Senior Pastor Vacancy

*  Job Type – Full-time paid (Available Immediately)

* Reports to: Deacon Body

* Direct reports from:      

• All Ministry teams (including)
• Social Ministry Team
• Children’s Ministry Teams
• Youth Ministry Team
• University Ministry Team
• Singles Ministry Team
• Women’s Ministry
• Men’s Ministry
• Zone Ministry Teams
• Ethnic Ministries (Filipinos / Ethiopians, etc.)
• Mission Points (IBE Madrid, IBE Torrejón, Nueva Esperanza)

• The senior pastor will oversee the mission, vision and strategy of the church as a whole and translate this to the vision and strategy of the different church ministries.
• For ministry teams that affect the discipleship of children, youth and university students, this vision will focus most of its attention on the role of parents as the key disciplers of their children, and the church’s role to equip and complement the efforts of the parents. For children or youth whose parents are not in the church, the goal will be to find mentoring relationships that can minister to these children and their families in an effective manner.
• In relation to family ministries, the senior pastor will also oversee the vision and strategy of men’s and women’s ministry teams, which seek to promote spiritual growth that results, on the one hand, in mature singles dealing with their unique challenges from a gospel perspective, and on the other hand, in healthy biblical marriages. This will be done with the belief that if men and women can understand and apply the gospel of Jesus Christ to their particular life situations, whether married or single, they will most likely be prepared to live out the gospel in various other relationships and contexts that they encounter.
• In overseeing small group ministries, the senior pastor will assist the zone ministries (or any other ministry he may propose) in starting small groups that include a large percentage of people from IBC. This will be done with the belief that followers of Christ become like Christ as they live in community and share life with other believers.

• Ephesians 4:11-16   “And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature personhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
• In light of Ephesians 4:11-16, at Immanuel Baptist Church it is a priority for us to equip those in the church for the work of the ministry. Because of this we seek to hire a Senior Pastor who will equip the church membership/leaders to do ministry, such that his efforts are multiplied by mobilizing the congregation to do the ministry to which God has called us both individually and corporately. This will result in a passion for teaching in general and training leaders who can train others.

1. Above Reproach (Titus 1:6-9; 1 Tim 3:2-7)

This is the overarching characteristic. You will find similar (but not identical) lists in First Timothy and Titus. Living a life above reproach is the first requirement in both lists and Titus repeats it. The other items on the list explain what “above reproach” means. As we read over these passages, as well as First Peter 5, we begin to perceive a cumulative profile of one who leads a church effectively in a pastoral role.

2. Committed to a biblical gospel (Rom. 1:16, Acts 20:24, Php. 3:7-9, Gal. 6:14)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of everything that we do. The gospel is the good news of what Jesus has done for humanity; it is in repenting of our sin and believing in Jesus Christ that we are forgiven and reconciled to God. But the gospel can be fully understood and appreciated only as one understands the “bad news” of our sinfulness, from which we desperately need rescue. This gospel ushers us into salvation, but it also empowers us to be more and more like Jesus Christ in our day-to-day lives. This message is so engraved on a pastor’s heart that it must be shared.

1. Cross-culturally sensitive

As IBC is cross-cultural church, it is essential that the Senior Pastor of IBC be a man who possess experience with and a practical understanding of cross-cultural ministry. There will not be time to acquire this trait once one arrives on the field. Fluently bilingual (English and Spanish). This cross-cultural sensitivity will be necessary in the areas of communication, relational dynamics, decision-making processes, counseling, preaching and teaching strategies.

2. Previous ministry experience

We are looking for someone who has been matured by ministry experience (at least 10 years) and is prepared to lead our congregation long-term in all the areas where we need to grow. He should be a person of vision, self-motivation, spiritual depth and understanding of the task at hand.

3. Strategic thinker but people-centered

This pastor should be able to rise above present needs and ministries of the church to perceive where God wants this body to go and what He is leading us to do to get there.  It is essential that such strategic thinking be based on clear biblical principles and birthed out of an ongoing intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, this skill should be balanced with a real love for people and a deep appreciation for every human being as made in God’s image.

4. Seminary degree

We are looking for someone who has been prepared for ministry by the study and discipline that a seminary degree requires: someone who knows how to think biblically about the needs of humanity, the provision of God and the purpose of the church in a given community. While the Holy Spirit will empower the pastor for ministry, we are looking for one who has also been equipped and trained for the responsibility of ministry.

5. Married

We seek a pastor who will place a strong emphasis on leading the couples of our congregation toward a deeper biblical understanding of marriage.  With this in mind, the ideal will be a “husband-wife team” with a healthy, growing, God-honoring marriage; we believe this man will be better able to teach and counsel others more effectively to have the same.

6. Has Children

We also seek a pastor who will place a strong emphasis on biblical parenting. While it is possible for a non-parent to teach parenting principles from Scripture, we believe that one who understands biblical parenting from personal experience will be better prepared to plan a church-wide strategy that equips others to do the same.