Co-Pastor

Job Description

Grace Baptist Church of Taylors, SC is a confessional Reformed Baptist church, seeking a faithful, gifted man, to join our eldership as a full-time, vocational co-pastor. We have had a co-pastor arrangement for the past ten years, and the church has benefitted from it. One of our vocational pastors recently departed to serve an international congregation in the Far East, so we are seeking another man.

We seek a man who is well-trained, with several years of fruitful pastoral experience, but still relatively young. We hope to call a man who might be able to lead us for the next generation, if God is pleased to grant him a lengthy ministry here.

The vocational pastors are the primary teaching elders of the church. They are responsible to the church for the full range of pastoral care, that being principally: to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, to teach God’s word consistent with the London Confession of 1689 so that the church might make disciples, and to equip the body of believers for every good work. GBC holds morning and evenings worship services every Sunday, and it is our practice for our co-pastors to share preaching responsibilities.

Qualifications for Vocational Pastors
Our vocational pastors must demonstrate appropriate theological, pastoral, and administrative skills and the necessary spiritual character and graces to fulfill the requirements of the office. Each must have a shepherd’s heart to care for the flock of God in the fear of the Lord. Because we have a co-pastor arrangement, each must manifest a cooperative and collaborative spirit with his co-pastor and with the ruling elders of the church.

Requirements of Vocational Pastors

Within our co-pastor arrangement, there will be some division of responsibilities. This division can be discussed and fine-tuned from time to time, based on the individual gifts and workload of each man. Following are the requirements for vocational pastors at GBC.

1. Meet the biblical qualifications of an elder as spelled out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-4.
2. Serve as spiritual leader and overseer for the congregation. This would include, principally, the faithful proclamation of the whole counsel of God as revealed in the Bible, so that the Holy Spirit might quicken, convict, bring to repentance, encourage, console, reprove, chasten, instruct, train, admonish, warn, counsel, nurture, guide, and direct the souls of the kingdom. In addition to the ministry of the Word, pastors are called to devote themselves to faithful prayer over the souls of the congregation, both publicly and privately. (Acts 6:4, 20:27-28; Ephesians 4:11-14; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 5:2; Titus 2:1)
3. Fully and unreservedly subscribe to the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 (with exceptions noted in GBC Constitution).
4. Conduct his office in accordance with the GBC Constitution and By-laws.
5. Be subject to and a member of the Elder Board and all requirements of the eldership, observing the three principles of plurality, parity, and diversity among elders.
6. Fully agree with the policies and practices of the Reformed Baptist Network, of which GBC is a charter member. Be committed to regular cooperation and participation in the work of RBNet.
7. Plan and conduct worship services; prepare and deliver biblically robust and edifying sermons; lead in observance of the ordinances of the church.
8. Work with the elders, deacons, church members, and staff in planning, training, executing, and evaluating various ministries of the church.
9. Cooperate with local, state, and Reformed Baptist Network leaders in matters of mutual interest and concern; keep the church informed of developments within the Reformed Baptist Network and sister churches; and to represent the church in spiritual, religious, and civic matters.
10. The vocational pastors serve as chief administrators of the paid (full-time and part-time) church staff; supervise the work of the ministry staff members (paid and volunteer); carry out annual evaluations of those paid staff members under their direct supervision, and make recommendations as necessary to the Board of Elders and the Personnel Committee.
11. Maintain the administration of the church within the budget and inform the Deacon Board of any need for variances or transfers, and participate in annual budget recommendations.
12. Lead the church in planning, conducting, and evaluating a comprehensive program of Christian education and ministry training.
13. Oversee the recruitment and training of Sunday School teachers and administration of our Christian education.
14. Lead the church in planning, executing, and evaluating the music ministry.
15. Serve as a resource person and adviser to the leaders of church programs and committees.
16. Oversee special ministry and training endeavors, such as retreats, conferences, Vacation Bible School, and seminars for various groups and organizations.
17. Guide in the designation, enlistment, encouragement, and training of church workers.
18. Provide biblical counsel, perform weddings, conduct funerals, lead in other special services as needed.
19. Oversee the production of the monthly church newsletter.
20. Maintain an account of time; keep the church staff informed of whereabouts and require the church staff to do the same.
21. Maintain a biblically healthy balance of caring for his family and faithfully serving the church.

See gbctaylors.org for more information about our church.