PARKSTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
209 W. Teek St. P.O. Box 693, Parkston SD 57366
Ph. 605-928-3866 Email: pcchurch@santel.net
Member of the Conservative Christian Congregational Church
Our passion is to obey Jesus’ commands to love God, love others, and make disciples.
Parkston Congregational Church is currently accepting resumes with cover letters for the position of Pastor.
CHURCH HISTORY
Parkston Congregational Church has historical roots dating back to the 1880s. German homesteaders sought to have a place for fellowship and spiritual growth and thus our story began as part of the General Conference of German Congregational Churches. Three country churches served the wider community in those days: Hoffnungsburg Church, Friedensfeld Congregational Church and Zion Congregational Church. Due to greater need of pastoral care, each of these congregations disbanded between 1946-1947 with many folks becoming active members at the Salem Congregational Church in Parkston.
In 1957 the Evangelical, the Reformed and the Congregational Christian Churches formed the United Church of Christ (UCC). By 1963, the General conference of German Congregational Churches was dissolved and merged into the United Church of Christ. At the time, Salem Congregational Church officially changed its name to Salem United Church of Christ.
As the UCC began to lose its spiritual moorings, (evident as leadership began to make compromises so to adapt to the moral and social changes of the world around us), God led Salem UCC to leave the denomination in 2019. The church was approved to join the Conservative Christian Congregational Conference and renamed itself Parkston Congregational Church.
CHURCH PROFILE
Community: Small town
Pastoral Ministry: Single Pastoral Staff with parttime Secretary
Governing System: Congregational with Church Council of Deacons and Trustees.
Size: 101-250 Average worship attendance mid 50’s to 60’s
Budget: $172,360.00 (includes missions of $4,500.00)
Membership profile:
25% Profession / nonagricultural (Medical, Education)
40% Profession / agricultural
35% Retired
Church Facilities: Sanctuary (remodeled 2010) Main floor with Balcony, full sound system Seats approximately 250 +
Education Spaces: Classrooms in Church basement; fully renovated with new flooring in 2021
Fellowship hall accommodates 150 + with Large kitchen facilities.
Church office with spacious Pastor’s study located by fellowship hall entrance.
Parsonage: Built in 1957, 1956 Square feet. Living area interior totally updated in 2014, Attached garage and unfinished basement
Theological Distinctives: Conservative Evangelical. Currently we use NIV for services
Sacraments of Infant Baptism and monthly communion
Woman are approved to serve in roles of leadership
CHURCH MINISTRY
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:00
Communion is monthly. Music leans to traditional with organ/piano. Congregation is learning newer music in the worship style of Sovereign Grace Music and the Gettys. Worship service includes a variety of liturgical expression.
Currently there is one adult Sunday school class prior to morning service. There is also a Women’s Bible study on Monday nights.
Children and teens with a growing number from community attend WOW and CYU weekly meetings with mid-week dinner and Sunday school curriculum for all ages.
Pastor teaches a two-year Biblical confirmation class for teenage kids.
We actively support several mission programs.
Parkston Congregational Church also seeks to be part of the local community through various outreach to meet needs of others, and through the local ministerial.
PROFILE OF PARKSTON
Parkston offers a growing family many opportunities. You can check out our town by going to cityofparkston.org. Our town with a population of 1500, has a small hospital (connected with Avera Medical System in Sioux Falls) and full emergency services. There is a community grocery store, a dollar general and Runnings, a local hardware store. There is also a full-service pharmacy. We are within easy reach of Mitchell, (20 Miles north with a larger population of 15,000). Mitchell lies along the I -90 corridor and has several larger grocery store options, a regional Cabela’s, a great selection of hotels and restaurants, and not to forget the famous Corn Palace. If you have at a taste for the larger city life, the city of Sioux Falls is only 75 miles to our east.
Parkston has so much to offer for a growing family. We have a good local educational system with scholastic and athletic programs for all ages and all sports. There are also two community parks, one with a newly built amphitheater with an excellent variety of music programs during the summer months. The public pool is nice size and is enjoyed by all ages during the summer months. Our state is famous for Pheasant hunting and fishing and those opportunities are abundant in our local area.
