| Position: Pastor (Head of Staff) |
Experience
Required/Desired: Desired |
| Specific Title: |
| Employment
Status: Full-time |
Experience
Level: 6 years or
more |
| Language
Requirements: English
|
Brief
Church Mission Statement:
We are a caring, serving church & school community living humbly
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
In response to God’s grace, our mission is to deepen our relationship
with God, share our faith in Jesus Christ, & serve others as inspired
by the Holy Spirit.
We are called to love; to share our faith; to serve others; to seek
justice; to joyfully celebrate God’s gifts of grace; to grow & to
become an increasingly diverse congregation; & to be good stewards of
our time, talent, facilities, & money.
We are responding to our call through:
Worship: Gathering as the community of faith to give
glory to God through Word, sacrament, song, & prayer.
Education: Growing in knowledge & understanding
of God through study at church, school, & in our homes.
Outreach: Serving God by sharing ourselves & our
blessings through ministries of compassion & grace.
Fellowship: Nurturing & celebrating personal
relationships that bind us together in Christian love.
Administration: Tending the needs of all our
ministries by providing active leadership in balancing the full
utilization of staff, volunteers, programs, & facilities.
With hope & excitement, our vision is to proclaim God’s vision of a
reconciled humanity in Christ through word & deed; to nurture &
equip all our members, especially our children & youth, to be faithful
disciples of Christ; & to celebrate our life in Christ so that our
blessings from God become a blessing to the world. |
Brief description of the church/organization's
programs or accomplishments:
We are a caring and welcoming church, established in 1954, with five
buildings on 7½ acres in North Atlanta. We are led by strong clergy and
program staff and offer traditional and informal worship for almost 600
members.
Our congregation is involved in a variety of outreach programs: from
children donating money for the House of Moses in Zambia, to youth feeding
the homeless, to adult members volunteering at the Community Action
Center, we believe in sharing our blessings. One outstanding
accomplishment is Los Niños Primero, a nationally recognized
educational program for at-risk Latino preschoolers in Sandy Springs. This
three-week summer program began in 2001 now serves 110 children.
Another important ministry is Mt. Vernon Presbyterian School, with 850
students age 3 through 12th grade http://www.mvpschool.com/. The church
and accredited school share facilities, two non-clergy staff, and a
commitment to meeting academic and spiritual needs of children and young
people. School students and neighbors are always invited to church
activities such as Ark in the Park and VBS.
In the absence of a senior pastor, our leadership remains strong. In
the summer of 2007, our session undertook the Natural Church Development
program. Strengths include gift-based ministries, loving and caring
relationships, and holistic small groups. We yearn for an inspiring
worship experience led by a dynamic preacher who will lead us on our
spiritual journey. |
Gifts,
Skills and Experiences the congregation possesses to fulfill its mission:
At MVPC we are “Blessed to be a Blessing.” Our congregation has
many gifts & skills that assist us in responding to this
calling:
Foremost is the leadership of our creative program staff consisting
of, among others, two Associate Pastors & the Directors of Ministry to
Youth & Children. See http://www.mvpchurch.org/, About Us,
Staff.
The lay leadership at MVPC is also a blessing. The church is governed
by one body; the session, which consists of 24 elders who lead the
church’s 13 ministry teams. The congregation draws on the experience of
its professionals, business executives & entrepreneurs as well as a
large number of retired seniors. Our talents range from music, art,
athletics, to drama & more; all used for the glory of God!
Our congregation met the challenge of an anonymous donor who offered
to match donations of the congregation to the MVP Foundation. Today this
growing endowment helps fund programs to support & expand the church’s
ministry beyond what is possible through its annual budget. Like Los
Niños Primero, MVP Foundation has earned 501©(3) status.
The willingness of the members to serve & be involved is
illustrated in our passion for outreach, children’s ministry, youth
programs, hospitality & fellowship, Stephen Ministry, small groups,
choirs, & Bible study.
MVPC is a caring, friendly congregation that daily seeks to carry out
the commandment of Jesus to love God, one another & our neighbors.
|
Key
theological issues of the church and society that are reflected in the
ministry of the congregation/organization:
Mt. Vernon faces the challenges confronted by all Christians who strive
to live righteously in an affluent community facing rapid demographic
change.
We seek to deepen our relationship with God. Confident in our
redemption through grace, we work to strengthen our faith through
inspiring and relevant worship, study and prayer. By teaching and example
we give our children and youth a strong foundation. We are called to share
the Gospel and live our faith as we respect diversity in theology.
