Lead Pastor

Sarasota Community Church
Sarasota, Florida, United States
Date Posted: 10/31/2024
Categories: Christian Education - Church Planter - Ministry Coordinator/Support - Communications/Marketing - Discipleship/Groups Pastor - Executive Pastor - Family Pastor - Missions Pastor - Pastoral (Other) - Pastoral Care Pastor - Senior Pastor - Teaching Pastor
Denominations:
Church Size: Not Applicable
Job Type: Full-Time
Employee Workplace: On-site
Register Now To Apply
Job Description:

Overview

The Pastor of Sarasota Community Church should be one who feels called by God to serve and lead Sarasota Community Church in the present and into the future with prayer, humility and dependence on the Lord.  The pastor should value a team approach, be prayer-focused and a biblically faithful teacher and preacher who enjoys people and is relational and engaging. This pastor should have the desire to lead Sarasota Community Church as we seek to honor and worship God, share the good news of Jesus Christ, help people grow in their faith and be the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us and around the world.

 Expectations/Responsibilities

  • Provide overall vision and strategic planning for the current, short-term, and long-term future direction of the church.
  • Serve as the primary preacher and biblical teacher responsible for the emphasis, themes, and direction of our worship services, especially the sermon. Delivering biblically-based and Christ-centered sermons is a high priority. In addition, responsibilities would include coordinating a preaching team of other ministerial staff members and guest preachers who would be called upon to preach and teach at various times.
  • Responsible for all church staff by creating an encouraging, empowering and supportive environment that encourages a team approach to ministry by the staff.  This would include giving staff the ability to succeed and maximize the effectiveness of their areas of ministry with your support. Responsible for hiring staff and, when necessary, recommending termination to the Board of Overseers. Responsible for establishing job descriptions and ministry responsibilities and encouraging the discipleship, training, and development of all staff. Lead weekly staff meetings and check in with staff members during the week.
  • Serve as an ex-officio member of the Board of Overseers. This includes attending regularly scheduled (usually monthly) Board of Overseer meetings and regularly giving ministry update reports. 
  • Spend time in prayer and study in preparation for preaching, leadership, and ministry responsibilities.
  • Serve as a leader by example in personal discipleship, stewardship, evangelism, and a Christ-centered life.
  • Conduct weddings, celebrations of life, infant dedications, baptisms, and church membership classes.
  • Develop leaders and volunteers within the church.
  • Work with the church treasurer, Finance Committee, and Board of Overseers to ensure the financial well-being of the church through the budgeting, planning, and reporting processes.
  • Build relationships with other community pastors, ministries and community organizations that are consistent with the church’s mission and values to work together for Kingdom purposes and build unity.

 Requirements

  • A Bachelor’s degree with experience as a lead pastor. A seminary degree or other theological training with a ministerial focus is a plus.
  • A clear love for the Lord and the Word of God.
  • Be grounded in a sound, working understanding of Anabaptist theology.
  • A personal and growing relationship with Christ.
  • Able to delegate, empower and encourage others.
  • Experience as a leader.
  • A completed LMC Form (Credentialing Leadership Information), if you haven’t completed this form, time will be given to do so.
  • Shared belief in, understanding of and willingness to minister within Sarasota Community Church’s statement of faith and adherence to the church bylaws.
  • The heart of a shepherd and strong relational qualities.
  • Maintain a proper personal life balance between your own spiritual health and development, family and ministry responsibilities. 
  • A life congruent with the biblical requirements for leaders such as found in 1 Tim. 3:1-3; 2 Tim. 2; Titus 1:5-9 and maintain spiritual integrity that others should and would desire to imitate.

 

Register Now To Apply
You Also May Be Interested In:
Job Seeker Tools
Post
Resume
Resume
Help
Career
Tools
About Sarasota Community Church

The Congregational Profile

Name of Congregation: Sarasota Community Church

Date profile prepared: October 21, 2024

By Whom: Board of Overseers & Search Committee

  1. Basic Information

Address:          4041 Bahia Vista Street

                        Sarasota, FL

Phone:             941-377-4041

Email:             peggysccsearch@gmail.com or norisccsearch@gmail.com

Website:          sarasotacommunitychurch.org

 

  1. Average Attendance

Summer Season 120-130

Winter Season 500 + with dedicated winter residents attending year after year.

