Pastor Discipleship and Community Life : Forestgate Presbyterian Church

Pastor for Discipleship and Community Life

Job Description:

Forest gate Presbyterian Church

Position Summary

In general, the Pastor for Discipleship and Community Life (PDCL) is to help the Senior Pastor (SP)

and the Session of FPC in shepherding the flock toward accomplishing the church’s stated

purpose, with particular responsibilities to oversee Discipleship, Church Growth, Christian

Education, Fellowship, and Family/Individual Care.

The PDCL will work closely with the SP and Session in leading, evaluating, managing, and refining

these areas along with other activities as directed by the SP. In addition, he will work alongside the

rest of the staff to complete designated day-to-day activities of the church while participating in

long-range planning and program development.

This Pastoral position is anticipated to be an Assistant Pastor position, however, candidates with

appropriate experience and gifting may be considered for an Associate Pastor position.

The PDCL must be a passionate Christ-centered leader who is a student of God’s word and a

humble servant leader, as well as friendly and gentle towards those both within and outside the

church. He should be compassionate towards the weak and burdened, an attentive listener to all,

and a good mentor with a genuine pastoral heart. His personal actions and relationships must

reflect godly character based on Biblical standards, including being trustworthy, approachable,

and personable.

In the PDCL’s principal areas of responsibility, he is to work with and alongside existing Ministry

Teams, and when deemed necessary, to develop new ministries or programs that engage,

encourage, and equip FPC for its work of ministry (Eph 4:12 ) and its growth in conformity to the

FPC affirms the priesthood of all believers and our need of one another in the body of Christ. Each

member of the body has unique gifts and contributions as well as unique personalities. As a leader

in the church, the PDCL must be able to work well with others and also be able to unite those with

different gifts to accomplish common goals. He must also be able to encourage those who are

immature and teach those who are inexperienced so that the whole body might be built up in grace

and love. He must also be able to humbly deal with the ignorant and wayward.

The call to “grow together in Christ,” also defines the heart of the PDCL’s job to inspire unity,

encourage fellowship, and nurture spiritual maturity in the flock  all things, the PDCL

must demonstrate personal righteousness, faith, hope, and love for Christ and others.

Duties

The primary duties of the PDCL include, but are not limited to: discipleship ministries, community

groups, Christian education, visitor and new member assimilation, and visitation of those in need .

While these will take up the bulk of his weekly schedule, the PDCL should also devote regular time

to prayer and growing in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord. He is also expected to set aside

time to step back from routine daily tasks in order to view the overall ministry of the church and

subsequently provide suggestions for the staff and Session to improve and/or expand ministries to

meet the evolving needs of the church. He is encouraged to find individuals in the church with

whom he can work as fellow-workers in the gospel.

The PDCL will work alongside the various Ministry Teams that are focused on discipleship in the

church including:
Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Community Groups, and Christian

Education. While these teams work through their own volunteers, he will be a crucial part of

helping the teams know what the goals of FPC are in these areas and how critical their roles are in

fulfilling them. He will work in conjunction with the Assistant Pastor for Youth and Families, to

ensure that similar philosophies of discipleship exist between the youth programs and adult

programs.

Church

The PDCL will develop and implement a plan that takes people from being new visitors to FPC all

the way through membership and full participation and involvement in church ministries, even to

training for possible leadership positions at FPC to include the following:

1. New Christian/New Member…