Associate Pastor First Bible Church

Position Title:

Associate Pastor

Reports to:

Lead Pastor
Status:
Full-Time

Location:

First Central Bible Church – Chicopee, Massachusetts

First Central Bible Church exists to glorify God through making and maturing disciples of Jesus.

We are an elder‑led church with approximately 120 members and a growing commitment to Biblical teaching, gospel‑centered community, and personal evangelistic outreach. Located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, we are multi‑generational and focused on helping people live out faithful obedience to Christ in everyday life.

The Associate Pastor will serve as a key member of the pastoral team. He will help carry the shepherding and teaching load of the church. He should have previous church leadership experience and a strong teaching gift and thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced ministry environment.

He must meet the biblical qualifications for eldership and, if affirmed by the church, will serve as an elder alongside the Lead Pastor and elder team. Specific ministry responsibilities will be shaped around his unique strengths, with potential areas of oversight including discipleship, small groups, young adults, or next‑generation ministry. This is a strategic position that supports the overall vision of the church by developing people, deepening community, and strengthening biblical engagement.

• Share regular preaching and teaching responsibilities with the Lead Pastor, with a goal of preaching at least once per month and teaching in other settings as needed
• Serve as an elder, actively participating in the shepherding, oversight, and spiritual leadership of the body
• Provide leadership and direction to one or more ministry areas based on gifting (e.g., discipleship, small groups, young adults, or next gen)
• Equip and train volunteer leaders for ministry effectiveness
• Participate in pastoral care, counseling, and visitation as needed
• Collaborate with the Lead Pastor and elder team in vision alignment, ministry planning, and church‑wide initiatives
• Support and participate in church‑wide events, retreats, and seasonal programming

• A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ and a life marked by spiritual maturity and integrity
• Meets the biblical qualifications of an elder (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)
• Demonstrated gifting in teaching and communication, both publicly and interpersonally
• A minimum of 5 years of ministry experience in a local church setting
• Agreement with the church’s doctrinal statement and alignment with complementarian convictions regarding pastoral leadership
• Energetic, flexible, and eager to engage people across generations
• Humble, team‑oriented, and able to lead with both conviction and grace
• Master of Divinity (M.Div) or similar theological training preferred

Compensation includes salary and benefits and is commensurate with experience and education.