Learn more about The North Church - A Profile for Prospective Pastors

Job Description for Pastor for Discipleship

  • Reporting to Pastor for Preaching & Vision, Steven Lee

  • Full-Time

Role Description

With the aid of the Holy Spirit and under the authority of The North Church elders, the Pastor for Discipleship serves the church by developing and managing our adult discipleship ministries. This will include, but is not limited to, small groups, our discipleship pathway, adult classes, and membership classes. These discipleship efforts should aim to teach the congregation to observe all that Jesus commanded (Matt 28:20) and cultivate community marked by mutual care. This role will partner with the other ministries of the church to provide appropriately overlapping care.

Responsibilities

  1. Primary Objectives:
    The Pastor for Discipleship shall earnestly seek to treasure Christ in all of life and to advance Christ’s kingdom through equipping the church by providing appropriate, holistic, systematic, and continual biblical teaching and cultivating a culture of community and mutual care to members of the body.  

  2. Develop strategies, tools and systems that maximize the following:

    1. Small Groups

      1. Champion a Christ-centered and compelling vision for “life together” in small groups flowing from the biblical convictions expressed in our mission statement and our Elder Affirmation of Faith.

      2. Cultivate and develop a system of small groups that fellowship over God’s word, provide care by practicing the “one another” commands, and do “life together” in order to grow as mature believers. 

      3. Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ through recruiting, training, and equipping small group leaders.

    2. Membership

      1. Oversee and lead the baptism and membership processes.

      2. Seek to encourage regular attenders toward membership.

      3. Seek to connect with and help new members find community at TNC. 

    3. Discipleship Classes

      1. Champion the vision for discipleship through ongoing adult education (e.g. seminars, Sunday School, Wednesday Connection, etc.).

      2. Develop a comprehensive and systematic adult discipleship pathway so that every member is continually encouraged to go towards greater maturity in Christ.

      3. Equip, recruit, mobilize and oversee teachers for these classes in partnership with other staff.

      4. Work closely with other staff leadership to coordinate the discipleship of adults (e.g. Women’s Ministry, Men’s Ministry, Counseling etc.).

    4. Active Membership

      1. Champion a vision for members to live out their faith through ministry inside and outside the church.

      2. Equip the congregation to know and use their spiritual gifts, callings, interests and availability for ministry. 

    5. Build and oversee the portion of the budget assigned to Discipleship.

  3. Supervisory Responsibilities:

    1. Ministry Departments:

      1. Discipleship

    2. Direct Reports: Provide direction and feedback to:

      1. Administrative Assistant 

    3. Supervisor Responsibilities:

      1. Participates in interviewing, hiring, and training employees.

      2. Participates in job description creation.

      3. Ensures ministry responsibilities are fulfilled.

      4. Approves short-term ministry objectives.

      5. Conducts annual performance evaluations and provides regular performance feedback.

      6. Facilitates conflict resolution.

      7. Approves paid time-off requests.

      8. Ensures appropriate balance between the various ministries. 

  4. Other Duties:

    1. Maintain a clear focus on congregational care and relationship building, dedicating a significant portion of his ministry toward assisting with weddings, funerals, baptisms, membership classes, preaching, participating in worship services, etc. as time allows.

    2. The Pastor will carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the church from time to time.

  5. Ministerial Tax Treatment: 

    1. This role qualifies for Ministerial Tax Treatment because: 

      1. The individual is licensed by the church for gospel ministry. 

      2. The individual is licensed by the state of Minnesota.

    2. Additionally, this role includes at least three of the following: 

      1. The pastor performs sacerdotal duties: 

        1. Baptisms

        2. Weddings

        3. Communion

        4. Scriptural Instruction

        5. Spiritual Counseling

      2. The pastor conducts spiritual worship by taking a leadership role (worship, prayer, greeting, teaching, preaching) in our various church events and services. 

      3. The pastor has control, conduct or management responsibilities in the church. That is, he directs, manages, or promotes the church’s activities, providing leadership over ministries or areas of significance to the life of the church.

