TRANSITIONAL PASTOR POSITION DESCRIPTION
Purpose: The Transitional Pastor will guide, support, and nurture the congregation as we discern the church’s pastoral leadership model, then call a new installed Pastor(s)/Head(s) of Staff accordingly. The Transitional Pastor shall not be eligible to be considered as a candidate for an installed position.

Accountability: The Transitional Pastor will be accountable to the Session of Forest Hill Church, Presbyterian through its Personnel Committee and to the Presbytery of the Western Reserve through its Committee on Ministry.

Availability: Full-time position beginning September/October 2024 for a period of 12 months, with performance reviews at 6-month intervals; and with possible extension as needed, subject to mutual agreement of the Transitional Pastor, the Session, and the Committee on Ministry.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION
TRADITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In partnership with the pertinent lay-led Session ministries, the Transitional Pastor will:
● Provide spiritual leadership for the congregation in all its activities.
● Plan and lead worship on Sundays and special services; administer the sacraments; perform  weddings and memorials.
● Deliver inspired teaching and preaching that uses Scripture and other inspirational writings to help the congregation discern God’s intentions for love, justice and inclusion in our world today; share preaching duties with occasional guest clergy/speakers.
● Provide pastoral care, visitation and counseling.
● Moderate Session and work with the Clerk to set agendas; be staff liaison to and support work of Session committees and other entities.
● Assist Nominating Committee in identifying lay leadership; train and nurture newly elected officers.
● Function as Head of Staff; supervise and support program staff (Director of Family, Youth and Children and Director of Music/Organist) and support staff; convene weekly staff meetings; work with Personnel Committee and Session on staff issues.
● Promote and support church growth efforts (e.g., classes for new members and seekers / questioners).
● Ensure faithful use of the church’s financial resources by working with the Stewardship Ministry, Co-Treasurers, Finance Committee, Endowment Committee and Staff Bookkeeper.
● Participate in the life and work of the Presbytery and support the church’s engagement with the secular community.
● Adhere to the policies of Forest Hill Church.

TRANSITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In adhering to the expectations of our Presbytery, the Transitional Pastor will also:
● Assist and support FHC Session, the Mission Study Committee and the Pastoral Search Committee to help the congregation celebrate the church’s past, assess its present situation and the needs of its communities and chart its future in Gospel ministry within and outside the walls.
● Work in a collegial relationship with the PWR Committee on Ministry to enable the congregation to discover its identity (Who are we? Who are our neighbors? What is God calling us to do? What is our Mission?).
● Help recruit, train and support present and new leaders.
● Nurture the congregation’s relationship with the Presbytery.
● Aid the congregation in its preparations for a new installed Pastor(s) and our future mission and ministry.

With regard to the particular needs of Forest Hill Church, the Transitional Pastor will:
● Assist Session, its committees/ministries in helping us maintain cohesiveness and love for each other as we grapple with difficult issues regarding racial equity, social justice and a fraught national political climate that has and will continue to stir tensions within the congregation; Use conflict management/resolution skills and sound theology to show that what unites us is stronger than what would divide us (see Romans 8); thereby preparing the ground for the new installed Pastor(s) to lead us with fresh energy and renewed commitment to the way of Jesus Christ.
● Assist Session, and other lay and staff leaders, to acknowledge that while we have done much together, we are stretched thin and showing signs of weariness on the journey and need help coming to terms with the realities of limits to our numbers, time, energy and (even) money. Helping us focus on our true priorities will aid the new installed Pastor(s) in finding the resources we need for renewed ministry (see II Cor. 4).
● Assist Session and professional staff to overcome lingering effects of COVID on the vitality of our life together in Christian community and help us lay a foundation to resume its growth, particularly by expanding small group fellowship opportunities and by attracting and incorporating more young families with children (see I John 3).
● Assist the entire FHC congregation in deepening our Christian spirituality, via instruction in adult/youth/children’s faith formation and in other small groups (see Acts 1) to better experience and enjoy the glory of God.

GIFTS AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ONE WE ARE SEEKING
● A mature practitioner of the Christian faith who lives into the teachings of Jesus, possesses sound theological grounding for ministry and is able to provide spiritual leadership in transition to and with other staff and members of our congregation.
● A full-time clergyperson ordained to the ministry of word and sacrament by the PC (USA) or another denomination with which we are in full communion, with training and/or experience in Interim/Transitional ministry preferred.
● A person who embodies warmth and humility, has a good sense of humor and is comfortable with a degree of spontaneity during worship.
● Experience leading racially and culturally diverse congregations/organizations.
● Training and experience in conflict management/conflict resolution/consensus building methodologies appropriate to church settings.
● Demonstrated evidence of strong staff management and financial skills; experience administering a large, multi-staff church preferred.
● Preserve one continuous 24-hour period of personal Sabbath rest per week.

INTERESTED CANDIDATES SHOULD PROVIDE:
● Resume of experience (PDP/PIF if available)
● Statement of faith
● Preferred contact information

APPLY TO:
Send resume to Adam Majot, Co-Chair of Transitional Pastor Search Committee by email.
Phone: (304) 692-9220