Lead Pastor (Teaching Elder)

What Montavilla Church is seeking in a Lead Pastor (Teaching Elder)

Character
a. First and foremost, he must be in love with Jesus in an open and honest way - a man of prayer and the Word.

b. Meet the qualifications for eldership as presented in 1 Timothy 3:2-7

• Above reproach
• The husband of one wife (a one-woman man)
• Temperate
• Self-controlled
• Respected
• Hospitable
• Able to teach
• Not addicted to wine or strong drink
• Not violent or hot tempered
• Gentle
• Peaceable
• Not a lover of money
• Manages his family well
• Not a recent convert
• Has a good reputation in the community and with others outside the church

c. Be a man of integrity (1 Tim. 4:12)"in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."

d. Evidence of personal time in the Word and prayer

e. Love the Word and obey it
f. Be transparent with the congregation regarding struggles and successes he has experienced

g. Humble and teachable

Knowledge/Education/Experience
h. Age range: 35-50 years of age preferred

I. 5+ years of experience in a teaching pastor role, preferred

j. Seminary graduate preferred

k. Evidence of active involvement in the community outside of church activities

I. Have a heart for cultures. Our church has both English and Spanish language services. Other cultures and languages are represented in our church as well.

m. Have a heart for building a multi-generational church

Gifts/Skills
n. Ability to work with a team of elders in shared collaborative leadership. Should be able to provide examples of having worked well with a team

o. Multiply ministry by training, equipping and empowering others - qualifying them to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2)

p. Able to delegate ministries and tasks to others

q. Passion for those who don't know Jesus yet, both in the church and outside the church. Passion to instill a culture of discipleship

Other Expectations
r. Be in agreement with Montavilla's doctrinal statement

s. Maintain his family as a high priority

t. Be able to verbalize and live out a Biblical worldview

u. Become familiar with the constitution and by-laws of Montavilla Church

v. Have deep friendships with other men

As a teaching elder, have a shepherd's heart as demonstrated by the following:

a. Shepherd the flock: Acts 20:28ff; 1 Peter 5:1-3
Serving in all humility, elders are to guide, direct, guard and protect the members of the body, seeking to meet their needs and assist in any way possible, warning against harmful influences and guarding against false teachers.

b. Lead through example: 1 Peter 5:3
Elders are to provide a Scriptural role model and are to set a pattern before the flock of a rightly ordered life - with a single purpose, to glorify God.

c. Teach and Exhort: 1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9
Elders are to see that the flock is fed through insightful and accurate Biblical instruction and admonition.

d. Refute those who contradict truth: Acts 20:29-31; Titus 1:9
Elders are to confront those who are teaching what they should not teach or who are continuing in a pattern of behavior contradictory to Biblical truth. Thus, elders are to keep closing potential entrances for Satan, so that the truth of Christ will remain credible to both the congregation and the community.

e. Manage the Church of God: 1 Timothy 3:5; 1 Timothy 5:7
Elders are to oversee the life of the Church, with the assistance of other Godly leaders.

f. Pray for the sick: James 5:15
Elders are to pray for the spiritual and physical well-being of members of the congregation.

If you have any questions, or desire explore this further, please call Dave Cetti at 971-340-5330