to share their faith, disciple others, and use their gifts; oversee baptisms, communion, weddings, funerals, and other pastoral responsibilities.
Provide compassionate pastoral care, spiritual guidance, prayer, and crisis support, particularly for people navigating re-entry, addiction recovery, poverty, trauma, grief, family instability, or church hurt.
Build trust through consistent presence, patient listening, healthy boundaries, and appropriate referrals to professional or community resources.
Cultivate a church culture of grace and truth, dignity and accountability, restoration and hope.
Work with church leaders, staff, and ministry leaders to clarify and communicate vision, priorities, measurable goals, and sustainable ministry systems.
Honor TNC’s history and founding mission while guiding the congregation through transition and necessary change.
Work with the Elders, Lead team, and staff to develop a clear vision for TNC’s future.
Promote healthy communication, cooperation, unity, financial stewardship, transparency, and accountability.
Champion ministry to neighborhood children; support after-school and Kids Church staff, pursue relationships with parents and caregivers, and ensure child-safety practices are followed.
Strengthen the church’s relationship with the VOA re-entry program and develop worship, discipleship, mentoring, and pastoral-care opportunities for people rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
Maintain a visible, relational presence in the neighborhood and identify practical ways the church can respond to community needs.
Build, strengthen, and steward relationships with churches, donors, businesses, schools, nonprofits, civic leaders, foundations, ministry partners, and other supporters.
Communicate TNC’s vision, needs, stories, and measurable impact through personal meetings, church visits, written updates, presentations, and other appropriate channels.
Invite partners to pray, serve, give, advocate, and collaborate; develop new financial and in-kind support while caring for existing relationships.
Work with church leadership to develop and oversee a responsible annual budget, encourage biblical generosity, and evaluate partnership and revenue-development goals.
Build trust with the congregation, staff, volunteers, neighbors, VOA participants, partners, donors, and supporters during the first season.
Build a healthy transition relationship with the founding pastor and church leaders, and learn TNC’s history, culture, strengths, and challenges before making major changes.
Create a partnership plan covering communication, outreach, financial goals, and leadership reporting.
Help church leaders set a focused, sustainable vision for TNC’s next season.