Ascent Church is a seven-year old church plant in one of the most unchurched and de-churched areas of the country. Despite that, and despite also being one of the most difficult times for the church in America, Ascent Church has grown significantly over this time, making this both an exciting, but also incredibly difficult season of ministry at our church. This job description is for a core and important position that will span every single area of ministry of our church and community and will be absolutely central to the next season of ministry at our church. It is a challenging position.
General Staff Overview
The ministry staff at Ascent Church functions as a team. An atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation is, and will be, characteristic of this team. The goal is to develop and foster a strong commitment to excellence as we seek to serve and glorify God in our calling – having said that, more important than excellence and perfection is a commitment to continuous improvement. As such, each staff member will be encouraged and challenged in new ways to continuously improve, grow and evolve their respective ministry areas within the various constraints and vision of the Lead Pastor.
Connection and unity between the staff will be brought together in part via a weekly (TBR) staff meeting that will include prayer, vision casting, and a discussion of various ministry related issues. An atmosphere of open communication and discussion will be encouraged in order to promote growth and unity.
General Expectations
• Maintain a high-level of integrity, honesty and character as a representative first and foremost of Jesus Christ, but secondly of Ascent Church, it’s ministries, and it’s leadership – attitude, actions and behaviors, whether on Ascent Church property or not, should reflect our devotion to and high calling in Jesus Christ
• Have and maintain a growing relationship with God, evidenced by daily habits of spending time with Him and His Word, active involvement in the church, healthy time with family, and a commitment to maintain healthy accountability relationships
• Support (setup / tear-down / serve) and attend ALL church-level activities unless previously excused – a key, albeit general, expectation for the Associate Pastor is to be an integral part of the church community.
• Live in the Stuart or immediately surrounding area.
• Maintain a high-level of integrity and submit to Ascent Church Lead Pastor leadership.
• Maintain an attitude of humility and a willingness to grow, receive direction and correction, as well as an ongoing desire and effort to continuously improve the ministries.
• As a senior level position, the general expectation is the Associate Pastor would work around 40+ hours per week, not including Sundays.
Specific Expectations and Responsibilities
• The Associate Pastor position will encompass a wide variety of responsibilities and will help to coordinate – at some level – all of the operations and ministries of Ascent Church, such that the Lead Pastor can focus on teaching, preaching and vision.
• Associate duties will include, but not be limited to, the following high-level areas:
o Staff / volunteer / ministerial oversight –
• Assist lead pastor in providing oversight of staff and volunteer leaders.
• Serve, in some cases, as liaison between the staff and the Lead Pastor, accurately and faithfully representing the interests and needs of one to the other.
• Oversee / help to manage existing ministry areas, including those led by staff, as well as those led by volunteers.
• Develop a staff handbook and implement and ensure compliance with the team
• Oversee / approve / manage staff vacation / travel plans
• Improve or implement new ministry areas as called upon by the Lead Pastor, including but not limited to the following
o Expansion of local and international missions / outreach
o Expansion of men’s ministry
o Administrative duties –
• Depending on the candidate, this role may include other administrative duties, including but not limited to: financial admin, coordination of various administrative duties.
o Other ministry –
• Develop, update, and maintain a variety of church materials – specifically, this will include membership training, staff handbook, volunteer handbook, and a variety of discipleship materials. In general, this will also include any other material that is required for our church.
• Premarital Counseling – the Associate Pastor will be required to become an approved Symbis Pre-Marital counseling facilitator and perform premarital counseling as required for all weddings at our church
• Weddings / Funerals – the Associate Pastor will be the default coordinator for weddings and funerals, with exceptions made by coordination with Lead Pastor.
• General Biblical Counseling – while there is no requirement to be licensed in any way as a counselor / therapist, the Associate Pastor will be responsible for a significant portion of the general Biblical counseling provided to members, including marriage counseling, general counsel, etc.
• Regular and / or special events – While events will be “managed” by other staff in many cases, ultimately all events, services, meetings, small groups, gatherings, and any other goings-on at or under the umbrella of Ascent Church will fall – at some level – under of the responsibility of the Associate Pastor.
• Pastoral Care – the Associate Pastor will, in general, be the primary individual responsible for all pastoral care duties, including hospital visits, home visits, etc.
• Preaching / Teaching – while the Lead Pastor will continue as the primary teacher at Ascent Church, the Associate Pastor will play a role in this area as well. Providing backup for the Lead Pastor for Sunday and / or Wednesday nights will be a part of this role.
o Facilities management –
• Oversee all general facilities operations (i.e. repeatable ops, such as cleaning, landscaping, etc.), as well as specific and finite facility projects (i.e. remodeling, improvement, etc.)
• Respond to facility emergencies as necessary
• Manage facilities administration including insurance for church property, equipment, and liability
• Oversee / manage church calendar
o Executing Lead Pastor’s vision – One of the challenges of this position is the execution of “someone else’s” vision; while the hope and goal is always to be of “one accord” as a leadership team, the Associate Pastor will, in many ways, be the executing arm of the Lead Pastor for operations and ministries at Ascent Church. This will require true humility and a humble, submissive and servant’s heart – especially if / when there is disagreement.
To inquire, please email [email protected].