Andrew Behm
Executive Pastor
Fellowship Bible Church
Winchester, Virginia
Position Description
The role of the FBC Executive Pastor is to assist the Elders and Senior Pastor in ensuring that the strategic ministry objectives of the church are effectively and efficiently attained. As Chief of Staff, the FBC Executive Pastor supports and supervises the full time pastoral staff and ministry directors, assisting them and being a resource to them in order that the ministry objectives informed upon them by the Holy Spirit may be accomplished in the most God-honoring way for the betterment of the local church body. The Executive Pastor reports to the Senior Pastor working closely with him and with the Elder Board. The Executive Pastor will lead in aligning staff and leadership teams with the FBC mission objectives established by the Elder Board. The Executive Pastor will ensure that the systems, practices, activities and policies of the church responsibly and effectively carry out those objectives and other principles established by the Elder Board. This requires a firm understanding of, and agreement with, the FBC mission statement, core values and strategic objectives.
The Executive Pastor will operate in five key areas
1. Strategic Planning and Leadership [25%]
In conjunction with the Senior Pastor and Elder Board, support FBC strategic planning and staff coordination in execution of that plan. Help define strategic goals and vision as a key leader among staff and elders. Assist the staff in developing new ministry programs, as directed by the Holy Spirit, so that we are appropriately responsive to identified needs and church growth.
- Provide significant input in vision casting and goal setting.
- Monitor the pulse of the congregation through research and evaluation.
- Ensure staffing, facilities and programs are appropriately and effectively aligned to best meet our strategic goals.
- Oversee and cross level the preparation of annual ministry plans by the functional pastors and ministry heads. Avoid duplicated efforts. Champion appropriate resourcing of initiatives.
2. Chief of Staff [50%]
- Oversee training and development for the pastoral staff.
- Coordinate and lead weekly staff meetings and other activities designed to clarify, execute and cross level FBC goals, objectives, and programs.
- Oversee the hiring and evaluation of senior staff.
- Provide leadership to the pastoral staff in the design and implementation of their annual ministry plans.
- Conduct direct face to face status updates with each senior staff member bi-weekly.
- Serve as FBC’s intentional agent of unity across all staff, ministries, and functions to best complete FBC’s mission statement.
3. Elder Board Liaison [15%]
- Serve as primary liaison/conduit between staff and various ministries to FBC Elders.
- Attend weekly Elder Board meetings to maintain contact with them and communicate the Elders’ vision to the staff
- Key leader in organizing, facilitating and follow up to the annual Elder/Staff retreat.
- Maintains confidential record of Elder decisions and proceedings (i.e. Minutes). Assists in the preparation of a draft agenda for all Elder Meetings, to be approved prior to meetings by Elder Chairman.
4. Administration Oversight [10%]
Supervise the Director of Administration in the following:
- Administration of the financial functions of the church, including: cash flow, annual budget
preparation, contributions, insurance, banking and financing, payroll, leases, budget
planning and oversight. - Human Resource Management issues – conduct and document performance evaluations,
and on-going informal performance feedback. Oversee the negotiation of insurance and
other benefits, etc. - Maintenance and operation of computer, information and communication systems.
- The effective staffing and functioning of all other administrative and building support functions.
- Development of, documentation of, and adherence to church policies and procedures.
5. Miscellaneous [Neg.]
Other pastoral or administrative duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor or Elder Board.
Qualifications Required
- A heart for God that is evidenced by proven character and a spiritual-mindedness that understands that “apart from Christ we can do nothing.”
- A strong marriage and family life visible to others.
- A shepherd’s temperament; servant-leader/mentor attitude and inclination.
- Strong interpersonal skills – ability to communicate persuasively and compassionately both orally and in writing.
- Strong biblical foundation for wise management in a church setting.
- Able to establish and maintain appropriate standards for the accomplishment of ministry in a way that honors both God and people.
- Since we work primarily in teams at FBC, the EP must understand group dynamics and ensure effective consensus building and decision-making.
- Personal initiative and diligence which produce follow-through in tasks.
- Solid biblical/theological convictions which are aligned with the FBC leadership.
- A willingness to grow and adapt to the inevitable changes found in a growing local church.
Experience Needed
- Sufficient experience on a senior leadership team within a medium to large church context that reveals skills necessary for this role
- An appropriate educational background (MBA degree or above is preferred)
- Ability to supervise pastoral staff and understand, motivate, and support ministry leaders
