A Job Description of a Church Pastor

The role of a church pastor can vary from denomination to denomination. However, most religious institutions have the same requirements, in the sense that a pastor is a shepherd to a flock of congregants; entrusted to guide, teach, and counsel. From administrative duties to interpersonal strategies, a pastor has big shoes to fill when taking on an integral role at a church.

Administrative Duties

A pastor of any standing, including a senior pastor, must have administrative capabilities. In this day and age, many pastors are expected to be very proficient with email, word processing programs, and even blog regularly to keep their congregants plugged into the current teaching series and to inspire/keep things fresh from Sunday to Sunday. Many pastors utilize an administrative assistant, but all are still responsible for much of the calendar agenda correspondence, and other office tasks necessary to keep a church running smoothly. Sometimes, a pastor will also be in charge of building security and coordinating proper use of the facilities.

Preaching and Teaching

A pastor is almost always called upon to preach--either in a midweek youth group, Sunday morning sermons, at retreats and bible studies, or special events. Preparing sermons relevant to a congregation is a priority in a pastor's professional life, and many are called to devote an entire day each week to prayer, study, and composing quality outlines on the subject to be shared through a sermon.

Pastors may also be asked to work together on sermon writing or teaching goals, communicating with other members of the home church staff, or brainstorming regularly with other pastors throughout the community.

Encouragement and Benevolence

Pastors are asked to encourage and be a part of many life milestones for their congregants. Many times this involves officiating at weddings, providing services at funerals, dedicating and baptizing children, and making hospital visits. You will often find a pastor praying by a bedside or attending a graduation party--the duty of encouragement and coming alongside church family is great and varied.

Financial and Logistical Facilitation

Pastors usually serve or direct a church board, helping to make suggestions and deciding on important church logistics. This can include budget breakdowns, facility expansion, new and dynamic ways of community promotion, and more. A pastoral job description may include serving as chairman of a church board, or participating in a supportive role such as treasurer, teaching pastor, prayer leader, or secondary decision authority. Logistical planning may also include coordinating Sunday morning services from start to finish, producing an order of service that includes music, guest speakers, media and prayer.

Specific Concentrations

Outside of the senior pastor position, many pastoral job descriptions call for work serving a specific demographic. Sometimes, this includes working with teenagers as a youth pastor; facilitating a youth group and planning summer outreaches. A children's pastor will work with those preschool aged through the 5th or 6th grade, developing and teaching a simplified curriculum that effectively communicates the word of God.

Larger churches often call for outreach pastors, creative arts pastors and worship pastors--all of which call for various duties that pour into the lives of a specific concentration of people.

References

• Job Description: Senior Pastor
• The Job Description of a Faithful Pastor
• Suggested Guide Job Description for Pastor

Resources

• Suggested Guide Job Description for Pastor