General Information
Job Title:
Senior Pastor
Job Description:
We are seeking a Senior Pastor who demonstrates a profound love of Jesus, as revealed in God’s Word. He is a person of prayerful dependence, grounded in scripture, committed to personal spiritual growth and convinced of the doctrines of the Reformed Faith.
WORSHIP LEADERSHIP
Directs weekly liturgy based on Scripture and the rich heritage of Reformed faith, making them accessible to believers and non- believers.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Preaches the gospel through expository messages with urgency and conviction, bringing it to bear on the changing needs of individuals, the community, and the world.
CONGREGATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
Develops fellowship, helping members to know, love, and support one another by coming alongside them and walking with them through life.
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Shares in members’ struggles and provides opportunities to reflect on beliefs, concerns, and doubts about the Christian faith. Provides direction and encouragement for growth and maturity.
TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY
Accepts an active role, interpreting and teaching the Scriptures, theological concepts, church history and current events. Provides instruction for the congregation and church leaders alike.
CONGREGATIONAL COMMUNICATION
Encourages two way communication that assists in problem solving and decision making. Elicits varying opinions and listens to opposing viewpoints.
Position Qualifications:
Position Qualifications
Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary Ordained minister acceptable to the Presbyterian Church in America
Commitment to Reformed theology
Minimum of 5 years ministry experience
TO PURSUE THIS OPPORTUNITY
Email a cover letter, resume, and Ministerial Data Form to the search committee at cornerstone.senior.pastor@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
PLEASE INCLUDE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS IN YOUR COVER LETTER
1. Why are you interested in this position? What about Cornerstone intrigues you?
2. How would you summarize your understanding of a gospel-centered approach to life and ministry?
3. What experiences have you had that make you a good candidate for this position?
Application Deadline
Job Type:
Full Time
Salary Range:
$55k-$70k
General Information
Church/Organization Name
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
Contact Name & Contact Info
Industry
Church
Denomination
Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
City, State
Center Valley, PA
Description of Organization
CHURCH HISTORY
Cornerstone began with prayer through the work of the Spirit. In 1998 four couples began praying on a weekly basis to plant a gospel-centered church that brought glory to Jesus and challenged Christians to live out their faith. By the grace of God Cornerstone held its first public worship service in April 2001 led by our first Senior Pastor, John Kinyon. Since then, we have rented space from 3 different religious institutions in the community and have led worship in 6 different locations. We purchased our current building in October 2010.
We planted West Valley PCA in Emmaus, PA in 2008 and assisted in the planting of Bridge Community Church in Easton, PA in 2012. In 2016 our founding pastor was called to plant another church in North Carolina, and we welcomed Doug Tharp as our new Senior Pastor. Doug has faithfully led the church for the last six years, developing the philosophy of ministry, and strengthening the community at Cornerstone. He has now received a new call to pastor a church in Dallas, Texas.
In the last 21 years, Cornerstone has given over $800,000 to mission and mercy projects both inside and outside the valley. Prior to COVID, our congregation grew to about 280 people across two services. Currently, we are averaging just under 200 people per week in a single service.
VISION
We envision Cornerstone Presbyterian Church to be an equipping and worshipping community of believers devoted to moving people towards Christ as we are compelled by grace to proclaim the gospel in word and deed in every aspect of our lives.
VALUES
Devoted to Worship - Corporate, personal, Biblical, theocentric, with intentional gospel liturgy.
Devoted to Grace - Compelled by grace out of an understanding of identity in Christ to fulfill the Great Commission, loving God and others.
Devoted to Community - Live out the “one anothers” in corporate worship, community groups, leadership teams, as people are equipped to do the work of ministry.
Devoted to Mission - Equipping people to understand and share their faith, engage their local communities, and do outreach and mercy ministry in word and deed.
TARGET
Discipleship - Everything at Cornerstone should move people toward Jesus. Values - Everything in our church should seek to align with all four of our values.
Strategies - Strategies for ministry areas provide guidelines and structure for planning and decision making.
Tactics - All leadership teams and ministries at Cornerstone develop specific goals to help them achieve the vision.
SHEPHERDING STRATEGY
The Cornerstone session desires to see every member and regular attender cared for and connected as they participate in the shepherding plan. The session defines shepherding as the guarding, guiding, and growing God’s people to follow the Chief Shepherd through the Cornerstone shepherding plan.
Community groups as the primary vehicle for shepherding.
Men’s and Women’s ministries will also be engaged with the shepherding strategy.
The deacons will serve alongside the elders with the shepherding plan. Community group leaders are cared for and trained by the session.
A follow-up process is in place to provide direct contact with those who are not in our primary shepherding vehicles by individual elders four times a year.
MINISTRY TEAMS
As Cornerstone has grown both in membership and in staff and volunteer positions, additional structures have been created to enable continued growth and avoid overwhelming any single individual. This structure enables the elders to focus on their main role of shepherding, and importantly, helps fulfill the mission of the church as Ephesians 4 calls the leadership to equip the saints to do the work of ministry.
A helpful structure needs to allow both for the creativity and use of giftings within a ministry team while at the same time having the oversight, accountability, encouragement and prayer of the session to ensure alignment with the overall ministry plan. As additional staff are added, direct ministry oversight continues to shift away from individual elders though equipping and accountability to lay-leaders under the oversight of the session.
Ministry Team Principles
A team has the authority and the responsibility for that area.
The Ministry Team must operate within the vision, mission, values and strategy of the church.
Ministry Team planning and reports should include both goals, tactics and evaluation regularly. Goals should include 1-3 ways the ministry team is seeking to grow or increase ministry that connects directly to the ministry plan.
CHURCH MEMBERS AND BUDGET
2022 Members: 202 members 2023 Budget: $490,000
STRENGTHS
Desire to grow in knowledge of God, His Word, and unity with His Son.
Grace within the body.
Clarity and consistency in vision for the church.
High percentage of members and regular attenders are part of a community group.
Warm and welcoming atmosphere.
People from lots of different denominational backgrounds, from Catholic to Pentecostal.
Broad range of demography with lots of young families. Established Men’s and Women’s ministries. Gospel-focused worship.
CHALENGES
Wide geographic reach impedes organic fellowship.
Training for small group and ministry leaders.
Need for a permanent worship leader.
Need to heal from hard challenges over the last several years. Lack of volunteers, particularly in certain areas such as youth ministry.
Physical facility – limited space especially classroom space.