      4. The people of this church consider him to be a leader of the church. Given the size of our congregation, there must be a subsection of the congregation who recognizes the pastoral leadership provided by the individual.

Qualifications & Requirements

Godly Character

  1. Meet the spiritual, personal, and character qualifications of an elder found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9 and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23.

  2. Model servant leadership and exhibit a helpful, joyful attitude. 

  3. Be a man of prayer and a man of the Word, sensitive to the Spirit, devoting himself to daily prayer and Bible reading for the sake of guarding himself from sin and stirring up his heart and mind to renewed passion for Christ; he will lead his family in regular times in the Word and prayer; and he will gladly participate in mutual care and accountability with other believers.

  4. Seek to undertake his duties in the power of the Holy Spirit, undergirded with prayer, guided by the Scriptures, and manifesting the character of Christ for the glory of God.

Church Member

  1. Be a member in good standing of The North Church or, if not a member when called to the church, become a member as soon as possible, ideally completing the membership process within three (3) months of the date that employment begins.

  2. While ensuring first loyalty is to God and the Word, support the leadership of the church generally and specifically for his area of ministry. Strive to maintain positive and fruitful relationships with other church employees, members, and leaders. While concerns or differences of opinion may arise, all employees will communicate in a biblical manner and abide by appropriate supervisory direction and any final determinations of the Council of Elders. Whether leading the congregation or submitting to those in authority, he will do so in a joyful manner. While visionary, he will have his ear to the ground and be a good listener.

  3. Understand, endorse, and teach, without reservation, the church’s biblical and theological teaching as expressed in our Elder Affirmation of Faith.

  4. Joyfully minister in accord with our Pastor’s Covenant, in a manner that honors Christ and is a positive example to others.  

  5. As outlined in the Bible and our Elder Affirmation of Faith, pastors must be qualified men.

Organizational Skill and Awareness

  1. Have the vision and organizational skills necessary to work effectively, creatively, and flexibly within the context of a church with multiple staff members and ministries. 

  2. Strictly maintain appropriate confidentiality according to the guidelines set forth in our Employee Handbook and Relational Commitments.

  3. Sign our Employee Handbook Acknowledgement Form and comply with all applicable church policies.

  4. Give servant-hearted support to specific area(s) of ministry as well as to the broader needs of our ministry.

Self-Motivated and Dependable

  1. Demonstrate a commitment to personal growth by attending appropriate training, development, and team-building events.

  2. Have a good understanding of the people, projects, or ministry under his responsibility and demonstrate faithfulness and good follow-through both in collaboration with other ministry partners and in independent efforts related to his role.

Skilled Leadership & Communication

  1. Recognize volunteers as valuable co-laborers in ministry and will be proactive, prayerful, and persistent in recruiting for the role.

  2. Possess pastoral experience and proven effectiveness, particularly in ministries providing discipleship and mutual care..

Requirements

  1. Servant Leadership—the Pastor should be able to lead in a variety of contexts (individual, small groups, large groups) in such a way that Jesus Christ and his gospel are central. He should be a self-starter and take initiative. He should be wise and discerning and know when to be decisive, sensitive, tender, and firm.

  2. Relational—the Pastor should have a heart to care for people. That drive should manifest itself in the appropriate use of time.

  3. Administrative—while seeking mainly to shepherd people, the Pastor should have the skill set and ability to effectively manage the various administrative tasks associated with the position.

  4. Teaching/Equipping—the Pastor should be a fruitful, biblical teacher and champion of our mission and vision. His teaching should effectively “equip the saints for the work of the ministry.”

  5. Communication—the Pastor should be able to communicate clearly, concisely, and in a loving and biblical manner.

  6. Peacemaking—the Pastor should be able to tactfully and winsomely unite people with varying perspectives to advance harmony and love, and to achieve common goals.

  7. Preaching—the Pastor should be an effective preacher who is able to rightly handle the word of God and joyfully engage in expository exultation personally.