Recognizing that everything is a gift from God, we foster stewardship of
our gifts, time, and resources.
We seek to be visible disciples as we serve. A strong outreach program
is the heritage of this church. We know that we are all children of God,
but we wrestle with issues of justice and inclusion. As we help Latino
children prepare for English-speaking school, should we exclude them if
their parents are here illegally? As we support an orphanage and school in
Zambia, how do we provide for the homeless, hungry, and outcast close to
home? We pray for peace, recognizing that we cannot find peace without the
Holy Spirit.
Accepting God’s love enables us to love others. Living our faith, our
nurturing congregation forms the strong core that sends ripples out into
the community and the world. The stronger the center, our relationship
with God, the more powerful our impact will be beyond our
walls. |
References:
| Name |
Address |
Phone Numbers |
Relation |
Email |
| Rev. Dr. Edwin W. Albright, Jr. |
1024 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 |
(404) 898-0711 |
Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk, Presbytery o |
ealbright@presbyteryofgreateratlanta.org |
| Mrs. Caroline V. Dennis |
321 Madison Rd, Monticello, GA 31064 |
(706) 468-6396 |
Former Member and Senior at Columbia Theological S |
cvdennis@hotmail.com |
| Rev. Dr. Eugene T. ("Gene") Locke |
Northside Hospital, 1000 Johnson Ferry Rd, Chaplaincy Dept,
Atlanta, GA 30342 |
(404) 851-8752 |
Seminar/Retreat Leader |
gene.locke@northside.com | |
Position Description
A.
Major Responsibilities:
The Pastor at MVPC is responsible for all aspects of programs for the
church. The Pastor is the primary preacher of the Word and administers the
Sacraments at both worship services. All program and administrative staff
report either directly or indirectly to the Pastor. Overseeing pastoral
care, especially in a crisis, is an essential function of the Pastor, as
is counseling of members. The Pastor is a teacher who conducts officer
training, Bible study, small groups, occasionally Church School classes,
and participates actively in new member orientation. Along with other
members of the program staff, the Pastor develops comprehensive and
inspiring programs of fellowship, nurture and worship, and participates by
a visible presence in church activities. The Pastor serves as Moderator of
the Session and as resource to the Stewardship, Finance/Administration,
Property, Strategic Planning, Outreach, and Worship ministry teams. We
encourage the Pastor to participate in the larger church and community. A
unique role of the Pastor is to function as Ex-Officio member of the Board
of Trustees of Mt Vernon Presbyterian School and its Executive Committee.
The bylaws of MVPS state that: “It is important that the Head of School,
the Pastor, and the Chair of the Board [of Trustees] work cooperatively to
ensure the continued well-being of the Mount Vernon [church and school]
community.” Occasionally, the Pastor addresses student chapel
services.
B. Characteristics and qualifications
needed
The person to be the new Pastor at MVPC will demonstrate his or her
faith in God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, be infused in the
Reformed tradition, and lead the church in growth. This person will be
gifted as a preacher and communicator to relate to the membership, to
persons our outreach ministry is seeking to help, and to people who are
looking for a new church home. In addition, skills as a leader/manager of
our program and administrative staffs will be necessary, as well as the
ability to motivate the volunteers who keep the ministries of MVPC vibrant
and ongoing. A new Pastor who is personable, compassionate, and has a
sense of humor will feel at home in our church. It is important that the
Pastor balance personal life with church responsibilities. As outreach
ministry is vital to MVPC, the ability to encourage this aspect of our
Christian lives is essential. MVP School is a significant ministry for our
church and an interest in children and their education will be of critical
importance. The new Pastor will be able to create, develop, and nurture
programs for the church and will inspire members of all ages to grow in
their faith and find new ways to relate to one another, witness to others,
and serve God.
|
| Primary Skill Choices: |
Required:
Administration of
Programs
Corporate Worship / Sacraments
Preaching
Spiritual
Development
|
Desired:
Communication (Written /
Oral)
Community Ministries
Congregational
Fellowship
Pastoral Care
Stewardship and Commitment
Program
Teaching
| |
Compensation and Housing: (Cost of Living Calculator)
Minimum Effective Salary: $72,000
Housing
Type: Housing Allowance: $0 |
| Geographic Choices: Unlimited |
Has the
presbytery's Committee on Ministry thus counseled with the Pastor
Nominating Committee regarding Equal Employment
Opportunity?
Yes |
Has the
Pastor Nominating Committee affirmed to the Presbytery Committee on
Ministry its intention to follow the Form Of Government in this
regard?
Yes |