Job Description:

About Central and the Senior Associate Pastor Position:

Central is a growing multicultural and multigenerational congregation of 350 to 450 followers in the suburban community of Ewing, New Jersey. Ewing is nestled between the communities of Trenton, Pennington, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell in New Jersey and Yardley in Pennsylvania. 

As an independent Baptist church, we believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, inerrant in the original writings, complete as the revelation of God’s will for salvation, and the supreme and final authority in all matters to which they speak. Click here for a description of our key beliefs.

Central’s leadership model consists of having a shared Pastoral Leadership Team with multiple Lead Pastors who have specialized primary responsibilities and shared secondary responsibilities. At this time we have one Lead Pastor.

Central is seeking male candidates who qualify to serve as a Senior Associate Pastor with the expectation that further experience would prepare the candidate to be elevated to a Lead Pastor position within one to two years.

 

Our Vision

We will be a diverse community following Christ anywhere bringing hope to the hurting.

 

Our Mission

To intentionally introduce people to Jesus Christ, both locally and globally, and to proactively help believers grow as fully-devoted followers.

• We hold to scriptural authority while being stylistically innovative, relevant, and excellent in our approach to ministry.
• We recognize personal responsibility for growing, connecting, serving, and sharing our faith.
• We are committed to care and accountability through established shepherding relationships.

Our Core Values

• To be Christ-Centered
• Celebrate and Embrace Diversity
• Extend Grace to everyone
• Develop positive relationships and build community
• Be joyfully generous

Position Overview:

To apply for this position: Send a cover letter addressing how you meet the qualifications for this position, your resume, a list of three references, and two links of sermons presented to [email protected]. 

The Senior Associate Pastor position requires someone to be a personable servant leader who has a character that reflects the love of Jesus Christ with empathy, compassion, and love. He must be committed to modeling and communicating the Mission and Vision of Central effectively and with authenticity and enthusiasm. 

He must demonstrate divinely inspired preaching as well as biblically based teaching. He must possess the ability to work effectively within a diverse community, have a heart for discipleship training, a passion for unity and belonging, and have a vision for community outreach.

The Senior Associate Pastor will report to the Lead Pastor, will be accountable to the Overseeing Elders, and will work with the staff and church leadership in carrying out the vision of Central.

 

Responsibilities: 

Direct Staff Reports: TBD 

Work Hours and Schedule: This is a full-time salaried position. The scheduling of work hours may be adjusted according to the needs of the ministry.

The Senior Associate Pastor will need to demonstrate the following responsibilities: 

• Preaching/Teaching: Regularly preparing and delivering sermons for worship services and group sessions that are based on the inspired Word of God.

• Staff Development: Objective setting, coaching, and developing the staff at Central. 

• Implementing Priorities: Executing the Vision and Mission of the church with the Elders. 

• Pastoral Care: Providing for the spiritual health and well-being of the people in the congregation.

• Pastoral Counseling: All Pastors will be involved with pastoral counseling to the members and non-members of the church body. Professional counseling is at times provided through a third-party referral process.

• Outreach: Promoting the extension of the ministry of Christ to the local central New Jersey community and to the ends of the world with particular emphasis on supporting our missionaries who are ministering in the name of Christ.

• Discipleship: Encouraging, guiding, and teaching believers through intensive relationship building and spiritual apprenticeship to guide specific relational growth with Christ. Relying on Life Groups and Bible education to spur people’s knowledge of Christ and form their Christian character.

• Stewardship: Modeling and promoting the effective management of God’s resources as God’s fellow workers in the church with our life, time, and treasure.

• Integration: Facilitating the participation of all people into the purpose and life of the church, respecting, and utilizing their God-given gifts, abilities, and diverse backgrounds. 

• Strategic Planning: Responsible for leading/contributing to a strategic plan needed to support the attainment of our Vision and Mission.  

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in ministry from an accredited academic institution required. A master’s degree or higher with an emphasis in biblical and/or theological studies. 
• At least five years of pastoral experience serving in a similarly sized church 
• Experience in integration, discipleship, and promoting stewardship 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to make decisions, problem solve, manage conflict and change, thrive on a team, and raise up leaders 
• Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written) and think strategically
• Self-starter, good time management, flexible, and adaptable 
• High regard and competency for the faithful expository preaching of the Word
• Effective use of multimedia/visual aids in messages 
• Able to relate the text to the current culture (contextualize)  
• Deep knowledge of and training in biblical theology, philosophy, practice of ministry, and pastoral care. 

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• A heart for the hurting and seeing the lost come to faith in Christ
• Meets the Biblical qualification of an elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9; Acts 6:4; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-3)
• Passion for equity and belonging 
• Humble visionary
• Community-focused 
• Growth-minded
• A deep love for the local church 

To apply for this position:

Email [email protected] the following:

• a cover letter addressing how you meet the qualifications for this position
• your resume
• a list of three references
• two links of sermons presented