Snapshot

Denomination: Evangelical Church (Pacific Conference)

Weekly Attendance:  180

Location: Oregon City, OR

The Role: Senior Pastor

Meet Oregon City Evangelical Church:

OCEC has a history of worship and service in Oregon City dating back to 1885. We are proud of our legacy and history, but we know the future of the church lies not in what we’ve done but what we do next.

Because we love our city we serve our city. We have helped at homes, schools, city facilities and care centers. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, we provide food boxes and gifts for needy families. We are blessed to provide food for 30+ children at Gardiner Middle School weekly through the Back Pack Buddies program. This year we additionally met the school's need by providing track uniforms for their teams. We desire to meet people where they are at as we seek to make an impact in our city.

We are a part of the Evangelical Church.  In 1968, when the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged with the Methodists to form the United Methodists, many of the Evangelical United Brethren Churches in the Northwest, Montana, and North Dakota withdrew from the merger.  Interestingly, the actual decision to form our own denomination happened right here at OCEC with a gathering of leaders and pastors. 

These churches subsequently formed a fellowship which now numbers over 120 churches across United States and Canada. They share a common theological heritage in the Wesleyan-Arminian movement. The Evangelical Church has always been mission-minded, and the OCEC church family individually support a number of missionaries around the world. As a church body we directly support

Pemanecer ministry in Mexico both financially and with mission teams. In addition to sending teams, we regularly provide respite housing for missionaries coming back from the field.

About the Senior Pastor:

The Senior Pastor at OCEC will provide a vision for the future, define and promote the mission of the church, and shepherd the spiritual lives of the church community. This person will have a heart that longs to see Christ’s Kingdom be established in Oregon City and continually seeks God for direction. 

The Senior  Pastor will lead the staff and ministry leaders. As a senior leader of the church in collaboration with the Team of Elders, the Senior Pastor is responsible for the spiritual leadership and welfare of the church and its members. The Lead Pastor provides leadership for and actively participates in worship, education, discipleship, and evangelism for the spiritual life and growth of members. This person will plan and preside over services of public worship and lead the pastoral ministry of the church. 

The Senior Pastor will be the primary communicator on Sunday mornings but will also lead and develop a teaching team that will continue OCEC’s legacy of strong biblical teaching.

The Senior Pastor's Responsibilities Include: 

Vision, Mission, and Strategy 

Seek the Holy Spirit’s direction to develop and implement the vision, mission, and strategy with the Team of Elders :  Build a Community to Reach our Community.

• Regularly communicate the vision, mission, and strategy of OCEC to staff and members.

•  Gather, monitor, and share data and metrics to discern success, and advise and implement strategies for course correction if needed.

• Set regular short and long-term priority goals. 

• Assist with identifying areas of staff needs, and providing targets and goals for those team members.

• Build unity and alignment amongst staff. 

• Provide spiritual care, and nurture spiritual growth for staff.

• Adhere to best practices for the workplace, and assist staff in meeting those expectations. 

• Staff Oversight and Development

Ministry Development 

• Assist in the development of long-term strategic planning for growth in all ministries.

•  Empower people to unite as a church family and to live out their faith calling collectively and as individuals.

• Provide leadership and spiritual development for the current elder team while identifying and developing future leaders for OCEC. 

• Oversee ministry programs and services in a way that equips and empowers leaders
  within the church to carry out the mission.

• Work in collaboration with other elders, pastors, staff, and congregants. 

• Establish the preaching calendar and preach over 70 percent of sermons at OCEC 

• Identify and develop other leaders, preachers, and testimonies to exalt Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

• Participate in active outreach and evangelism. 

• Represent the church within the wider community. 

• Maintain a clear focus on congregational care, including crisis care, counseling, coaching, weddings, funerals, relationship building, etc. 

• Preaching and Teaching 

• Congregational Care Ministries- be a shepherding presence among the congregation  prioritizing while providing for and developing on-going care ministries for the congregation in support of the mission. 

Operations 

• Work with other staff to implement improvements to the systems and processes of OCEC. 

• Work with the Finance Team and Team of Elders to analyze and report on financial matters at OCEC. 

Personal Professional Development

• Read books, attend conferences, and develop relationships with peers and mentors, both inside and outside OCEC.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Pastor:

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university, required

• Masters Degree in Theology or other  Seminary training, preferred

• 10+ years of experience leading and/or serving in pastoral ministry, required

• Ordained or willing to be ordained in the Evangelical Church

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Possesses the gifts and passions needed to lead, care for, and equip God’s people and lead a church staff 

• The Pastor must be a compelling, gifted public communicator with a blend of humility and zeal 

• Practitioner of best practices in administration 

• Ability to collaborate well with the pastors, staff, congregants, and community 

• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Conforms in public and private to the qualifications for leaders found in 1 Timothy 3:1-15 and Titus 1:6-9 

• Leads as a servant in a team-based system

•  Offers respect and grace to each colleague, setting the tone and example for team ministry 

• Must be a person of prayer and of the Word, sensitive and obedient to what the Spirit is saying to OCEC

• Seeks to undertake their duties in the power of the Holy Spirit, undergirded with prayer, guided by the Scriptures, and manifesting the character of Christ for the glory of God

What it's Like to Live in Oregon City, OR: 

In the heart of the Willamette Valley, Oregon City, OR offers a serene yet vibrant lifestyle for families. With its rich history as the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains, residents enjoy exploring pioneer-era landmarks experiencing first-hand what it was like to cross the Oregon Trail. Oregon City residents are drawn to the outdoors. It is centrally located with easy access to the Cascade Mountains, the Oregon coast, Oregon’s many rivers and the high deserts of central Oregon. This offers a wide range of outdoor activities and adventures.Families thrive in this community, boasting highly-rated schools like Oregon City High School and Clackamas Community College. Despite being part of the Portland metropolitan area, Oregon City maintains its own character, a lower cost of living, while providing easy access to the benefits offered of a larger city. Oregon City is an attractive option for those seeking a balanced urban-suburban lifestyle.

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