Position Type: Full-Time
Reports to: Board of Directors 

 

Church Overview

At Hope Vineyard Church, we exist to be a beacon of Jesus' love, fostering authentic connections and empowering people in their journey with God. We're a diverse and welcoming congregation—young families, retirees, students, professionals, creatives, conservatives and liberals—all unified by a hunger to encounter the living God. Our community values authenticity, mutual care, and Spirit-led transformation. We are part of the Vineyard USA movement, seeking to join God’s work in our neighborhoods, our city, and beyond.

 

Position Summary

The Lead Pastor at Hope Vineyard Church will provide spiritual, visionary, and organizational leadership to the congregation, staff, and ministry leaders. This individual will embody and cultivate an outward-focused, Spirit-led, and missional culture while promoting spiritual formation, evangelism, and community engagement. The Lead Pastor will preach regularly, shepherd the church family, develop leaders, and partner with the Board of Directors in guiding the mission and direction of the church.

 

Key Responsibilities

1. Spiritual Leadership

• Model a deep, growing, and personal relationship with Jesus Christ and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

• Provide visionary leadership that aligns with Hope Vineyard's mission and Vineyard values.

• Cultivate a prayerful and Spirit-led culture throughout the church community.

2. Preaching and Teaching

• Serve as the primary communicator of biblical, relevant, and Spirit-empowered sermons (approx. 50–75% of Sundays).

• Lead or support other teaching environments (e.g., small groups, leadership training, discipleship pathways).

• Collaborate with a broader teaching team to ensure healthy, diverse voices are heard from the pulpit.

3. Community Engagement & Outreach

• Lead the church in outreach to the unchurched and spiritually curious, especially in under-resourced or overlooked communities.

• Strengthen and expand existing partnerships (e.g., Stepping Into the Light, Winter Homeless Outreach).

• Equip and mobilize the congregation to live missionally in their everyday lives.

4. Leadership Development

• Oversee and support the staff team (currently includes church secretary, bookkeeper, and children’s director).

• Provide pastoral care, mentorship, and spiritual oversight to the core ministry team.

• Identify, train, and release emerging leaders and volunteers across ministries.

5. Pastoral Care

• Provide pastoral counseling, visitation, and support as needed for members of the church.

• Officiate weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other key life events in coordination with the ministry team.

• Foster a culture of mutual care and community support.

6. Governance & Administration

• Serve as a member of the Board of Directors; collaborate with the Board in vision setting and strategic planning.

• Provide input on church-wide decisions and implementation of board-approved initiatives.

• Ensure organizational health and financial integrity in partnership with administrative leaders.

 

Qualifications

• A clear and compelling call to pastoral ministry, demonstrated through prior ministry leadership.

• Alignment with Vineyard theology, values, and distinctives (www.vineyardusa.org).

• A track record of outreach, evangelism, and community engagement.

• Experience leading teams, developing leaders, and overseeing ministries in a local church context.

• Strong biblical and theological foundation, with the ability to communicate the gospel clearly and relevantly.

• Relational, approachable, and authentic in leadership style.

• Vineyard ordination preferred or willingness to pursue ordination.

 

Core Competencies

• Spirit-led Leadership: Models dependence on the Holy Spirit and cultivates a culture of listening and obedience to God.

• Missional Mindset: Keeps outreach and evangelism central to church life.

• Team Builder: Equips others for ministry and fosters collaboration.

• Cultural Sensitivity: Embraces diversity in thought, background, and experience.

• Emotional Intelligence: Exercises empathy, humility, and wisdom in relationships.

• Vision Casting: Communicates clear direction and inspires others to pursue God’s call.

• Servant Leadership: Leads with humility and prioritizes the needs of others.

 

Working Relationships

• Reports directly to the Board of Directors.

• Oversees church staff and ministry leaders.

• Collaborates with the teaching team and core leadership team to advance the mission of Hope Vineyard Church.

 

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and includes:

• Full-time salary

• Paid time off (vacation, sick, and holidays)

• Professional development and ministry expenses

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To Apply

If you believe you are called to this position and meet the qualifications, please submit the following:

• Resume or CV

• Cover letter expressing your call to pastoral ministry and interest in this role

• 2–3 references (professional and/or pastoral)

 

E mail to info@vineyard-stl.org

 

We look forward to welcoming a new leader who will help us reach our community for Christ!