Lead Minister

First Christian Church (FCC) in Evansville, Indiana has been part of the Evansville community since 1867. FCC is a non-denominational Restoration Movement Christian church on the north side of Evansville, the third largest city in Indiana with a population of around 114,000. FCC was located in downtown Evansville for most of its 158 years. With little green space and room to grow, FCC, after much prayer and seeking of God’s guidance, moved into a newly constructed multi-purpose facility with fourteen acres on Evansville’s north side in 2011. FCC is a multi-generational church family whose vision is to “Make Friends, Find Family.” FCC’s mission is to “Love God. Love Others. Serve Both.”

This position is for the Lead Pastor role at FCC. The Lead Pastor will be a man called by God to teach and preach the Word of God, and as a member of the Elder team, shepherd this church family to even greater heights in doing the Kingdom work God is calling us to do until the day our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns to take His Church home.

Education

• Combination of life/position experience and education commensurate to perform the necessary duties of Lead Pastor
• Minimum: Bachelor’s degree in Ministry from a Restoration Movement
• College/University (Emphasis on Preaching desired)
• Preferred: Graduate degree from a Restoration Movement Seminary
• Preferred: Ordained as a Minister by a Restoration Movement church

Experience

• Minimum: 3-5 years of Ministry experience (preaching with some age group)
• Preferred: 3-5 years of experience effectively leading a Restoration Movement church
• Staff Development Background
• Able to discern strengths and weaknesses of staff
• Notable experience as a mentor, disciple, and coach
• Church size and/or organizational complexity
• Experience must be from a Restoration Movement church

Leadership Approach

• A humble, sacrificial, servant leader
• Continually seeking to grow and develop his team
• Team leader oriented
• Deals effectively with conflict
• Has experience with, and is supportive of elder leadership structure
• Evangelism
• Heart for and evidence of personal and corporate evangelism

Marriage/Family

• Married
• 30-50 years old
• Demonstrates priority of marriage and family over ministry
• Proven strong marriage

Theological Perspective

• Commitment to the inerrancy of Scripture
• Willingness to embrace FCC’s Statements of Faith
• Embraces FCC’s Core Values

Preaching

• Experienced and talented expositional-style preacher with the ability to provide topical preaching as needed
• Proven ability to discern the needs of a congregation, plan out sermon series, and teach/preach accordingly

Vision/Direction

• Proven experience in casting God-given vision and leading subsequent execution
• Proven ability to successfully implement change
• Understanding that the Lead Pastor is a member of the Elder team shaping the vision and direction of the church

Understanding of the Church

• Ability to clearly define and biblically support a given approach to corporate worship
• Possesses a clear biblical understanding of the role of elder/pastor and deacon within the church
• Understands the theological and practical importance of the church

Communication Skills: Must have exceptional communication skills

• In preaching/teaching
• In change management
• In vision and direction
• In conflict communication
• Transparency in sharing weaknesses and strengths with congregation
• Ability to listen to ministry team, elders, congregation and outside Godly counsel and discern wisdom and truth

Reputation

• High standard for Godly conduct and wisdom
• Integrity and consistency in both word and deed
• Model for congregation to follow
• Solid standing in the community where he lives

Personality

• Personality must fit the personality of FCC Evansville
• Personality must fit the existing pastoral team (good chemistry)
• Man of courage who follows Spirit-led convictions
• Self-motivated

FCC – Evansville currently has a staff of eight (four full-time and four part-time). Our staff enjoys going for for lunch together and sometimes occasional bowling outings. Our Elder team attends annual leadership conferences together and enjoy meeting together for breakfast. Our staff and many volunteers come together each September for FCC’s annual community block party that draws hundreds from the surrounding neighborhood. And then in October each year is Evansville annual Fall Festival that some say is second in size to the Mardi Gras. Our church has a booth that specializes in fudge and other tasty morsels. All of our proceeds go to our Youth ministry. Those two events really bring our church family together working side-by-side to be out in our community.