The Senior Pastor is called by God to follow Christ in a life of discipleship, utilizing the leadership gifts of the Holy Spirit to lead the church in carrying out the Great Commission for the purpose of expanding the kingdom of God. The Senior Pastor is responsible to the church to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and teach the biblical revelation; to engage in outreach ministries and pastoral care; to provide administrative leadership in all areas of church life, and to act as the chief administrator of the paid staff.

QUALIFICATIONS: The Senior Pastor should have an active, transparent prayer life as the foundation of his ministry and maintain a visible presence on the campus of the church and in the community. He must be a licensed and ordained minister of the gospel. He must demonstrate appropriate theological, doctrinal, and administrative skills to adequately fulfill the requirements of the position. He must demonstrate a commitment to expository preaching. He must be a graduate of an accredited seminary, with a minimum of a Master’s degree. The Senior Pastor will hold to the doctrinal beliefs of the Southern Baptist Convention as described in the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

Proclamation

• Lead in the planning, coordinating, and evaluating of the congregational worship services.
• Prepare, schedule, and deliver Biblical sermons on Sundays and Wednesdays.
• Plan, schedule, and promote other Bible study opportunities, such as revivals and Bible conferences, to promote spiritual growth.
• Plan, schedule, and promote the observance of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism.

Evangelism

• Lead the staff and the church in an effective program of evangelism and outreach.
• Make and coordinate visits to prospects and unchurched.
• Plan evangelism events throughout the year to engage the community with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Assist the church organizations in providing opportunities for members to be directly involved in missions and ministry – locally, in Alabama, nationally and internationally.

Pastoral Care

• Meet with the Deacon body on a regular basis to enlist their support in fulfilling the pastoral duties of the church.
• Work with the Deacon body to develop a balanced program of shared pastoral ministry.
• Lead the church in an effective program of pastoral care for people in the church and the community.
• Conduct counseling sessions, perform wedding ceremonies, and conduct funerals.
• Make and coordinate timely visits to the hospitals, nursing homes, and shut-ins as needed.
• Emphasize planning to ensure church members experience true fellowship with the Body of Christ.

Leadership

• Oversee the spiritual growth and well-being of the congregation.
• Provide administrative leadership and support for the total church program.
• Serve as a mentor, a coach, and as an example to the ministerial staff while actively building a team spirit.
• Lead weekly staff meetings.
• Work with church leaders, program directors, and committees as they perform their assigned responsibilities.
• Serve as chairman of the Church Council.
• Guide the Church Council to define, communicate, and evaluate the church’s goals, mission, vision, and strategy.
• Act as moderator of church business meetings.
• Promote and maintain a professional development plan through personal reading plans, conferences, and formal education for the entire ministerial staff.

Denominational and Civic Cooperation

• Cooperate with the Southern Baptist Convention, Alabama Baptist State Convention, Marion County Baptist Association, and denominational leaders in matters of mutual interest and concern.
• Keep the church informed concerning the state of the church, mission, vision, progress, needs, etc.
• Represent the church in civic matters.
• Lead our church to actively support and participate in local community activities.