Senior Pastor Full Time

Senior Pastor Job Description

We are seeking a full-time senior pastor for our congregation with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a pastoral role. As aligned with Scripture and our church By-Laws, this position is only open to male applicants. The minimum education requirement is a seminary graduate, with a strong preference for a Master of Divinity (M.Div.). Vassar Road Baptist Church is a small Southern Baptist congregation located in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Our church holds firmly to a theologically conservative understanding of Scripture. We are committed to biblical authority, sound doctrine, and gospel-centered ministry. All candidates must affirm the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a minimum confessional standard. In addition, our pastor should hold to other historic, conservative Christian confessions and creeds, such as the Nicene Creed, which articulate essential truths of the faith. Candidates who do not align with a conservative theological framework need not apply.

In preparation for this job posting, we surveyed the congregation to identify the qualities most desired in a pastor and gathered demographic information to help clarify the needs of our body. The following is a summary of those findings:

Congregational Priorities:

• The most valued pastoral qualities are expository preaching, strong Bible teaching, and spiritual leadership.
• The congregation highly favors a pastor who functions as a Teacher/Equipper, followed by one gifted in evangelism and gospel proclamation.
• The most important leadership traits for the congregation were personal character, teaching and leadership abilities.
• A clear desire for someone with prior pastoral experience.
• A married pastor with a family is preferred, though not considered mandatory.

Church Demographics:

• The congregation is composed primarily of married, Caucasian adults, ranging in age from young adults to seniors.
• Most members are well-educated, many holding college or postgraduate degrees.
• Vocations vary, with strong representation in professional, educational, and managerial roles.
• A large portion of members have been Christians for over a decade, and are actively involved in weekly worship, Sunday School, and small group ministries.
• While families live at varying distances from the church, many are long-term residents with deep roots in the Poughkeepsie community. The average commute for our members is under 30 minutes.
   

A firm commitment to the authority of Scripture and full agreement with our confession of faith are essential prerequisites for this role.

For more information about our church, our congregation, and our community, please follow the link below.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VDOGD4l7VU20ppeiYAHYy5ediBXxBjTt?usp=drive_link

To apply, please submit your resume and any questions to: [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you.