  1. Profile of those attending:

Age Range:

            0-10 yrs.          =          5            11-18 yrs.        =          2

            19-30 yrs.        =          2            31-50 yrs.        =          8

            51-65 yrs.        =          50          66 – 100 yrs.   =          majority

  1. Pastoral leadership for the last three pastors:
  1. Dennis Bontrager     2021-present
  2. Roger Shenk             2008-2021
  3. David Kniss
  1. Facilities 
  2. Sanctuary: has been updated and has a seating capacity of 650-800
  3. Christian education classrooms: we have 8-12 classrooms available
  4. Recreation/Multi-ministries (indoor/outdoor): 3 portable cottages, a pavilion, 2 open courtyards, 2 pickleball courts
  5. Kitchen/Dining: large fellowship hall
  6. Nursery: has been updated with a crib, changing table and lots of toys

 

  1. Urgently needed: Remodeling of our kitchen and bathrooms. There is a plan in place for updating the bathrooms.
  2. Long range projections: to bring in more generational congregants

 

  1. Annual budget for the past 3 years:

Approved Budget                                Actual Amount Reached

            2024                $600,000                                             $462,768 as of the end of 9/2024

            2023                $550,000                                             $674,497            

  1. Employees of the congregation:

Pastoral Staff:

      Lead Pastor

Ministerial Staff:

      Minister of Discipleship

      Minister of Music

      Directors of Care & Visitation

Other Staff:

      Creative Director – part-time

      Administrator – part-time

      Church Secretary – full-time

      Bookkeeper – part-time

      Maintenance – part-time

Volunteers:

We have many hands that volunteer for all areas of the church, including but not limited to: facility rentals, maintenance, media & tech team, kitchen, info center, ushers, and decorating the church.

  1. Identify church programs and ministries:
  1. Weekly services schedule:

Sunday Worship – 10 a.m.                  Style: Traditional, open to variations

Sunday School – 9 a.m.

Tuesday Prayer Group – 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Men’s Prayer Breakfast – 8 a.m.

Thursday Bible Study – 9 a.m.

Thursday Dorcas Circle – 9 a.m.

Bi-Monthly Women’s Devotional Luncheon

Living Joyfully – monthly

 All Church Carry-in – monthly

 Book Club – monthly

  1. Annual events:

Discipleship Weekend

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Thanksgiving Meal

  1. Church’s Community involvement:
  • Dreamers School
  • Work w/local schools
  • Local Christian school
  • Community Pregnancy Center
  • Loving Hands Ministry
  • Change for a Dollar
  • Local prison ministry
  • Dorcas Circle – donates to community – school kits, baby kits, blankets
  1. Other areas of ministry:
  • Global Disciples
  • Gideons
  • Life Impact
  • Southeast Conference

We have increased our giving ministries this past year.

  1. Identify the congregation’s decision-making process, its communication network, how it goes about making changes in ministry:

We have a Board of Overseers that are the decision makers. There is a weekly emailed newsletter that is sent every Thursday with the description of what the sermon is going to be about and also the upcoming events for the week. Any changes in ministry are made by congregational vote.

  1. What is the congregation known for specifically?

We are known as a friendly and welcoming congregation. Generosity, both financially and of time, is a huge part of our church. We glorify God, worship the word and share the gospel.

  1. List the top three expectations of the pastor:
  • Exceptional teaching/preaching ability that engages and instructs
  • Relational skills that attract
  • Lead and empower the staff
  1. Other relevant information that should be shared:

We have a great facility and great location to reach our community. We are a snowbird church but during the summer season we are still committed to making our church run smoothly and be fiscally responsible. We are located in the heart of Sarasota, just 3 miles from the beach. The median age is 57 ½ years old. The population is 464,223 and seasonally adds 78,900 people. We are a growing area with lots of families

More...