Description: Senior Pastor (Full-time / 40+ hours per week)

Senior Pastor Job Purpose
First Presbyterian Church, Opelika, Alabama (FPO) thrives as it embodies its vision: to multiply and grow disciples of Jesus through Gospel-centered Worship, Gospel-saturated Community, Gospel-shaped Service, & Gospel-motivated Mission. With the desire to live, teach and lead under the authority of Scripture, the Senior Pastor will carry out the following responsibilities as the primary leader of FPO while relationally implementing FPO’s vision and core values.

Accountability
Reports to FPO Session

General Responsibilities
Vision Casting:
❖ Working closely with the elders, will lead efforts to identify ministry priorities which will move the Church closer to our vision and mission; periodically evaluating their implementation and effectiveness.
❖ Will work with staff and Church ministries to ensure that all efforts are in line with the vision of the Church through Sunday morning worship and leading the staff and ministry leaders to regularly communicate the same vision.
❖ Will lead and direct the mission and outreach efforts of the Church by encouraging personal evangelism, outreach and supporting the missions committee.

Communication:
❖ Will routinely connect the congregation to Church leadership and its strategic direction, including ensuring awareness and understanding of leadership decisions and motivating fulfillment of the Church’s mission and vision.

Personal:
❖ Will devote ample time to growing and maturing in his relationship with Christ.
❖ Will maintain a personal accountability network to encourage his daily walk with Christ.
❖ Will lovingly lead a wife and family that supports the ministry and vision of FPO.
❖ Will pursue continuing education for skill building and self-improvement.

Presbytery:
❖ Will regularly participate as a member of the Central South Presbytery and General Assembly of the EPC.

Community Involvement:
❖ Will seek to cultivate ecumenical relationships with local pastors out of a desire to partner with sister Churches in local gospel ministry.

Worship Responsibilities
❖ To regularly preach and teach the Word of God (primarily through expository preaching) and administer the Sacraments (the Lord’s Supper & Baptism).
❖ To plan and implement Gospel-centered corporate worship in conjunction with FPO’s Worship Leader (including both regularly weekly Sunday a.m. worship as well as various special services).
❖ To officiate at special services such as weddings, funerals, etc.
❖ To cultivate a culture of Worship that glorifies God and exalts Christ through both the family of FPO and seeking of the lost.

Pastoral Care Responsibilities
❖ Cultivate, equip, oversee and model the Shepherding ministry of FPO Ruling Elders
❖ Train, encourage, and empower Session, staff, and selected lay leadership to strengthen and mobilize the FPO congregation in forwarding gospel-saturated community & gospel-motivated mercy in our neighborhoods and throughout Lee County.
❖ Provide pastoral care to include prayer as well as visitation & counseling as needed for
the FPO family, focusing primarily on care for FPO Pastors, Staff and Elders.
❖ Lead new-members class for individuals and couples interested in joining the family of FPO through formal membership.

Administration Responsibilities
❖ Work with staff to plan and maintain the Church calendar.
❖ Moderate all Session meetings, Joint Session/Diaconate meetings, and Congregational meetings.
❖ Lead FPO Staff team (weekly meetings, giving ministry direction for the purpose of fulfilling FPO’s Vision, and overseeing annual performance reviews).

Required Skills/Qualifications
❖ Must have a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and seek to cultivate a growing relationship with Him.
❖ Must meet the requirements for elder as set out in 1st Timothy 3:1-7.
❖ Must be male and ordained (or ordainable) as a Teaching Elder by the EPC as established in the EPC Book of Government. Must support the complementarian views of FPO.
❖ Must be actively involved in the life of the Church.
❖ Must have strong communication skills and ability to interact with a multi-generational Church family.
❖ Must have high personal credibility, with a strong set of values consistent with FPO’s Church culture, and commitment to maintain appropriate confidentiality.
❖ Must have a Christ-like attitude and professional demeanor with a sincere desire to help others and to lead and serve on a team.

Apply by email.