Life Church is seeking an individual to serve as our Pastor of Teaching and Communication.
LIFE CHURCH AT A GLANCE:
Life Church is located in beautiful Lancaster County, centered between the town of Lititz (named “Coolest Small Town in America” by Budget Travel in 2013) and the historic and hip downtown of Lancaster City (named in “Top Ten Coolest U.S. Cities to Visit in 2018” by Forbes). Both walkable areas offer many delicious eateries, parks, and small businesses/shops, surrounded by a rich cultural heritage. Lancaster offers a peaceful area for relaxing or participating in outdoor activities, while also being just a quick drive or train ride from the bustling cities of Philadelphia, NYC, and Baltimore.
- Life Church is a church-plant that has served the community of Lancaster, PA since 2010 purchasing our current 8000 square foot building in 2018.
- Approximately 150 people call Life Church their home church.
- We aim to be a church centered around the person of Jesus, rooted in the historic Christian tradition, and actively engaging the challenges and dynamics of living a life of faith and love in the 21st century.
- We are unique to Lancaster County, as a non-denominational church with contemporary worship, that also stands in full affirmation of LGBTQ+ individuals and supports the leadership roles of all, regardless of sexuality, sex, or gender identity.
- Currently, we meet in-person for two services, as well as streaming the second service online every Sunday morning.
- We offer Family Ministries programming focused on creating safe, relationship oriented environments for newborns through high schoolers to grow in authentic faith.
- We offer Volunteer opportunities to invest in our church community and the wider community that we live within.
- We offer Group experiences to cultivate the building of supportive and more personal relationships.
- The adult demographic of Life Church is primarily between the ages of 25-45 years.
OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS:
We strive to be a safe place to explore faith.
We aim to see a growing population of people experiencing a meaningful connection with God and authentic spiritual growth.
We welcome questions in a life-giving community.
We recognize we each come to the table with our own unique stories, spiritual backgrounds, and views. We work to hold tension around differing ideas and perspectives. We know we don’t have all the answers about God, the Bible, or life and we are eager to continue seeking as a community.
We believe all people are made in the image of God and are encouraged to serve the church and community with their God-given gifts.
We value collaboration, support, and fun in ministry.
We affirm the biblical support for full participation and belonging of all LGBTQ+ individuals. This includes all levels of leadership and service. Pastors must not decline to marry LGBTQ+ individuals based solely on their sexuality or gender identity.
We affirm the biblical support for women in all levels of leadership and in all areas of the church.
We recognize the need for anti-racist teaching and leading of the community toward racial-reconciliation.
We want to be a church where people with disabilities are more highly valued and empowered to impact change, as our understanding of ableism is growing.
We believe that if you want to know what God is like, look at the life of Jesus.
We believe that Jesus has the power to change lives.
We believe in cultivating the opportunity to create authentic and supportive friendships.
We believe church should be an environment able to support the exercise of worship, lament, laughter, and celebration.
QUALITIES OF OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE:
- Personality and Character
- Self motivated and energetic
- Collaborative and humble servant leader
- Creative visionary
- Learner (Biblically, socially, culturally, personally, etc.)
- Emotionally mature and approachable
- Adaptable
- Faith Perspectives and Values
- Genuinely finds relationship with God to be life-giving
- Believes the Bible to be the sacred text of the Christian tradition containing spiritual truth and worthy of study and honor
- Sees value in the universal and local church
- Is comfortable prioritizing the value of Jesus and His teachings
- Fully affirming of LGBTQIA+ individuals
- Sees and values the goodness within all people
- Believes in seeking justice and equality in the church and world
- Values a connection to the faith traditions of the past
- Skills
- Effective communicator (verbal and written)
- Vision casting
- Leadership development
- Conflict resolution
- Financial planning and budgeting
- Team building
- Experience
- Preferred 5-10 years in Pastoral leadership or has previously led a significant organization and proven themself in a collaborative work environment
- Has collaborated within diverse contexts, including race, sex, gender identity, and sexuality
- Education
- Preferred – M.Div.
- Minimum – Bachelor’s Degree