Senior Pastor

Church Overview:

OSLC is a welcoming faith community inviting all to know Christ. We are a congregation that is blessed with abundant resources for ministry that include a dedicated and cohesive staff, skilled and involved lay leaders, significant financial resources and a wonderful facility. We have no debt and recently completed a construction project which was paid for prior to the onset of construction. We are a congregation dedicated to sharing the love of God with one another and with the people of Rockford. We are committed to outreach ministry within our community, the nation and the world. Our congregation is very active within the Rockford area using our individual gifts to serve God and introduce others to the saving grace of the Gospel. We support 30 local mission partners and are actively involved with local, national and international mission projects. Website: OSLCRockford.com

Job Description:

Reports to:
Called by the congregation and serves in collaboration with the church council.

Overview:
The Senior Pastor is responsible for the spiritual, pastoral and administrative leadership of the congregation and staff. The Senior Pastor will preach and administer the sacraments. He/she will provide leadership and direction to staff and assist our congregation in fulfilling the mission of our ministry plan.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Senior Pastor’s duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

I. PREACHING AND WORSHIP

• Preach engaging and culturally relevant sermons with messages based in scripture.

• Be an effective communicator.

• Prepare preaching schedules in advance in collaboration with the Associate Pastor and staff.

• Officiate at special services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.

• Ensure worship services are relevant and available for parishioners of all

  ages and abilities.

• Be an effective teacher.

II. LEADERSHIP

• Coordinate staff and lay leaders to effectively execute the ministry plan of the church.

• Provide leadership and direction to the staff and lay leaders.

• Be skilled in planning and leading programs including outreach ministries.

• Cultivate a strong partnership with the church council.

• Act as a proponent of the church’s ministry plan and ensure ministry goals align with this plan and the vision of the congregation.

• Provide support and encouragement to the staff and lay leaders.

• Be able to share leadership and work in a team.

III. ADMINISTRATION

• Build effective working relationships with staff and congregational leaders.

• Oversee all operations of the church.

• Coordinate both rostered and non-rostered staff totaling 13 individuals.

• Ensure appropriate employment practices and procedures exist to provide safe and fair working conditions for staff.

IV. CONGREGATIONAL CARE

• Recognize all members of the church community as valuable children of God.

• Become acquainted with the congregation and the community.

• Provide care and nurture to the staff and congregation.

• Help members to develop their spiritual life.

• Bring joy and good humor to relationships.

• Counsel families and individuals when needed. When necessary, make appropriate professional referrals.

• Provide for the spiritual and emotional needs of the church community.

• Ensure that those who are ill or in need are visited and receive appropriate

  care.

• Foster a sense of community within the church.

• Deal effectively with conflict.

Education and Experience:

Interested Pastors must be ordained and rostered in the ELCA. Ideally, the candidate will have experience as a Senior Pastor or as an Associate Pastor in a large, dynamic and growing congregation and will have a minimum of 5 to 10 years of experience in that position.

To Apply:

Our Ministry Site Profile is available for review at ELCA.org. Interested Pastors should contact the Assistant to the Bishop for Mobility, The Rev. Marilyn Hanson, at mhanson@nisynod.org with interest and submit their Rostered Minister Profile to the same.