KEY QUALITY – Can lead our congregation in fulfilling ECC’s mission within our community—Reach Up, Reach In, and Reach Out—with great effectiveness for the next 10 to 15 years, transforming Evergreen into a purpose driven environment.
KEY GIFT(S) – Pastor, Visionary, Administrative Leader
Key Requirements:
Character:
Godly Christian character that reflects personal and spiritual maturity in habits, relationships, and self-discipline. We are looking for a person who:
- Has a lifestyle and reputation that are in line with the instructions of I Timothy 3 and Titus 1
- Is deeply in love with Jesus Christ and has a history of walking closely with Him in personal prayer, study of the Scriptures, meditation and other spiritual disciplines, and is known for exhibiting the Fruit of the Spirit
- Has a solid history of personal financial responsibility and is not motivated by the lure of higher income, finer accoutrements, prestige or titles
- Has provable integrity and is described as a humble leader
Leadership:
We believe successful leadership comes from a combination of natural giftings and developed skills that will be important in the ministry of our Senior Pastor. We are looking for a person who:
- Demonstrates the ability to cast a vision, and work both strategically and collaboratively with a staff and Board to see the vision through to reality
- Can articulate congregational vision and move the body towards action
- Has successfully held the top position in a congregation or a significant church group characterized by growth for those under their care
- Is able to express vision, personal warmth and sincerity to staff while maintaining organizational discipline
- Possesses an ability to maintain unity with members having strong convictions in opposition to leadership direction
- Possesses a pastoral calling to develop staff and congregation with proven success in mentoring and investing in the lives and ministries of subordinates
- Is skilled in change-management. Collaborates and encourages other leaders to ask difficult questions around needed change, and works to prioritize that change
- Is a highly skilled time management advocate who can prioritize a busy, changing schedule
- Is skilled in motivating people and able to draw out their best efforts and results
- Creates an environment to receive numerous viewpoints and then graciously renders the final decision
Communication:
A primary responsibility of the Senior Pastor is to preach the Word. Effective communication at many other levels is also key to success in the position. We are looking for a person who:
- Is gifted to rightly discern the truths of Scripture, hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, apply God’s Word to daily life, and humbly express what is learned in a compelling manner
- Has a strong and creative mind that seeks to grow in understanding of the Word of God and the culture to effectively share life-changing truth in various ways and settings
- Understands the issues faced by families and individuals in the world where they live and can build a safe environment to explore and apply Biblical truth
- Is accustomed to teaching or preaching on a weekly basis
Alignment:
It is imperative that our Senior Pastor be able to appreciate and shape the culture of Evergreen Community Church. We are looking for a person who:
- Is passionate about worship (Reach Up) as defined in the ECC vision statement:
- The focus of our worship is the one, true, holy and eternal God—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In heartfelt response to our loving God, we choose to glorify Him with our heart, mind, body, and soul, making the most of every opportunity to exalt Christ. We worship in spirit and in truth, rejoicing through the varied and limitless expressions He has given us. We exalt Christ with all that we are and all that we do at all times, whether we are gathered together as the body of Christ or individually fulfilling His call in the daily routine of our lives.
- Is passionate about winning the lost of our community and world (Reach Out) as defined in the ECC vision statement:
- We exist to serve as ambassadors of Jesus Christ in our world, both local and global, for the purpose of bringing children, youth, and adults into a vibrant relationship with Christ. We will accomplish this by training and equipping every person to:- Understand God’s heart for the world
- Discern their God-given roles and gifts
- Accept the Father’s mandate to represent Christ in their sphere of influence
- Is passionate about believer discipleship (Reach In) as defined in the ECC vision statement:
- Evergreen Community Church is dedicated to glorifying Jesus Christ through the inclusion of biblical principles into all aspects of everyday life. We practice a loving acceptance of all people without compromising the fundamental truths and convictions of our faith, as revealed in God’s Word. Being a compassionate church family, we honor each person as uniquely gifted by God, and we intentionally develop and nurture one’s personal relationship with Christ, the unity of the church body, and ultimately honor and glorify God. - Is from a Purpose Driven (PD) environment, or at the least shows evidence of strong commitment to PD
- Is preferably from a congregation of over 1,000 or in a climate of continual congregation growth
- Has some secular vocational experience, preferably in some leadership role
- Agrees with ECC’s statement of faith and abides by membership bylaws
Other qualities:
In addition to the type of individual outlined above we are seeking these additional qualities:
- Has a stable and supportive family
- Understands that the Gospel is not information, it is a person … Jesus! (Jn 5:39-40)
- Currently in accountable relationships and under authority. Seeks counsel through established mentors
- Possesses a positive view of collegial accountability including credentialing, ordination and peer review
- Has been through a difficult life experience and come through it in a healthy manner
- Evaluates success on outcomes, not hours
- Has a strong and meaningful Christian Educational background and values ongoing development