We are a medium-sized, growing, conservative evangelical church affiliated to the FIEC who meet in Horsforth, Northwest Leeds. We believe that the Bible is God's inspired and revealed word and the authority for doctrine within the church. It is God's revelation of all we need to know Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. There is, therefore, a strong emphasis on expository Bible teaching in the church and in the many activities that form part of it and radiate from it.
We are a Baptist church, but the congregation and membership are composed of people from a variety of Christian traditions and denominations, united by the Christ-centred, Bible-based teaching and evangelistic outlook of the church. We are concerned about the challenges of our culture and want to remain faithful to scripture as the revealed word of God. We are committed to evangelism and recognise that we need to equip the whole church to participate effectively in this work. We long to see everyone come to Christ, to grow in maturity in him and be equipped for a lifetime of service.
The staff team presently includes the Senior Pastor, two full time pastors with responsibility for church-planting and Training and Discipleship, a full time Youth and Children's worker, a fulltime administrator, and a part time pastoral worker. We also have an Ofsted Outstanding Preschool which is run by a team of 7 part-time staff.
We anticipate that both our current Pastor for Church planting and our current Pastor for Training and Discipleship will be leaving the team in summer 2025 - one to lead our first church plant elsewhere in the city of Leeds, the other to pastor another church.
We are therefore seeking to employ two full-time permanent pastors to join the team in September 2025.
For an initial conversation contact Wes Johnston (Senior Pastor) [email protected]
Principal Responsibilities (Job Description):
- Preaching on the Lord's Day, including service preparation and liaison with the Church Administrator and Music Ministry leader.
- Leading services and taking communion services as required.
- Leading a Home Group (Growth Group).
- Taking oversight for other significant areas of the church's ministry depending on personal gifting - e.g. music, growth groups, evangelism.
- Supporting the development of others for ministry - e.g. evangelism training, supervising trainees, preaching classes etc.
- Pastoral care for our members and attenders and others who come within the orbit of our ministry, working in conjunction with the pastoral team, elders, and deacons. This will on occasions include emergency pastoral situations.
- Leading other services and events on an ad hoc basis - e.g. members meetings, weddings, funerals, Christmas Day services, Holiday Bible Club etc.
- Involvement in planning and preparation within the church - e.g. Holiday Bible Club, Church planting etc
- Any other duties commensurate with the role, which may be required from time to time.
Support and supervision: You will work closely with the Senior Pastor and will also liaise closely with the deacons, pastoral team, and eldership. The personnel committee will support you in terms of salary, expenses, and contractual obligations. In an emergency another member of the pastoral team or an elder should always be contactable for advice and support.
Place of work: The church office is in our church building in Horsforth, and this will be your usual place of work. Other members of the pastoral team are based there. The church has multiple ministries within the church building throughout the week. Your work will involve pastoral visitation, attending Conferences and visiting and preaching in other fellowships, C.U.s etc.
Hours of work: Sunday is not only a day when you will be involved with preaching, but it is an opportunity to link pastorally with members and attenders. We have a diverse congregation. Amongst regular attenders and members there are many with busy high-pressured jobs or family commitments, who we can only really meet with on a Sunday. We also have significant numbers of irregular attenders/visitors with whom Sunday is the only point of contact. You will need to be at the building well before the start of morning and evening services and remain for some time after the services end. As Sunday is a working day for you it is essential to take another day through the week completely away from church activities as a "Sabbath rest". Given the nature of the role it is important that there is flexibility, but also protection from burnout. You will liaise with the Senior Pastor and Personnel Committee on the most appropriate work pattern at any particular period of the church's annual cycle (e.g. to ensure you have sufficient rest during our very busy pre-Christmas period).
Salary and review period: Your starting salary will be based on qualifications and experience. There is a 12-month probationary period with an appraisal after 6 months and 12 months and thereafter every 12 months. If at any time you feel you are struggling with the responsibilities of your role then you can speak to the Senior Pastor or a member of the personnel committee.
Annual leave: Annual leave is 25 days per annum, increasing by one day per annum, up to a maximum of thirty days. In addition, you will have statutory Bank Holidays or take time off in lieu if you have to work on these days.
Disclosure and Barring Service: As the post will involve you sometimes working with children and vulnerable adults you will have a DBS check with enhanced disclosure. An appointment cannot be confirmed until a suitable disclosure has been received.
Required Skills
Person Specification (skills, experience, knowledge and qualifications)
Essential:
- Christian in full agreement with the Church's rules and Basis of Faith.
- High integrity and trustworthiness with clear recognition of the need for confidentiality and sensitivity in relationships and communications.
- "Real world" work experience prior to entering pastoral ministry and/or significant time serving as a Pastor or Assistant Pastor.
- Good time management and the ability to achieve deadlines.
- Able to work on your own initiative, dealing with competing demands.
- Extensive experience of forward planning and organisation in either secular or Church roles.
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to recognise differing perspectives.
- Good communication skills (written and oral).
- Good understanding of safeguarding principles.
- Experience in pastoral care.
- Experienced and gifted preacher - including the ability to extemporaneously change pre-planned sermons as opportunities/challenges arise.
- Theological/Christian ministry qualification (experience in a pastoral/preaching role with mentoring from a mature experienced pastor may suffice).
- Have a clear sense of the great commission (Matthew Ch. 28 vs.19-20) and lead initiatives to expand the Church's vision to reach out into our community and beyond.
- Outgoing personality who enjoys meeting new people and building relationships with people inside and outside the church.
- Full Driving licence.
Desirable:
- Biblical counselling training.
- Experience in networking between churches - e.g. gospel partnerships, church planting networks.
- Multi-cultural experience.