Snapshot

Denomination: Non-Denominational

Weekly Attendance:  60

Location: Ithaca/Freeville, NY

The Role: Senior Pastor

Meet Covenant Love Community Church:

Welcome to Covenant Love Community Church. We are a community who follows Jesus and His Word, builds loving relationships, encourages one another in our faith and helps to influence the world around us.

CLC began as a church in 1969. “Love Inn” (the original name) was begun as a coffeehouse and resident program, a ministry directed primarily toward helping the young people of the late 60’s drug culture. Scott Ross, founder and first pastor of CLC, had a radio program on the CBN station then located in Ithaca. This unique program played rock music and used it as a vehicle to discuss the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One evening as Scott began sharing his thoughts he mentioned the need for a facility for young people to meet and share together. Peg Hardesty, a widow, had been listening to the Scott Ross Show when she was healed of arthritis as Scott prayed over the radio. Soon after that healing she offered her old dairy barn in Freeville to this newly developing ministry. The barn was over 100 years old and needed a lot of work. Young people began to arrive and started volunteering to convert it into a facility where meetings and events could be held. Many of those who helped gave their lives to Jesus.

The ministry has grown from those few believers into a mature church with many families and individuals influencing our area with the Word of God. The name of the church was changed to Covenant Love Community in 1982 to reflect our growth and development. Today CLC supports Willow Glen Christian School and Hardesty Hope House (a ministry to support single women).

About the Senior Pastor:

Covenant Love Community Church is seeking a Senior Pastor to serve with the Elders in overseeing the life and direction of the church. CLC is focusing on the future with an updated mission, a renewed vision, and spiritual leadership based in mutual submission whereby CLC’s resources and giftings can be utilized to build for God’s Kingdom on the earth today and toward the New Creation.

The Senior Pastor's Responsibilities Include: 

• Preaching and Teaching — He will be the primary preacher for Sunday worship services and will oversee educational programs for adults and children.

• Strategic Leadership and Planning — He will work as one of the Elders by strategizing, imparting vision, and recommending actions to be taken consistent with the church’s mission.

• Staff Supervision and Development — He will oversee church staff, enabling them to achieve strategic  goals with compassionate leadership.

• Volunteers Oversight — He will appoint and/or work with volunteers to  provide training for and coordination of the ministries of CLC.

• Pastoral Care — He will be the principal provider of pastoral care to the congregation, fostering a culture of faith, love, and service.

• Church Engagement — He will engage with members and embrace the culture of CLC.

• Local Community Participation — He will attend meetings of local pastors and cooperate with mutual initiatives to serve our area and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.

• Public Spokesperson — He will act as the principal spokesperson for CLC.

• Evangelism — He will work to equip CLC members to live the gospel and make it known to their neighbors.

What You Bring: 

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

Education & Experience

• 2+ years of ministry experience, required

• Undergraduate degree, preferred 

• Seminary degree, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Capable of teaching applicable sermons

• Brings the Word to life in teaching

• Technology / media savvy

• Ability to execute vision

• Leaves a strong impact on and attracts young families

• Willing to lovingly engage identity issues

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Visionary

• Counselor

• Equipper/Revitalizer

• Team player / collaborative leader

What it's Like to Live in Finger Lakes Region of New York State: 

Covenant Love Community Church is situated between the cities of Ithaca and Cortland, NY in a scenic rural setting. The area is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College, Tompkins-Cortland Community College and SUNY at Cortland, with a combined student population of over 44,000. Due to the close proximity of these institutes of higher education, the area boasts a wealth of cultural and social engagement opportunities. There are theaters, concerts, sporting events, breweries and wineries available nearby. The Greater Ithaca Art Trail (https://arttrail.com/) provides access to the studios of local artists. The region is also known for its natural beauty — tourists and locals enjoy the many state parks, rail trails, waterfront parks and nature centers year-round. Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant throughout Tompkins and Cortland Counties, including trails for walking, hiking and biking, waterways for kayaking and boating, a local ski resort and numerous gorges and waterfalls to explore. 

For more information about Ithaca, visit www.visitithaca.com/

CLC Church is located on NYS Route 13 in the Town of Dryden, which encompasses 94 square miles and is home to 13,500 residents. With a unique blend of housing, business, agriculture and recreation options, it is an area rich in history and promise. Dryden is a wonderful place to live, work, and play.

To learn more about Dryden, NY, visit https://dryden.ny.us/

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