Senior Pastor

Wesleyan

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 754

Meet First Wesleyan Church

First Wesleyan Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, is a vibrant community committed to worship, service, and connection. The church provides both traditional and contemporary worship services. They are dedicated to serving the Bartlesville area, exemplified by initiatives like Serve Sunday. The church fosters a welcoming environment for all to grow in faith and engage with the community.

About the Senior Pastor

The incoming pastor for First Wesleyan Church (FWC) must understand and embrace the core mission of the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-38) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), guiding ministry leadership with a focus on the church’s mission: “Love God, Love Others, and Help Others Know and Love God.” The pastor should have a biblical worldview and be able to communicate it clearly, and must be either an ordained member of The Wesleyan Church or willing to become ordained and adhere to the church’s Articles of Religion and beliefs. While FWC emphasizes Wesleyan/Arminian theology, particularly personal salvation and spiritual growth, the church maintains a respectful approach to differing theological perspectives, valuing unity with other Bible-believing churches in the community. The church does not impose its theology on students at Wesleyan Christian School from different theological backgrounds, instead fostering an environment of respect and honoring diversity within the body of Christ.

The Senior Pastor responsibilities include:

The Lead Pastor of First Wesleyan Church (FWC) is called to model Christ-centered servant leadership while providing biblical teaching, pastoral care, and spiritual equipping for the FWC congregation and the broader Bartlesville community. The Lead Pastor’s primary responsibility is to pray, preach, proclaim the gospel, make disciples, and oversee delegated administrative functions of the church.

Key Qualities

The Lead Pastor should embody the following characteristics:

• Spiritually Hungry – Passionate about seeking God through Bible study, prayer and worship, and committed to fostering spiritual growth in others.
• Faithful – Trustworthy, supportive, gracious, and conscientious in all interactions.
• Friendly – Encouraging and inclusive, reaching out to those inside and outside the church community.
• Flexible – Willing to go the extra mile, adapt to new challenges, and embrace creativity.
• Forgiving – Works well with others, demonstrating grace and avoiding bitterness or criticism.

Primary Responsibilities

Preaching & Teaching

• Deliver biblically sound, Christ-centered sermons that exhort, encourage, and equip the congregation (Acts 6:4; 2 Timothy 4:2).
• Oversee all public teaching and preaching ministries to ensure doctrinal soundness.

Leadership

• Provide vision and pastoral leadership, guiding the church to fulfill its mission.
• Shepherd the congregation with integrity and biblical wisdom.
• Develop leaders through mentoring, teaching, and training initiatives, including programs for interns and resident pastors.

Pastoral Care

• Offer spiritual support and biblical counsel during life transitions, crises, and personal struggles.
• Cultivate a welcoming and loving atmosphere for those seeking a relationship with Christ.
• Oversee pastoral care ministries, delegating responsibilities as needed.

Discipleship & Community Engagement

• Lead efforts to help the congregation grow spiritually and live out their faith.
• Encourage active participation in Growth Groups (small groups) for discipleship and community-building.
• Represent FWC in civic and community matters, seeking partnerships to further the gospel.

Church Administration & Staff Leadership

• Lead and manage church staff, including Wesleyan Christian School and Kiddie College administrators, ensuring alignment with FWC’s mission and goals.
• Conduct staff meetings, oversee performance evaluations, and promote a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Work alongside the Local Board of Administration to provide strategic direction for the church and its ministries.

Sacramental & Ceremonial Duties

• Conduct baptisms, administer the Lord’s Supper, officiate weddings, child dedications, and funerals.

What you bring

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

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree or higher is advantageous.
• Preferred: minimum seven years of pastoral experience, including leadership of staff.
• Preferred: Experience with a Christian school.
• Ordained or eligible for ordination in The Wesleyan Church.

Personal characteristics and qualifications

• Spiritual Maturity – Demonstrates a passionate faith in Jesus Christ and a life marked by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
• Biblical Knowledge & Communication – Capable of clearly and effectively teaching and preaching God’s Word.
• Commitment to Family – Manages family responsibilities joyfully and well; effectively balances demands of work with the Godly call to be a loving spouse and a nurturing parent.
• Leadership & Organizational Skills – Experienced in leading a church or ministry, with a vision for growth and discipleship.
• Evangelistic Passion – Committed to outreach, discipleship, and mission work locally and globally, with a demonstrated passion for world missions.
• Technological Proficiency – Able to utilize and adapt to digital tools that will enhance ministry and discipleship.

What it’s like to live in Bartlesville, OK

Bartlesville offers many amenities that you might find in a larger city, but still offers the small-town feel and short commutes. (And if you want a city, Tulsa is 45 minutes away.) First Wesleyan is one of the flagship churches in our community, especially because of the fact that Wesleyan Christian School (Pre-K through 12th grade) serves families from across the community and from many different church congregations. FWC also offers Kiddie College for pre-school age families. Bartlesville is home to significant oil business operations, including Conoco Phillips and Phillips 66. It is also the home of The Voice of the Martyrs, a major international ministry. Many VOM staff attend FWC or have their children at WCS. Because Bartlesville is the former HQ city of Phillips Petroleum, there are some wonderful amenities, including a large Community Center, Frank Lloyd Wright’s only skyscraper, wonderful parks offering pools, tennis, pickleball and a nice city golf course (the greens are being completely rebuilt as we search). In the broader area, many tourists stop through nearby Pawhuska to visit The Pioneer Woman, and Tulsa is gaining notoriety on the national stage and is home to one of America’s best parks, The Gathering Place.