Discipleship Pastor

Purpose:

The Discipleship Pastor will fulfill his or her duties with excellence and ministry appropriateness, providing vision, leadership, and execution for First Christian Church’s discipleship strategy. This individual is responsible for developing, aligning, and advancing a clear and effective pathway for spiritual formation, from those exploring faith to those deeply committed to following Jesus.

This role is a vital part of the staff and leadership team, helping accomplish the mission of “Developing devoted followers of Jesus Christ by Growing and Serving Together.” The Discipleship Pastor will lead with intentionality, collaboration, and a heart to develop leaders and systems that foster life transformation.

A professional approach in speech, conduct, and leadership, along with a growing and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, is expected at all times.

Qualifications:

This role is a vital part of the staff and leadership team, helping accomplish the mission of “Developing devoted followers of Jesus Christ by Growing and Serving Together.” The Discipleship Pastor will lead with intentionality, collaboration, and a heart to develop leaders and systems that foster life transformation. The Discipleship Pastor should have the following qualifications:

·       A committed follower of Jesus Christ who supports the mission, values, and ministry of First Christian Church

·       Bachelor’s degree in ministry, theology, or related field (minimum)

·       Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and emotional maturity

·       Able to work collaboratively with pastors, staff, elders, admin team members, and volunteers in a faith-based environment

·       Ability to handle confidential information with discretion                 

·       A servant attitude and willingness to learn

·       A strong Biblical knowledge foundation       

·       A clear and growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior

·      Strong biblical foundation and theological alignment with First Christian Church’s Statement of Faith

·       Minimum of five years of vocational ministry experience

·       Proven ability to lead, develop, and multiply leaders

·       Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

·       Ability to collaborate effectively within a multi-staff team environment

He or she must be able to work in a multi-staff setting with other ministry professionals, maintaining interpersonal and relational skills. He or she must demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team to accomplish ministry goals. His or her beliefs should coincide with the First Christian Church Statement of Faith.

As a member of the congregation, it is expected this position will continue their professional and spiritual development through appropriate classes, bible studies, involvement in small group ministries, or other appropriate means.

Additional Skills:

In addition to the qualifications, experience or knowledge in the following areas is             beneficial:

·       Experience developing discipleship systems and pathways

·       Leadership development and volunteer mobilization

·       Adult ministry and spiritual formation environments

·       Teaching and content development

·       Event planning and ministry programming

·       Pastoral care and mentoring

Essential Job Functions:

Discipleship Strategy & Alignment

·      Provide leadership for First Christian Church’s overall discipleship strategy in partnership with executive leadership

·     Ensure alignment and effectiveness of the full discipleship pathway: Rooted → Groups → Mentoring

·       Oversee all “Grow Together” next steps, including classes, groups, and studies

·       Develop and implement systems for tracking engagement and spiritual growth

Groups, Mentoring & Leader Development

·       Serve as Small Groups Pastor, providing vision, coaching, and development for group leaders

·       Recruit, train, and multiply volunteer leaders across all discipleship environments

·       Lead the Mentoring Ministry alongside the Connections Director

·    Support and strengthen systems for group life, including series-based content and leader resources

Ministry Oversight

·     Oversee Men’s and Women’s Ministries, including vision, strategy, and leadership development

·       Provide leadership and support for Assisted Living Ministry in partnership with Community Missions leadership

·       Support alignment and collaboration across all adult discipleship environments

Rooted & Discipleship Environments

·       Serve as the primary champion and leader of Rooted

·       Ensure excellence in Rooted implementation, leader development, and participant experience

·       Maintain alignment between Rooted and ongoing discipleship next steps

Content & Systems

·       Assist in writing, editing, and curating discipleship and small group content

·       Oversee and manage discipleship pathways within church systems (e.g., Realm)

·       Help develop scalable systems that support growth and engagement

Church Engagement & Leadership Presence

·       Be present and engaged in “First Steps” classes as a key connection point

·       Serve as host in weekend environments (East & West Auditoriums as needed)

·       Contribute to the overall leadership, vision, and direction of the church

·       Partner with the Lead Pastor and Executive Pastor to accomplish church-wide goals

Additional Responsibilities

·      Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and vision of First Christian Church

Additional Information

This is a full-time position under the oversight of the Elders and Administrative Committee of First Christian Church and reports directly to the Executive Pastor. Adherence to Scripture as the guide for Christian life, conduct, and leadership is expected.