PASTORAL EXPECTATIONS:
We are seeking a pastor who loves the Lord with all his heart and seeks to encourage us to follow God’s call upon our lives.
We are seeking a pastor who is strong in his preaching and teaching of God’s word. We prefer expositional preaching, but we are open to other types as well.
The person God calls to our church will share a love for God’s people and for outreach to the community of which we trust their family will actively take part.
CHURCH SPIRITUAL CONDITION:
Parkston CC has recently come out of a lukewarm denomination and for many years the church as a whole was not being presented with the true meaning of God’s word and how to seek God’s help to live out God’s call on our lives. There is a growing desire among the congregation for spiritual growth. There is a great opportunity for the development of discipleship programs and missional mindset.
Should God move your heart to apply for this position of ministry. Please send your materials to:
James Gramm schuhpainting@outlook.com
While we prefer you email your information, hard copies may be sent to
James Gramm
Co-Chair of Pastoral Search Committee
700 S. 1st Street, Parkston, SD 57366
Phone 605 -759-3084
Statement of faith
Job Description
Ministry Purpose: To proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ with conviction, clarity, and without compromise; to teach biblical revelation; to engage in pastoral care; provide pastoral leadership in all areas of church life and function; and to conduct ordinances
and functions of worship.
Primary Functions
• Plan and conduct worship services, develop sermons, and lead in the observance of the ordinances.
• Lead the congregation in effective programs to fulfill the Great Commission with vision, purpose and priority.
• Lead and demonstrate effective ways to witness and win the lost to salvation through Jesus Christ.
• Visit and minister to members and prospective members in their homes, nursing care facilities and hospitals.
• Coordinate and teach confirmation class.
• Participate and provide guidance in and for church youth education and activities.
• Lead monthly worship services at the nursing home in Parkston.
• Conduct counseling sessions, perform weddings, and conduct funeral services.
• Work with church officers, the Church Council and other key leadership to carry out the mission and purpose of the church.
• Cooperate with associational, state and denominational leaders on matters of mutual interest and concern.
• Participate with church committees and teams as an ex-officio member
• Oversee, along with the deacons all church discipline matters and the management of conflict issues in the church.
• Communicate with the congregation through announcements, both written and oral, using church bulletins and worship services
• Adhere to the Church Constitution bylaws, and to policies and procedures adopted by the church, including financial matters.
• Maintain a vital and wholesome personal relationship with the Lord through daily Bible study and prayer.
• Maintain proper personal and professional priorities.
• Proved for the acceptance of new church members.
• Provide children’s message during worship as the schedule allows.
In addition, Parkston Congregational Church understand that this in neither an all inclusive list of duties, nor a list of absolutes. We recognize that some freedom needs to exist for our church to function properly as well as be effective in our desire to
accomplish the mission God has set before it.
The Parkston community has a Ministerial Association and Parkston Congregational Church encourage you to be a part of this association.
PARKSTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
209 W. Teek St. P.O. Box 693, Parkston SD 57366
Ph. 605-928-3866 Email: pcchurch@santel.net
Member of the Conservative Christian Congregational Church
Our passion is to obey Jesus’ commands to love God, love others, and make disciples.
Parkston Congregational Church is currently accepting resumes with cover letters for the position of Pastor.
CHURCH HISTORY
Parkston Congregational Church has historical roots dating back to the 1880s. German homesteaders sought to have a place for fellowship and spiritual growth and thus our story began as part of the General Conference of German Congregational Churches. Three country churches served the wider community in those days: Hoffnungsburg Church, Friedensfeld Congregational Church and Zion Congregational Church. Due to greater need of pastoral care, each of these congregations disbanded between 1946-1947 with many folks becoming active members at the Salem Congregational Church in Parkston.
In 1957 the Evangelical, the Reformed and the Congregational Christian Churches formed the United Church of Christ (UCC). By 1963, the General conference of German Congregational Churches was dissolved and merged into the United Church of Christ. At the time, Salem Congregational Church officially changed its name to Salem United Church of Christ.
As the UCC began to lose its spiritual moorings, (evident as leadership began to make compromises so to adapt to the moral and social changes of the world around us), God led Salem UCC to leave the denomination in 2019. The church was approved to join the Conservative Christian Congregational Conference and renamed itself Parkston Congregational Church.
