Associate Pastor Emmanuel Reformed Church: Worship God - Engage - Jesus

Emmanuel Reformed Church is seeking an Associate Pastor who is called to Christ-centered ministry and eager to grow, lead, and serve within a healthy and supportive church environment. This role is designed to be both a meaningful pastoral position and a developmental pathway—an ideal opportunity for a man or woman to actively use their gifts while continuing to be mentored and equipped for long-term ministry leadership.

The Associate Pastor will serve alongside the Senior Pastor, elders, and deacons to help shepherd the congregation, strengthen discipleship, and advance the mission of ERC. This role includes real responsibility from the start, with increasing leadership opportunities over time, including the potential to grow into a senior pastoral role. It will be shaped around the candidate’s gifting (e.g., discipleship, music, family ministry, teaching, outreach, or other strengths) in conjunction with the needs of the church.

Working in close partnership with the Senior Pastor and church leadership, the Associate Pastor will:

• Support the overall mission and vision – Help align all ministries and activities with our calling to Worship God, Engage People, and Follow Jesus.
• Provide pastoral care and shepherding – Offer biblical wisdom, prayer, crisis support, visitation, weddings, funerals, and relational discipleship to individuals and families.
• Teach and preach regularly – Participate in weekend services, midweek gatherings, Encounter Groups (small-group Bible studies), classes, and other teaching settings (frequency shaped by gifting and church needs).
• Develop and oversee ministries – Take lead or co-lead responsibility for key areas such as discipleship, Encounter Groups, family/youth engagement, or other ministries as determined collaboratively. This includes equipping and coaching volunteer leaders and ministry teams.
• Foster spiritual growth and community – Champion discipleship pathways, new believer follow-up, and multi-generational connection so that people are nurtured, equipped, and sent out as followers of Jesus.
• Participate in outreach and community engagement – Join and help lead outreach, missions, and local service efforts, so that the ministry of ERC reaches beyond our walls.
• Contribute to healthy staff and elder team life – Attend staff and leadership meetings, model humility and collaboration, and pursue ongoing personal, theological, and leadership development.
• Other duties as assigned – In a church that values flexibility and teamwork, you will support worship, events, administration, or emerging opportunities that match your gifts.

This role is intentionally designed to invest in the Associate Pastor’s long-term growth. Opportunities include:

• Regular mentoring and coaching from senior leadership
• Intentional development in preaching, leadership, and vision casting
• Increasing responsibility over time based on gifting and readiness
• A potential pathway toward senior pastoral leadership

• Spiritual & Theological
• • A clear testimony of faith in Jesus Christ
  • Agreement with the theology of the RCA as outlined in the Standards of Faith
  • Meet the biblical qualifications for church leadership
  • Demonstrate spiritual maturity, humility, and a teachable spirit
  • Committed to personal spiritual disciplines
• Skills & Gifting
• • Ability to teach and communicate Scripture effectively
  • Awareness of personal spiritual gifts and desire to use them
  • Strong relational intelligence and developing leadership skills
  • Organized, adaptable, and team-oriented
  • Musical ability and experience in leading worship (preferred but not required)
  • Passion for and experience in youth ministry (great plus but not required)
• Experience & Education
• • An established pattern of significant engagement in church-based ministry
  • A bachelor’s degree with significant biblical/theological training is the starting point, with a Master of Divinity degree being ideal.
  • Seeking a pathway which will lead to ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament within the Reformed Church in America

• Salary commensurate with role readiness
• Housing and Benefits included