About The Job

We all have a role in church life, but the pastor is the key individual in the life of the church, which requires an awareness and understanding of the needs of groups and individuals, and the activities that meet those needs. The pastor is the trained professional in the church and should have the knowledge and skills to guide and direct this critical aspect of church life.

The pastor aids Session in setting spiritual goals and objectives, and developing and executing spiritual strategies and plans. The pastor is solely responsible for administering sacraments and performing ceremonies.

As the church’s spiritual leader the pastor must provide personal care and comfort to church members and through church groups. As the chief administrator the pastor coordinates, supervises and engages church groups, such as the Board of Deacons and Session. The pastor is also responsible for the health, safety and well being of all within the church structure.

The pastor provides…

  • Theological foundations for worship, sacraments and Christian education.
  • Pastoral care through home and hospital visits, follow-up visits with church visitors and guests, and counseling as needed.
  • Administrative oversight for general church affairs, including committees, programs and building and grounds.
  • Professional involvement through participation Presbytery functions as needed, and the engagement and collaboration with community churches.

Skills required include, but are not limited too the Communication and interpersonal skills necessary to interact with church members, church leadership, visitors and the broader Ithaca/Gratiot County community with regard to spiritual and physical needs, matters of law and staff oversight, and outreach and mission programs. Education and experience requirements must be those ordinarily acquired by completion of a Masters of Divinity degree and demonstrate related and progressively more. A valid driver’s license is also required.

Skills

Specifically, Ithaca First is looking for candidate with the following skills and abilities:

Pastoral Care – Providing support to members and constituents as they wrestle with the events of their lives.

Preaching - Interpreting the biblical text to the contemporary situation; bringing it to bear in the congregation’s life and work.

Spiritual development - Providing personal spiritual care, resources, guidance, and leadership for persons seeking to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ.

Congregational Fellowship - Helping members and groups come together, know one another, have the opportunity to love and support one another, in response to God’s call upon their lives.

Involvement in Mission Beyond Local Church - Identifying specific projects or programs that enable persons and/or groups to support, study, and participate in the church’s worldwide mission.

Administrative Leadership - Overseeing the delivery of planned activities or services; encouraging and enabling volunteers and/or professional staff to accomplish their duties, achieve their goals, and develop their personal and professional gifts in response to God’s call upon their lives; evaluating the effectiveness of the programs.

Organizational Leadership and Development – Identifying strengths and weaknesses in an organization’s structure, culture, processes, capabilities; developing a strategic plan to increase effectiveness; working with staff or volunteers to implement systems that result in improvements in quality, timeliness, or efficiency of operations.

Strategic Planning – Working with the Session or organization to develop directional goals and activities that shape the future and relate to the church’s/organization’s fundamental decisions.

Community Service and Leadership – Leading in civic, interfaith activities related to issues impacting the community and the world.

Building Renovation/Property Development – Planning, budgeting, staffing, gaining acceptance for, and implementing significant renovation or real estate development projects.