CHURCH PROFILE
Community: Small town
Pastoral Ministry: Single Pastoral Staff with parttime Secretary
Governing System: Congregational with Church Council of Deacons and Trustees.
Size: 101-250 Average worship attendance mid 50’s to 60’s
Budget: $172,360.00 (includes missions of $4,500.00)
Membership profile:
25% Profession / nonagricultural (Medical, Education)
40% Profession / agricultural
35% Retired
Church Facilities: Sanctuary (remodeled 2010) Main floor with Balcony, full sound system Seats approximately 250 +
Education Spaces: Classrooms in Church basement; fully renovated with new flooring in 2021
Fellowship hall accommodates 150 + with Large kitchen facilities.
Church office with spacious Pastor’s study located by fellowship hall entrance.
Parsonage: Built in 1957, 1956 Square feet. Living area interior totally updated in 2014, Attached garage and unfinished basement
Theological Distinctives: Conservative Evangelical. Currently we use NIV for services
Sacraments of Infant Baptism and monthly communion
Woman are approved to serve in roles of leadership
CHURCH MINISTRY
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:00
Communion is monthly. Music leans to traditional with organ/piano. Congregation is learning newer music in the worship style of Sovereign Grace Music and the Gettys. Worship service includes a variety of liturgical expression.
Currently there is one adult Sunday school class prior to morning service. There is also a Women’s Bible study on Monday nights.
Children and teens with a growing number from community attend WOW and CYU weekly meetings with mid-week dinner and Sunday school curriculum for all ages.
Pastor teaches a two-year Biblical confirmation class for teenage kids.
We actively support several mission programs.
Parkston Congregational Church also seeks to be part of the local community through various outreach to meet needs of others, and through the local ministerial.
PROFILE OF PARKSTON
Parkston offers a growing family many opportunities. You can check out our town by going to cityofparkston.org. Our town with a population of 1500, has a small hospital (connected with Avera Medical System in Sioux Falls) and full emergency services. There is a community grocery store, a dollar general and Runnings, a local hardware store. There is also a full-service pharmacy. We are within easy reach of Mitchell, (20 Miles north with a larger population of 15,000). Mitchell lies along the I -90 corridor and has several larger grocery store options, a regional Cabela’s, a great selection of hotels and restaurants, and not to forget the famous Corn Palace. If you have at a taste for the larger city life, the city of Sioux Falls is only 75 miles to our east.
Parkston has so much to offer for a growing family. We have a good local educational system with scholastic and athletic programs for all ages and all sports. There are also two community parks, one with a newly built amphitheater with an excellent variety of music programs during the summer months. The public pool is nice size and is enjoyed by all ages during the summer months. Our state is famous for Pheasant hunting and fishing and those opportunities are abundant in our local area.
PASTORAL EXPECTATIONS:
We are seeking a pastor who loves the Lord with all his heart and seeks to encourage us to follow God’s call upon our lives.
We are seeking a pastor who is strong in his preaching and teaching of God’s word. We prefer expositional preaching, but we are open to other types as well.
The person God calls to our church will share a love for God’s people and for outreach to the community of which we trust their family will actively take part.
CHURCH SPIRITUAL CONDITION:
Parkston CC has recently come out of a lukewarm denomination and for many years the church as a whole was not being presented with the true meaning of God’s word and how to seek God’s help to live out God’s call on our lives. There is a growing desire among the congregation for spiritual growth. There is a great opportunity for the development of discipleship programs and missional mindset.
Should God move your heart to apply for this position of ministry. Please send your materials to:
James Gramm schuhpainting@outlook.com
While we prefer you email your information, hard copies may be sent to
James Gramm
Co-Chair of Pastoral Search Committee
700 S. 1st Street, Parkston, SD 57366
Phone 605 -759-3084
Statement of faith
We believe the Bible consisting of the Old and New Testament, to be the only inspired, inerrant, infallible, authoritative Word of God written.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return
in power and glory.
We believe that for salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by Whose indwelling power and fullness the Christian is enabled to live a godly life in this present evil world.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of all believers in Christ.
