Pastoral Resident

Position Overview

The Pastoral Residency is a full-time, two-year program designed to provide immersive, hands-on ministry experience and intentional leadership development to prepare emerging leaders for long-term pastoral ministry. This program offers a robust combination of theological training, missional engagement, practical application, and mentorship to prepare the resident for a lifetime of faithful pastoral ministry.

While the residency provides broad exposure to diverse facets of church ministry, there is a specific emphasis on preaching, teaching, leadership development, evangelism, and discipleship.  The residency is intended to be a formative season of growth, allowing the resident to refine their calling, deepen their spiritual maturity, and develop the competencies required to lead a local church effectively.

Key Objectives

1. Preaching and Teaching Development: Gain experience in sermon preparation and delivery, while receiving constructive feedback and mentorship to sharpen communication skills.
2. Leadership Growth: Learn to lead ministries, staff, and volunteers with vision, integrity, and strategic thinking.
3. Missional Outreach (Connect and Serve): Participate in missional outreach engaging the surrounding community by meeting needs and making friends with people who are not yet Christians. Learn to grow in this area and to help the church grow in a culture of missional outreach through modeling these activities and helping grow structures to facilitate them.
4. Evangelism and Discipleship: Develop a heart for relational evangelism that impacts every aspect of church life. Through intentional mentorship, the resident will grow in communicating the gospel to lost people in personal relationships and in their preaching and teaching ministry.
5. Pastoral Competency: Cultivate the heart and skills of a shepherd, providing care and guidance to individuals and groups. Participate in the full life of the church, including discipleship, administration, and worship planning.
6. Work and Worship: Learn to connect Sunday to Monday in worship and discipleship that help members of the congregation see the value of bringing Christ into where they live, work, and play.
7. Spiritual Formation: Foster a growing personal relationship with Christ, rooted in spiritual disciplines and accountability.

Core Responsibilities

1. Preaching and Teaching

• • Prepare and deliver sermons regularly for Sunday services, chapel service, or special events.
  • Teach in a variety of contexts, including adult Bible studies, small groups, youth ministries, or discipleship classes.
  • Collaborate with pastoral staff to develop sermon series and ensure alignment with the church’s mission and theology.
  • Participate in regular preaching workshops and receive feedback from mentors to refine content, delivery, and pastoral tone.

2. Leadership Development

• • Take on leadership roles in key ministry areas, such as small groups, outreach initiatives, or family ministries.
  • Assist in leading and training volunteer teams, providing vision and oversight for ministry activities.
  • Develop and implement strategies for ministry growth, innovation, and sustainability.
  • Learn to lead staff meetings, contribute to decision-making processes, and assist in shaping the church’s strategic vision.

3. Evangelism and Outreach

• • Work with pastoral staff to plan and implement community outreach events and initiatives that reflect the mission of the church.
  • Assist in equipping the congregation for personal evangelism through teaching, training, and modeling.
  • Develop creative and relational ways to engage the surrounding community with the gospel, building bridges to the church.
  • Participate in local and global mission efforts, gaining exposure to cross-cultural evangelism and ministry.
  • Collaborate with church leaders to create strategies for sustained community impact and effective follow-up with new believers.

4. Pastoral Care and Shepherding

• • Provide pastoral care, including hospital visits, counseling sessions, and crisis support.
  • Engage in relational ministry by discipling individuals and families within the congregation.
  • Participate in life events such as weddings, funerals, baptisms, and baby dedications, offering support and spiritual guidance.
  • Learn to navigate challenging pastoral situations with wisdom, empathy, and grace.

5. Ministry Collaboration and Church Operations

• • Work alongside the pastoral team to plan and execute church-wide events, outreach programs, and worship services.
  • Participate in the administrative functions of the church, including budgeting, resource planning, and ministry evaluations.
  • Gain insight into church governance, policies, and the integration of nonprofit and for-profit initiatives, where applicable.
  • Observe and engage in the long-term planning and implementation of the church’s vision and mission.

6. Personal and Spiritual Formation

• • Maintain a disciplined life of prayer, Scripture reading, and other spiritual practices to grow in Christlikeness.
  • Engage in regular mentorship meetings with the Senior Pastor or assigned mentor for personal, theological, and leadership development.
  • Participate in conferences, workshops, and continuing education opportunities as part of the residency.
  • Pursue humility, teachability, and a servant-hearted approach in all ministry endeavors.

Qualifications

• • A clear and affirmed calling to the pastoral ministry.
  • Completion of or active enrollment in a theological degree program (M.Div. preferred).
  • Strong biblical and theological foundation, with alignment to the church’s doctrinal beliefs.
  • Proven ability to communicate effectively in public speaking and interpersonal settings.
  • Demonstrated leadership ability and a willingness to grow in ministry competency.
  • A team-oriented mindset, with the ability to collaborate and adapt to various ministry contexts.
  • A teachable spirit, a strong work ethic, and a passion for the local church.

Program Structure

The residency program will include the following components:

1. Mentorship: Regular meetings with the Senior Pastor or assigned mentor to discuss ministry experiences, address challenges, and develop leadership skills.
2. Preaching Labs: Participation in preaching workshops with staff and mentors to refine sermon preparation and delivery.
3. Rotational Ministry Experience: Exposure to multiple ministry areas, including worship, discipleship, outreach, administration, and family ministry.
4. Leadership Practicum: Opportunities to lead ministry initiatives and staff/volunteer teams with increasing responsibility over time.
5. Evangelism and Outreach Training: Hands-on training and implementation of strategies for sharing the gospel and connecting with the community.
6. Evaluation and Feedback: Ongoing assessments to track growth, address challenges, and celebrate achievements throughout residency.

Expected Outcomes

By the conclusion of the program, the Pastoral Resident will:

1. Be equipped with the skills, experience, and confidence to step into a pastoral leadership role.
2. Have a refined theological and pastoral perspective, integrating biblical truth with practical ministry application.
3. Be prepared to preach and teach the Word of God effectively and faithfully.
4. Have cultivated the character and relational skills necessary to shepherd a congregation with care and wisdom.
5. Possess practical tools and strategies to lead evangelism and outreach efforts in a local church.
6. Have a clear understanding of their gifts, calling, and next steps in ministry.

This residency offers a unique opportunity for those with a heart for pastoral ministry to grow in their calling and leadership under the guidance of an experienced church team. It is designed to be both a learning experience and a ministry launchpad, preparing residents for a lifetime of faithful service in God’s Kingdom.