Interim Pastor - Chicago, IL
Listed 06-08-2021
Employer: Grace Baptist Church of Chicago, 1020 W Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, IL 60660 | (630) 355-8181 | www.gracebaptistchicago.com/
Location: Chicago, IL
Start Date:
Type: Part time, average 10 hours per week
Download: Interim Pastor Job Description
Grace Baptist Church of Chicago, a welcoming and affirming American Baptist congregation founded in 1987, seeks a part-time interim pastor (average 10 hours per week). The pastor will be responsible for pastoral care and for monthly worship services, as well as leading programs such as Bible studies that pastor and congregation decide to do. During the Covid-19 pandemic, these services will be online using Zoom. Experience with Zoom is a plus. Once it is safe to worship in person again, services will take place in rented space in the building of a church on the north side of Chicago.
The interim pastor will also be responsible for leading the congregation in tasks appropriate for an interim period: coming to terms with history, discovering a new identity, allowing needed leadership change, re-affirming denominational linkage, and committing to new directions in ministry. The interim pastor and congregation will work closely with our regional executive minister in carrying out these tasks.
The interim minister will also be responsible for leading the congregation in participation in ministries beyond the local church, such as denominational and regional activities (ABC-USA, ABCMC, AWAB) as well as the congregation’s volunteer work with The Night Ministry and The Crib (homeless shelter for young adults). The interim pastor is expected to cooperate with such local organizations as the Edgewater Community Religious Association and the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches.
Applicants for the interim position should hold the M.Div. or equivalent graduate degree from an accredited institution; current seminarians will also be considered. Strengths in preaching, pastoral care, LGBTQ and family ministries, and worship planning and leadership are desired. Musical talents are a plus.
Grace is open to and enjoys creative, non-traditional (and carefully planned) worship services. Ministry with music and arts is important. Volunteers in the congregation provide music for services with the pastor’s leadership.
Skills with social media are a plus. It is hoped that the interim pastor will help the church improve its online presence and visibility, and help keep the church’s web site current. Volunteers are ready to help with that effort.
Commitment to Baptist principles such as congregational autonomy, priesthood of all believers, and separation of religion and government is important. Applicants who are not American Baptist will be considered, but they must be open to working within the context of the American Baptist Churches in the USA and Metro Chicago.
In considering pastoral candidates, Grace will show no preference on the basis of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The church may do a background check, including a criminal background check, of candidates. The pastor must agree with the Code of Ethics of the Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches (http://www.abc-ohio.org/DOCUMENTS/Ordination/MinisterialLeadersCovenantandCodeofEthicsAmended2004.pdf).
Interested individuals are invited to apply for this position. Please send a letter of interest; resume and/or denominational personnel profile (ministrelife.org and/or ABPS); and the names addresses (postal or email), and phone numbers of 3 references to grace.chicago.search@gmail.com by June 30, 2021. Questions about the position or church may be sent to the same email address.
Please note that this is an interim position, not a long-term position. A pastoral search committee will be actively seeking a long-term pastor during the interim period. The interim pastor may apply for the long-term position, but will not be given preference.
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