Snapshot

Weekly Attendance:  130

Location: Arcadia, MI

The Role: Senior Pastor

Meet Blaine Christian Church:

Blaine Christian Church has been a part of God’s heart and love for over 100 years.  This beautiful country church has grown to include worshipers from a wide surrounding area.  In 2008, we began worshiping in our new sanctuary.  The life and teachings of Jesus Christ are emphasized each Sunday. Small groups and full congregational gatherings enrich the fellowship and learning of those who have found Blaine to be a great church home.

God founded a small church in the rolling countryside of Benzie County in 1895 with a handful of committed Christians. Since then, we have proudly served our Lord and the community around us. All are invited to worship, study and attend any event at Blaine Christian Church.

Originally, this family was brought together to fulfill three primary purposes; the Great Commandments of Matthew 22:37-39 — to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves — and the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19 — to go and make Disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands. These are the three pillars of Blaine Christian Church and after 127 years, we are still faithfully serving in these same ministries.

About the Senior Pastor:

Blaine Christian Church is searching for a Senior Pastor who can engage other persons with empathy. This person will lead the congregation with his heart and mind rooted and grounded in scripture, being able to interpret and apply the scriptures in ways that are appropriate to original and contemporary contexts. It is the Senior Pastor’s responsibility to assess situations and relationships with the compassion of Christ, with sensitivity to culture and context and will convey the healing power of God to those who suffer. This person will also personally establish and maintain spiritual disciplines that lead to individual growth, and he will help others develop a rich spiritual life.

The Senior Pastor's Responsibilities Include: 

The responsibilities of the pastor shall be to perform the duties which usually pertain to that role in the church such as:

• Is an active regular member of Blaine Christian Church.

• Plans and leads effective worship, working with the congregation to fulfill the purpose God has given us and to develop a rich worship life. As the spiritual leader of the church, shows a continued interest in the spiritual and moral welfare of the church and the community and represents and leads the congregation in ecumenical ministries and ministries of the wider church.

• Provides pastoral care for the congregation, endeavoring to call on all members and potential members of the church as needed. Visits the ill in hospitals, nursing homes or at home, provides counseling when requested, and is available to those in crisis situations.

• Is an ex-officio member of all Functional, Standing, and Ad Hoc committees except the Pastoral Search and Pastor/Staff Relations Committees.

• The pastor is also an ex-officio member of the Boards of Elders, Diaconate, and Trustees.

• Works with the staff to help coordinate the work of the various officers and committees and assists in the performance of their functions.

• Encourages others to assume and carry out their roles as active members of the church.

• Makes quarterly reports to the Congregational Board.

• Is directly responsible for the actions and performance of any Associate Pastor(s), Office Manager, Pillar I, Pillar II, and Pillar III.

• Administers the staff per the recommendations of the Congregational Board and the Pastor/ Staff Relations Committee, annually reviews the staff's hours and salary, and makes recommendations to the Pastor/Staff Compensation Committee.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Pastor:

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of pastoral experience or in a similar role

• Seminary degree (required)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Able to proclaim the Word of God and share the Good News of Jesus Christ

• Knows the practice and theory of Christian preaching

• Able to lead in spiritual development of others

• Biblical Knowledge

• Able to help congregational members apply their faith to daily life

• Able to facilitate effective communication within and on behalf of the church

• Able to give empathetic pastoral care with sensitivity

• Ability to relate to others well

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Bible-centered

• Jesus-focused

• Adaptable / Flexible

• Meaningful change agent

• Generational appreciation

• Collaborative / Facilitator

• Ecumenical Appreciation

• Outgoing

• Available / Interested

• Good listener

• Visionary

• Missional / Community Impact

• Discipleship Focus

What it's Like to Live in Arcadia, MI: 

Arcadia is known for its rural atmosphere and recreational attraction. 

Main streets in the local villages fill up with visitors and summer residents during the warmer months. Nearby Crystal Mountain describes itself as the Midwest’s favorite golf, ski, and spa resort destination and draws many visitors to our area in the winter. 

Benzie County is a quaint community, having only one stoplight, and is experiencing recent growth. The area’s natural beauty and small-town charm are drawing people in as more than a vacation spot. The heart of the county is just a 40-minute drive away from nearby Traverse City and Manistee County, and it’s all near the famous beaches of Lake Michigan. Manistee County has 25 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline with 270 miles of rivers. 

The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in the northwest portion of the county and was named “the most beautiful place in America” by ABC-TV’s Good Morning America. Crystal Lake is the largest lake within the county at 9,711 acres. Platte River and Betsie River also run through the county. Benzie County has 57 inland lakes, rivers, forests, and areas of productive farmland. 

Arcadia is a lovely place to settle into a local community with an abundance of beautiful scenery to explore.

Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.