Senior Pastor Full Time

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Senior Pastor serves as the spiritual leader, chief shepherd, and chairman of the Council of Elders of Houston Northwest Baptist Church. He is responsible for preaching the Word of God, equipping the saints, overseeing the ministries of the church, supervising staff, and leading the church to fulfill its biblical vision and mission. This role functions in accordance with Scripture, the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, and the church’s bylaws.

In consultation with the Human Resources team and the Council of Elders, the Senior Pastor makes decisions related to structure, calling/hiring, and dismissal of Pastoral and Ministerial Staff.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Seek the Lord faithfully, walking in prayer, humility, and grace.
• Faithfully preach and teach the Word of God, uphold sound doctrine, and shepherd the church by equipping its members for discipleship, faithful practice, and gospel-centered community.
• The Council of Elders, under the chairmanship of the Senior Pastor, will serve to uphold the theology, advance the vision and guard the unity of Houston Northwest.
• Serve as the leader of the pastoral and ministry staff, modeling servant leadership and accountability.
• Shepherd the congregation through pastoral care and counseling, administer the ordinances of the church, and lead in weddings, funerals, and other pastoral responsibilities.
• Oversee day-to-day operations of the church, provide leadership and supervision to staff in collaboration with the Council of Elders and HR Team, and participate in the process of hiring and dismissal.
• Work in collaboration with the Stewardship and Ministry Teams to ensure effective governance and accountability.
• Serve as the public representative of HNW at community events and denominational meetings.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Meets biblical qualifications for pastor/elder (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).
• Demonstrates godly character, spiritual maturity, humility, and devotion to prayer.
• Experienced preacher and teacher, capable of accurately communicating and teaching the Word of God.
• Demonstrated ability to cast vision, develop leaders, and shepherd a congregation.
• Holds to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 and embraces partnership through Southern Baptist cooperative ministry.
• 5–10 years of pastoral leadership experience preferred.
• Seminary training strongly preferred.