Description of Assistant Pastors Under the Pastor
The associates pastor's role is to support the senior pastor and fulfill whatever duties both of them, along with the congregation, agree he should fulfill. Duties usually include most of the same responsibilities as a full-time pastor. One main difference is that a senior pastor leads the entire congregation while the associate pastor reports to him. However, some associate pastors work in a specialized area of ministry, such as community care, children, youth or worship.
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Education
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Education requirements vary across denominational lines. Most churches expect their associate pastor to hold an advanced theological degree, preferably from a school aligned with their beliefs. Some churches seek to "promote" the associate pastor from within and look for someone who meets the needs of the congregation, apart from educational qualifications or the lack thereof. This is more likely to be true in smaller churches.
Qualifications
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Agreement with church or denomination doctrinal beliefs can make or break a candidate for an associate pastor. Associate pastors also need the following additional qualifications: computer literacy; ethical; an ability to counsel, evangelize, preach, teach, plan, organize, and worship; and an ability to work with a wide variety of people ranging from the senior pastor to congregation members of all types.
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Training
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Prior paid or volunteer church experience enhances employment opportunities for assistant pastor candidates, although it may not be required at all churches.
Significance
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Congregations respect assistant pastors, who should be able to step in for the pastor in almost every situation. He should be able to guide other staff members and the congregation and assist with day-to-day church responsibilities. Support for the head pastor is critical. Additional duties include: leading worship, conducting hospital or home visits, event planning, managing finances, acting as a liaison or buffer for the head pastor, and teaching.
Salary
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Compensation packages vary significantly from state to state and in different denominations. However, according to Salary Wizard, a typical salary for an assistant pastor position would be $$62,236 per year. Some positions include housing and other benefits in addition to a paid wage. Additional considerations include the size of the congregation served.
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References
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