Covenant Pastor for Congregational Life–First Presbyterian Church–Richmond, VA

First Presbyterian Church is a vibrant Christian community located in Richmond, Virginia where all are welcome. The mission of First Presbyterian Church is to inspire faith in Jesus Christ, nurture disciples of Jesus Christ, and to serve the world God loves to the glory of God. In our life together, we seek to be grounded, growing and generous followers of Jesus. We are committed to respecting one another and are strengthened and inspired through worship, study, fellowship, prayer, and service.

Congregational Life describes both the dynamic nature of the ministry and mission of the congregation as well as the ways the church seeks to support FPC members in their daily lives. This area of church life includes pastoral care, activities that engage all members of the congregation, and the membership process. Pastoral care is provided by all pastors as well as active deacons through the Neighbors at First program. Congregation-wide activities include regular programs such as the Sunday’s Cool Café on Sunday mornings September – May and post-worship dinner on Sunday evenings September – May; events such as the annual meeting in late January, retreats, lecture series, and concerts; and fellowship events such as the parking lot lunch on World Communion Sunday. The membership process describes the various phases for those who choose to formally affiliate with the church, from the discernment stage to Discover First classes, to reception by the Session, to becoming an active and engaged member.

The Covenant Pastor for Congregational Life will work with the Congregational Life Council and the Board of Deacons to set the vision and strategy for congregational life, including systematizing and overseeing pastoral care; planning and implementing congregational events; and designing a membership process that engages potential members, those interested in joining, and new members in the life of the church.

We are currently in a phase of discernment and reorganization of our pastoral care, membership, and fellowship ministries, and for this role we are seeking a Spirit-led, compassionate, creative individual with the ability to envision possibilities and design effective and sustainable systems that utilize the gifts and abilities of both staff and members.

This may be a full-time (45-50 hours per week) or, for a candidate desiring increased flexibility, a three-quarter-time (35-40 hours per week), ordained (or ordination-eligible) position, subject to the Presbytery of the James guidelines for Covenant Pastor 2 role, which is a 12-month agreement governed by minimum compensation guidelines of the presbytery and optional benefits. The 12-month covenant may be renewed annually or, with Presbytery and congregational approval, become eligible for an installed associate pastor position. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

For more information FPC Covenant Pastor Cong Life