Bethesda Methodist Church - Pastor - Ohio

Bethesda Methodist Church (Bethesda, OH) – Pastor The Big Picture

Bethesda Methodist Church (Facebook page) is an independent Methodist church, following disaffiliation from the UMC in 2023, seeking a full-time Pastor who shares their vision for church growth and community outreach through solid biblical preaching, individual discipleship, revitalization strategies, and evangelism in the Bethesda community and surrounding communities. With the pending retirement of their current pastor, who has faithfully served part-time for 16 years, they are asking God to give them a pastor who loves Jesus, values people, faithfully teaches God’s holy Word, and has the desire and drive to lead the church toward greater spiritual health, discipleship, and community outreach beyond the church walls.

The church’s commitment to various local and worldwide missions must continue and be actively supported by the Pastor.

Sunday morning service averages 60–70 attendees and currently follows a traditional outline with pipe organ hymn singing, prayers, a children’s sermon, guest Christian singers during the summer months, and choir the remainder of the year. Sermons are relevant, practical, and biblically centered, with an opportunity to come to the altar for prayer and salvation during the last hymn. The church is willing to discuss adjusting the service outline.

Full time

• Develop and deliver weekly sermons, facilitate meaningful worship experiences, and conduct the weekly children’s sermon
• Actively build relationships with church members to disciple, biblically equip, support, and encourage them in their faith
• Serve and minister to individuals during times of crisis, offering spiritual and emotional support, and provide counseling to church members as needed
• Stay informed about the church’s mission efforts and provide advice and encouragement
• Be an active member of the church board and provide a monthly Pastor’s report
• Conduct baptisms, baby dedications, weddings, and funerals
• Visit shut-ins on a regular basis, manage calls to the church office, work with the secretary on the weekly bulletins, and make church announcements via the phone “All Call” service
• Be an active developer of community outreach and member training to help bring people in the community to Christ – including formation of Bible study programs (additional service and/or online), creation of youth programs in the church and community, and expansion of the church’s online service efforts

• Demonstrate a clear love for Jesus Christ with true biblical values, reflected in both personal life and ministry work
• Exemplify the biblical qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-10, Titus 1:5-16, and 1 Peter 5:1-2
• Preferably an ordained minister, with extra consideration for additional training/schooling
• Pastoral experience is preferred, but recent seminary graduates or those with limited experience who exhibit good pastoral qualities will not be overlooked
• Skills and ability to connect well with children, youth, and young families
• Demonstrated ability to articulate biblical theology in a clear, understandable, and applicable manner
• A faithful servant leader with strong leadership abilities, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and a collaborative team mindset

• Salary $65,000
• Parsonage with garage, located adjacent to the church, plus a paid utilities stipend
• Health insurance stipend
• 4 weeks’ vacation
• 1 week continuing education plus a $1,500/yr stipend
• Church-related mileage reimbursement

Bethesda is a rural community of approximately 1,200 in the rolling scenic hills of eastern Ohio – about 10 minutes south of Interstate 70, 30 minutes from the Wheeling, WV area, and 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, PA.