Senior Pastor

QUALIFICATIONS

1. The Pastor has personally accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
2. The Pastor maintains a quality of personal and family life, which serves as a model for the church.
3. The Pastor is trained and skilled in applying the biblical teachings for the believers. Master of Divinity or related Master degree is desirable.
4. The Pastor is preferably ordained and licensed by a Christian organization that is acceptable to Bethany Congregational Church.
5. The Pastor demonstrates positive preaching skills that inspire and encourage others to follow Christ.
6. The Pastor possesses positive leadership skills, cultivates, and affirms spiritual gifts and encourages involvement in ministries.
7. The Pastor is experienced in pastoral care and mentoring.
8. The Pastor is experienced in leadership in a multi-cultural congregation and has an open heart for bringing Christ to the Japanese and Japanese Americans and other ethnic groups. Foreign missionary experience is a plus.
9. The Pastor is fluent in the English language. (Abilities in Japanese and/or other languages would be appreciated and desired.)
10. The Pastor must be a U.S. citizen or have a permanent residency status (“Green Card”).
11. Music ability (Instrumental and/or singing) is a big plus.


RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Pastor shall maintain a diligent commitment to a life of prayer and personal Bible study so that he may experience spiritual growth in his relationship with Christ and possesses the ability to discern God’s Word for Bethany and its ministry.
2. The Pastor shall provide spirit led messages that incorporates the expounding of Scriptures that is consistent with Bethany’s doctrinal position, present a clear message of salvation, and exhorting the congregation to act upon scriptural teaching in their daily lives. (II Tim. 2:2)
3. The Pastor gives himself to the proclamation and application of God’s Word on the corporate, group and individual levels. He teaches, encourages, warns, and rebukes in his preaching and guidance.
4. The Pastor helps the membership to discover their spiritual gifts and encourages them to become effective ministers and witnesses for Christ in the church and society. He does this through personal example and by training church leadership and others.
5. The Pastor shall be responsible for performing such ministries as baptism, communion, dedication, marriages, funerals and other special services.
6. The Pastor shall provide leadership for community outreach programs and activities.
7. The Pastor shall personally visit the aged, shut-ins, the sick and visitors of the church on a regular basis and shall instruct, train and encourage laymen to participate in this visitation ministry.
8. With the approval of the Board of Elders, the Pastor may attend conferences, training programs and accept leadership roles in the denomination, the District Conference, and other Evangelical organizations, which contribute to the enrichment of his ministry.
9. The Pastor attends all general meetings of the Board of Elders, of which he is a voting member.
10. The Pastor gives spiritual guidance and support to the Nominating Committee and the various ministries of which he is ex-officio member as assigned by the Board of Elders.
11. The Pastor shall provide spiritual guidance and support to the committees of the church.
12. The Pastor shall be available for personal Biblically based spiritual guidance of the members and friends of the church.
13. The Pastor shall develop and organize and encourage the congregation to participate in small Bible study fellowships.
14. The Pastor provides supervision, guidance, and support for the church staff.
15. The Pastor shall maintain regularly scheduled office hours and personal time off.
16. The Pastor shall work with the Japanese Speaking (Nichigo) Congregation pastor to coordinate and a facilitate a good working relationship so that both English and Japanese congregations can grow and flourish.
17. The pastor shall encourage the church to financially support and pray for missionaries. He will also allow supported missionaries to share in worship services. The pastor is encouraged to occasionally participate in short term missions trips.