Associate Pastor

Position Title: Associate Pastor

Position Status: Full-time, exempt

Description:
The Associate Pastor provides strategic and pastoral leadership that advances Bethel Church’s mission to be and make disciples who are centered on Jesus. This role provides leadership for congregational care and men’s discipleship, serves as a member of the preaching team, and equips leaders, strengthens ministry systems, and shepherds the church.
This position qualifies as ministerial employment and is intended to meet IRS requirements for a Minister’s Housing Allowance.

Qualifications:
Demonstrates a vibrant and growing relationship with Jesus Christ, characterized by spiritual maturity, biblical integrity, servant leadership, and healthy relationships.
Affirms Bethel Church’s mission, values, and Statement of Faith (Nicene Creed)
Proven ability to lead through vision, develop leaders, build healthy teams, and mobilize volunteers for ministry.
Demonstrated effectiveness in biblical preaching, teaching, and disciple-making.
Strong organizational, communication, strategic planning, and leadership skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with staff, Elders, Deacons, and volunteers.
Bachelor’s degree required; seminary education or equivalent ministry training preferred.
Five or more years of progressively responsible pastoral ministry experience preferred.
Bethel member or willing to become one within six months.

Preaching & Pastoral Leadership
Serve as a member of Bethel’s preaching team, faithfully teaching God’s Word.
Participate in the full range of pastoral ministry, including baptisms, weddings, funerals, communion, pastoral care, and pastoral on-call responsibilities.
Partner with the Senior Pastor and Executive Director to advance Bethel’s mission, vision, values, and ministry priorities.
Provide theological leadership and pastoral wisdom across ministry areas as needed.

Men’s Discipleship:
Provide vision and strategic leadership for Bethel’s ministry to men.
Develop discipleship pathways that help men grow as followers of Jesus through individual, small-group, and larger-group environments.
Recruit, coach, and develop leaders to create a sustainable leadership pipeline.
Expand existing ministry opportunities into a comprehensive men’s discipleship ministry.
Ensure curriculum, teaching, events, and resources align with Bethel’s theology, values, and discipleship philosophy.

Congregational Care
Lead Bethel’s philosophy and strategy for congregational care.
Oversee systems that ensure timely, compassionate, and biblically faithful responses to pastoral care needs.
Shepherd individuals and families through seasons of illness, crisis, grief, and spiritual need.
Coordinate weddings, funerals, hospital visitation, and other pastoral care ministries.
Develop and support the Congregational Care Deacon and volunteer care teams.
Foster a culture in which care is shared throughout the church rather than centralized in one pastor.
Partner with local ministries and community resources that support care and restoration.

Staff & Leadership Development
Contribute to the spiritual health and ministry effectiveness of the staff team.
Provide pastoral support and leadership development for staff and ministry leaders.
Help cultivate a healthy staff culture marked by discipleship, collaboration, and shared leadership.

This job description is not exhaustive, and additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed to support Bethel Church’s mission.
Bethel Church is an equal opportunity employer.