Interim Pastor

Position DescriptionPosition Description Overview of the Church and Neighbourhood Fairview Baptist Church Is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic church in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia.

We have been gathered and sent by Christ to build and make known the reign of God : to love God, neighbour and self. We believe that we have been called together as a community of faith to bring glory to God through worship, by caring for and encouraging others in love, by introducing people to a relationship with Jesus, by committing to the will of God in our lives and by serving those beyond ourselves.

Fairview has recently described its values (roughly) as : Being Together, Creating a Big Tent, Welcoming Others, Living out a Christ-centered Faith, Caring for and Serving Each Other, Worshiping Traditionally, and Prizing Freedom (Individuality).

The Church in the Current Season Fairview is a church of 35 active congregants and has been in transition since the last pastor’s departure in May .

The congregation has been shepherded by an interim pastor and a transitional leader / pastor, both half-time. During the transition the pastors and the church have attended to stability and issues of viability, spiritual formation, and discerning and envisioning the church’s next season.

Both pastors’ contracts finish at the end of June, and we seek to hire an Interim Pastor to continue stable pastoral ministry while the church completes a visioning process and prepares to search for a permanent pastor.

General Position Description for the Interim Pastor - 30 hours per week The Interim Pastor will work with the Church Council and the church to offer some preaching and leadership in the worship service, congregational care, and support for congregational life and leaders.

He or she will support the completion of the interim / transitional season in a way that fits with his or her gifts and with the process envisioned by Council.

We anticipate an interim term of 6-12 months, which can be discerned with the Church Council. The Interim Pastor reports to the Church Council via the Council Chair.

The congregation, Church Council, Ministry teams, and the pastoral staff will work together within an organizational structure consistent with Fairview Baptist Church’s constitution and by-laws.

The Council and Ministry teams will assist the Interim Pastor’s ministry, providing breadth and depth beyond what one person is able to offer.

Specific Areas of Responsibility Preaching and leadership at the Sunday morning worship service Oversight of the Sunday morning worship service Provide pastoral care to the congregation Provide coordination, leadership, and coaching for ministry team leaders Congregational communication and coordination, with an eye to administration Any other areas of responsibility as agreed upon with the Church Council Specific Activities Including the Following Meet regularly with the Council Chair Preach on average 3 out of 4 Sundays per month, seeking guest preaching for the remainder Cultivate spiritual formation through personal visits, small groups, or other types of gatherings Give direction for weekly worship to the worship leader for the coming Sunday Any other activities as agreed upon with the Church Council Additional Responsibilities for an additional 10 hours per week could Include one of the Following : Worship leading, if gifts / experience include worship design and instrumental / vocal leadership Vision leading, if gifts / experience include guiding a vision process and mobilizing for ministry The Church Council will be responsible for all other church governance and oversight but can include the Interim Pastor in conversation and consultation on such matters in an ex-officio, non-voting role.

Position Requirements Education MDiv or MA in Theology preferred, or equivalent experience If seeking an additional 10 hours per week in one of the areas of interest, training / experience in that area Character, Gifts, and Experience Christ-centered faith and approach to ministry Spiritually and emotionally mature Leadership and preaching gifts and experience Open to the values of the church (see Overview of the Church, above) Comfortable with a theologically and ideologically diverse congregation Able to engage healthily in interpersonal and congregational conflict If seeking an additional 10 hours per week in one of the areas of interest, training / experience in that area To Apply Please email your resume or CV and a cover letter to with the subject line Interim Pastor Application by May 26,