Snapshot

Denomination: Presbyterian - PCUSA

Weekly Attendance: 70

Location: South Boston, Virginia

The Role: The new Pastor will be a thoughtful and people-oriented teacher and leader to lead First Presbyterian Church into the future.

Meet First Presbyterian Church:

First Presbyterian Church was organized in 1842 in Halifax, Virginia. Moving to South Boston in 1877, the people dedicated to the glory of God the present sanctuary in 1887. Educational wings were added in 1921 and in the 1980s. Located now at 800 North Main Street, the building and ministry for God to community and world for over 175 years.

The present congregation is composed of a balance of long term resident families who join with newcomers to create a vital and life-changing ministry.

The families who make up First Presbyterian Church are a growing and world-changing ministry. Together with other churches, we work to share the good news of Jesus Christ today and tomorrow!

About the Pastor:

We are looking for a strong preacher, pastor, teacher, and visionary to lead us into the future. The new Pastor must be thoughtful, pastoral, and people-oriented. He or She must lead the way by being an inspiring and challenging preacher that is passionate about reaching young people and attracting new members. As a congregation, we look for preaching and teaching that provides the application to our daily lives and spiritually nourishing while being firmly rooted in the Bible. We would expect the new pastor to focus efforts on attracting and retaining new members, providing congregational care while fostering evangelism and outreach. In the first 12 months, we would look for increased/renewed vision for the church while the new pastor successfully assimilates into the church and local culture.

The Pastor Will: 

Worship Leader

• Preach and lead worship

• Administer the Celebration of the Sacraments

• Conduct weddings and funerals

Teacher

• Help promote Sunday School

• Lead and/or assist with small groups

• Offer classes for new/prospective members

Missions/Outreach

• Support in missions and service projects

• Foster strong connections within our church family

• Identify opportunities to expand the outreach of FPC in the community

Pastoral Care

• Provide spiritual care for the congregation and those in our midst

• Continue to develop his or her own spiritual life and growth through education

• Visit and administer communion for those that are ill or shut-in

Leader/Administrator

• Uphold expectations set by the Presbytery of the Peaks for a Solo Pastor

• Plan and moderate Session and congregational meetings

• Manage the staff at FPC

• Train newly elected officers

• Represent FPC when interacting with outside organizations

What you Bring: 

Education & Experience

• 2-5 years of related experience 
• Holds an M.Div 
• Ordained/Ordainable in the PCUSA 

Personal Characteristics

• Preaching and Worship Leadership: Is a consistently effective preacher and worship leader; is able to inspire from the pulpit; communicates a clear and consistent message through sermons that are carefully prepared and artfully delivered; projects the identity and character of the congregation through worship leadership presence.

• Spiritual Maturity: Shows strong personal depth and spiritual grounding; demonstrates integrity by walking the talk and by responding with the faithfulness of purpose; is seen by others as trustworthy and authentic; nurtures a rich spiritual life; seeks the wisdom and guidance of appropriate mentors; is able to articulate a clear and consistent theology.

• Public Communicator: Demonstrates comfortable ease when speaking in a variety of settings (both small and large groups); is effective at addressing a variety of topics; can get messages across with the desired effect.

• Organizational Agility: Is astute about how congregations and/or organizations work; knows how to get things done through formal and informal channels; understands the importance of supporting good policy, practice, and procedure; appreciates the power in the culture of a congregation; is politically savvy.

• Decision Making: Makes effective decisions, balancing analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; is aware of the long term implications of choices made; is generally regarded as offering solutions and suggestions that are correct and effective.

• Strategy and Vision: Sees ahead clearly, keeping focused on the larger picture; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; is future-oriented; casts a compelling and inspired vision for a preferred future; sees possibility; crafts breakthrough strategies.

• Collaboration: Has a natural orientation toward getting people to work together; shares wins and successes; fosters open dialogue; lets people finish and be responsible for their work; creates strong feelings of belonging among group members; is a good judge of talent and can accurately assess the strengths and limitations of others.

• Interpersonal Engagement: Displays a consistent ability to build solid relationships of trust and respect inside and outside of the organization; engage people, organizations, and partners in developing goals, executing plans, and delivering results; use negotiation skills and adaptability to encourage recognition of joint concerns, collaboration, and to influence the success of outcomes.

• Motivator: Creates and sustains an organizational culture that permits others to provide the quality of service essential to high performance. Enables others to acquire the tools and support they need to perform well, and influences others toward a spirit of service and meaningful contributions to mission accomplishment.

• Flexibility: Adapts behavior and work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, unexpected obstacles, or ambiguity; remains open to new ideas and approaches, and works concurrently on related and conflicting priorities without losing focus or attention.

What it's Like to Live in South Boston, Virginia: 

South Boston is a town located centrally on Virginia’s southern border in Halifax County. Living in South Boston offers residents a low cost of living with a suburban feel - most residents own their homes here. It is a town full of history, character, and charm as it was the first small city in Virginia to become a town. South Boston is also a place where no one remains a stranger for very long, where people work together for the common good, and where children can find good wholesome activities and parents can find community support for cherished family values.

It is a brief drive to other cities in Virginia like Roanoke and Lynchburg as well as cities in North Carolina like Durham and Raleigh. You’ll find a plethora of entertainment, restaurants, and other family-friendly activities in these surrounding areas. South Boston, Virginia is located in a little pocket that is also close to beaches, mountains, lakes. South Boston is a place close to many different types of family or individual recreational activities.  

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