What are the responsibilities and job description for the Pastor at Ligonier Alliance Church position at The Christian and Missionary Alliance - U.S. Church Ministries?
Ligonier Alliance Church took its present form in 1985, when two Christian & Missionary Alliance congregations — Reed's Community Church and Hillsview — united and completed a church building raised over five years by the hands of its own members. Its Alliance roots in the valley run deeper still: both congregations were served, for decades, by one pastor, Rev. L. C. McDonnell, whose ministry among this people has spanned 66 years. Forty years united and far longer in spirit, it remains a close, faithful, family-like congregation.
About 40 people gather each week. This is a church that knows itself well: it names faithfulness, the steady preaching of the Word, unity, and a warm welcome as its strengths — and it is honest about a membership that has grown older and longs to reach youth and young families in its next season.
The congregation is praying for a new pastor as Rev. L. C. McDonnell retires after 66 years of ministry among them. What follows is the church's own profile — its history, its people, its convictions, its facilities, and the door it senses God opening — prepared prayerfully by the board.
QUICK FACTS
- ALLIANCE ROOTS - c. 1960s · Reed's & Hillsview
- CHURCH UNITED - 1985
- AFFILIATION - C&MA · WPA District
- LOCATION - Ligonier, PA
- CONGREGATION ~40
- WORSHIP ATTENDANCE ~58–64
- POSITION OPEN - Pastor
- PREVIOUS PASTOR - Rev. L. C. McDonnell (66 yrs)
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats
STRENGTHS
- Faithfulness
- Preaching the Word
- Unity in the church
- A welcoming, family atmosphere
WEAKNESSES
- Outreach
- Little visitation
- Few young people
OPPORTUNITIES
- Starting a youth ministry
- Building up staffing — ushers, nursery
- Community outreach
THREATS
- Decline in attendance
- An aging congregation
Achieve · Preserve · Avoid
ACHIEVE
- Growth in attendance
- Caring for those in need
- Reaching the community
PRESERVE
- Holding firmly to the Word of God
- Communion
- Giving to missions
AVOID
- Staying the same
- Radical, disruptive change
Our worship service & preaching
A typical Sunday begins at 10:45, built around traditional hymns and a roughly 30-minute sermon that relates the Scriptures to the needs of the people. Communion is observed on the first Sunday of each month, and services close with an altar call. Recent sermons have included the Prodigal Son, a Father's Day message, “The Good Soldier,” a Mother's Day message from Proverbs, and “A Strange Fishing Journey.”
Preferences, convictions & absolutes
PREFERENCES
- Casual dress
- Traditional hymns
- Open to praise & worship songs
- Fellowship
CONVICTIONS
- Preaching God's Word
- Openness to various translations — NLT, KJV, NIV, Living Bible
ABSOLUTES
- Preaching God's Word
- Music in worship
- Marriage between a man and a woman
- Communion
- Baptism
Discipleship & ministry involvement
The church nurtures growth through Sunday school, Sunday worship, and a Wednesday night service, with roughly 25–30% of adults actively involved in ministry. Current ministries include Junior Church, preaching, and Sunday School.
Elders, board & the pastor
Shared leadership works through a mutual relationship — the board and pastor sharing input and ideas together.
Outreach
How we connect with our community — honestly told.
The congregation is candid here: formal evangelism and outreach programs are limited at present. It is an area the church has named plainly — both as a weakness and as an opportunity — and one it hopes its next pastor will help it grow into, beginning with youth and young families.
Visitor patterns
WHY VISITORS COME
- They know someone who attends
WHY VISITORS RETURN
- They feel welcome
WHY PEOPLE STOP ATTENDING
- A lack of ministry for children
Property & Facilities
A member-built church well maintained and fully accessible.
The church building Built by the congregation in 1985, the church has a 2,880 sq. ft. sanctuary seating 200, with a fellowship hall seating 100, seven classrooms, and office space. There is ample parking on a recently sealed lot. Recent improvements include new air conditioning, a new water pump, and new LED lighting. The building is 100% handicap accessible and equipped with video surveillance.
Parsonage & property
The church has no parsonage.
Attitude Toward Change
An honest read on where the church really is.
Taken together with the congregation's own hopes, this reads as a church open to thoughtful, faithful change — its leadership a step ahead of the pews, and both moving in the same direction. They long to grow, to reach their community, and to become a younger congregation; they name staying the same as something to avoid — while remaining wary of change that is radical or disruptive. The door is open to a pastor who will lead change gently and lead it well.
Conflict over the last five years
The board reports no significant conflicts in the past five years.
Pastoral Expectations
The pastor we are praying toward, and how we hope he'll invest his time.
Previous pastor -
Rev. L. C. McDonnell served this people for 66 years — shepherding the predecessor congregations of Reed's Community Church and Hillsview, and then the united Ligonier Alliance Church — and is now retiring. His is a remarkable tenure that has shaped the church's life for generations.
Ranked from 1 (most time) to 9 (least time).
- Preaching
- Shepherding (caring for the congregation)
- Evangelism
- Disciple-making
- Prayer and Bible study
- World missions
- Counseling
- Lay-leadership development
- Administration (church business)
Personality & style
- Outgoing
- A good leader
- Loving & caring
- Willing to listen
Experience desired
The church is open on experience — even to someone right out of seminary — and ultimately open to whomever God calls. Above all, they hope for a pastor who will faithfully guard and uphold the congregation's spiritual beliefs.
Pastoral compensation framework
The church offers an acceptable salary, health care, and retirement. While the leadership understands their next pastor is unlikely to serve for 66 years, they are hoping for someone who would stay seven years or more.
Specific compensation details will be discussed in the interview process and follow District guidelines.
Assessment of Pastoral Leadership Needs
The three things that matter most.
Top three natural talents we most desire
- Preaching the Word
- Vision to grow the church
- Counseling
The pastor our congregation is praying for
A pastor marked by dedication to preaching God's Word — a strong, compassionate leader.
The opportunity before our next pastor
To become part of a loving church family, and to continue doing God's will and fulfilling the Great Commission among a faithful people ready to grow.
As We Seek God's Direction
Thank you for taking the time to read through our profile, and for prayerfully considering whether God may be calling you to serve among us. What you have read is our honest picture — a faithful, tight-knit church, proud of the Word preached in its midst, and longing to grow younger and reach its valley. We are seeking the Lord's direction in this season, and we are praying — as we hope you will pray with us — that He would make His path clear for our church and for the pastor He has prepared.
To be considered for this position, please complete the application to include your testimony, resume and other background information related to the position.
If the district office has reviewed your application and they think you may be a potential match for the position, that the hiring manager will reach out to you for next steps.
This position requires licensing with The Christian & Missionary Alliance. To learn more about The Alliance and requirements for licensing, please visit our website
Please do not contact the church directly.