Senior/Administrative Pastor

 

Good Shepherd Lutheran
Irvine, California

 

Position Profile

Overview

Founded in 1976, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Irvine is part of the Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  With a well-established Main Campus in the Woodbridge section of Irvine, and growing North-Irvine site, membership exceeds 1,600 baptized and 1,000 confirmed members.

The Church has an excellent staff, and a loyal and dedicated volunteer network.  The Church is restructuring its senior leadership team to accommodate the retiring of the current Senior Pastor in the next year.  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (GSLC) intends to hire an Senior/Administrative Pastor responsible for administrative and day-to-day management of the Church.  The Senior/Administrative Pastor will work with the Lead Pastor- Main Campus and Lead Pastor- Northwood and report to the Church Council.

Scope of Operation

The Senior/Administrative Pastor will oversee the following direct reports: Preschool Director, Family Ministry Director, Youth Ministry Director, Congregational Life & Caring Director and Administrative Staff.  The Lead Pastor- Northwood and Lead Pastor- Main Campus are accountable to the Senior/Administrative Pastor.

Mission

The Senior/Administrative Pastor position is considered the lead “Manager” at GSLC. The Senior/Administrative Pastor will work with the Lead Pastors at the two sites to carry out the Church’s vision by creating an organizational structure that supports its fulfillment. Primary duties include supervision of staff and creation of a staffing model for the entire organization.  The Senior/Administrative Pastor will preach, teach, and perform other pastoral duties as needed.

Performance Objectives

To achieve the mission for this position, the Senior/Administrative Pastor must produce the following critical actions and results:

1. Vision Implementation: The Church’s vision statement is based on the biblical mission statement “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NRSV.  This biblical mission statement led to the creation of the Congregational Vision Statement “To be a Church that will know, grow and show God’s love, equipping everyone to pass on the Good News to the next generation”. (For more detail, see the mission statement document at end of this position profile) The Senior/Administrative Pastor will be responsible for continuing the implementation of this vision statement in the congregation, staff and Preschool.  This will include:
1. Reviewing the already established 5-year strategic plan for the vision statement implementation.  This 5-year strategic plan addresses six key areas:
   1. GSLC- Northwood
   2. Worship
   3. Family Ministries (Preschool, Children’s Ministries, Youth Ministries and Adult Ministries)
   4. Outreach and Mission
   5. GSLC-Main Campus Facilities and Branding
   6. Executive Staff transitions
2. Define the measurable outcomes for each of the six key areas of the strategic plan.  This includes defining the resources available to the leaders of each section of the strategic plan.   
3. Manage the progress of the leaders of the six key areas to ensure the accomplishment of the established measurable outcomes and the overall strategic plan.

2. Preaching: The Senior/Administrative Pastor will prepare and deliver sermons approximately two times per month and as needed, in rotation with the Lead Pastors.  It is important that this Pastor’s preaching include the following:
1. Biblically focused sermons based on the grace we have in Christ Jesus as the primary vehicle for personal transformation. 
2. Bible-centered topics and a personal style that appeal to all segments of the congregation.
3. Willingness to share from personal experience to help inspire and help congregants relate on a personal level.
4. Foster a greater awareness of God in daily life and inspire individual spiritual growth.
5. Sermons stimulate people, encourage discussion and further study
   
   
3. Staff Management: The Senior/Administrative Pastor will focus on the health and vitality of the Church’s leadership.  They will coordinate and manage the staff, keeping them accountable to their job descriptions and goals.  The Senior/Administrative Pastor will oversee the following direct reports: Preschool Director, Family Ministry Director, Youth Ministry Director, Congregational Life & Caring Director and Administrative Staff.  The Lead Pastor- Northwood and Lead Pastor- Main Campus are accountable to the Senior/Administrative Pastor. This person will create and implement a staff management model for use across the entire organization, including:
1. Standardized job descriptions with measurable outcomes and goals.
2. Procedures for hiring/firing, discipline procedures and performance & salary reviews. 
3. Creation of standardized forms for interviews, reviews, etc.
4. Training of all employees on the staff management model discussed above.
5. Facilitating team & community building within the senior leadership team to create a sense of servant leadership, including retreats and lunches. 

3. Operations:  The Senior/Administrative Pastor will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Church.  This involves:
1. Working with the Financial Secretary, Facility Ministry Team and full time Maintenance/Custodian staff and volunteers to manage the church facilities, including:
   1. Contracting outside vendors for maintenance & repairs.
   2. Reviewing the current facilities management model & making changes as necessary.
2. Managing future capital campaigns.
3. Managing future building projects.
4. Monitor facilities usage (congregational & outside).
5. Working with the Lead Pastor- Northwood on all facilities needs for the Northwood site.

4. Preschool: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church includes a preschool/day care with a $3M budget, with 70 employees and 420 students.  The Senior/Administrative Pastor will directly manage the Preschool Director and is responsible for the overall workings of the preschool. This will include: 
1. Acting as the Pastoral liaison to the Preschool Director and Preschool ministry team (Preschool Board of Directors).  This includes:
   1. Ensuring the congregational vision is present throughout the preschool. 
   2. Assisting in the creation of the yearly preschool budget.
   3. Advisement on personnel issues.
2. Working with the Preschool Director on facilities usage, needs, maintenance and shared costs.
   
   
5. Finances: The Senior/Administrative Pastor is responsible for managing to a precise budget for the Church and Preschool.  This will include: 
1. Work with the Financial Secretary, Stewardship Team, GSLC Foundation, Finance Team and Audit team to establish the yearly budget for the Church and all of its ministries. 
2. Stress financial responsibility and accuracy with all leaders, staff and volunteers.
3. Review each ministry’s budget to ensure compliance. 
4. Along with the Finance Committee and Preschool Ministry Team, review Preschool tuition and expenses on a monthly basis.
5. Along with the Finance Committee and Church Council, review Church income and expenses on a monthly basis and establish accurate forecasting.
6. Supervise and coordinate the annual stewardship campaign with the stewardship ministry team. 
7. Establish new revenue streams (i.e. grants, Thrivent Financial) to fund ministries. 
   
   
6. Church Council: The Senior/Administrative Pastor will work closely with the Church Council President to create and run effective meetings.  This entails:
1. Participating in the Church Council meetings, semi-annual congregational meeting, annual meeting and specially called meetings of the congregation.
2. Along with the Lead Pastors, create church council meeting agendas with input from Church Council President, council members and ministry staff.
3. Along with the Lead Pastors, lead the annual council and leadership retreat.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:

• Pastoral Care duties will be shared as needed with the Lead Pastors and coordinated by the Congregation Life & Caring Director. 
• Create the Annual Report of the Congregation for the ELCA

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE:
The ideal candidate will have the following education, work history, knowledge and skills.

Education: A college degree with relevant graduate degrees (MDiv) is required.

Work Experience:

• Proven track record with a growing Church (of over 350 members), with verifiable contributions to that growth.
• Proven experience in establishing successful Church programs, including the organization and infrastructure for programs, and training Church staff and lay people.
• “People skilled” Pastor who can fit into a highly relational Church.  Able to establish rapport with all types of people, and gain credibility and trust.
• Able to translate vision into concrete action.
• Strong preaching ability, including excellent speaking skills.
• Strong knowledge of bible teaching.
• Passion for evangelism and The Great Commission. 

Contact

If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to the attention of Michael Boyle, VP Personnel, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church