Snapshot
Denomination: UCC
Weekly Attendance: 180
Location: Southport, CT
The Role: Senior Minister
Meet Southport Congregational Church:
Southport Congregational Church (SCC) is a warm, welcoming, open and affirming community of people who want to encourage and cultivate the abundance of love, life, comfort, peace, health, joy, and meaning that God desires for us all. As a church family, we welcome and value each person as an individual created in God’s image. We unite to share our faith and sense of wonder, joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams, love and support, in the manner of Jesus Christ.
We are a congregation filled with people who are compassionate, faithful, generous and loving. We are dedicated to living out God's purposes here on earth and following Jesus' words to "...love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind..and love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:34-40).
The Senior Minister is responsible for the overall spiritual welfare, spiritual leadership and pastoral care of the congregation. The Senior Minister is also responsible for the overall leadership of the church, management of its facilities and the 14 full and part-time staff who carry out its programs and ministries. In addition, the Senior Minister is integral to the success of the stewardship campaign which makes the ministry and mission of the church possible.
Contribution to Growth
Southport Congregational Church is grateful for our thriving church community. Over the last thirty years, in collaboration with our ministers, we have established and maintained a vibrant and healthy functioning church, with an engaged, active, and growing membership, and a secure financial position. This is a blessing and no small feat, especially in our current societal climate where many churches are closing their doors and fewer and fewer individuals find themselves identifying with any religion. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey found that in the last decade, the percentage of adults in the US who identify as Christian has declined 12 percent, while agnosticism increased by 17 percent. In a culture where we are inundated with pressures, social media, negative narratives, and increasing financial and recreational obligations, there is a great deal of of competition and distractions for our focus and time. We do not take our situation for granted and recognize that to maintain this stability, let alone grow in this environment, we must always be evolving and pivoting as needs change.
As a church community, we want to continue our current trajectory of stable growth which includes not only adding to our membership numbers, but expanding our missions and community outreach, inviting exciting thought leaders to share their stories with our members and the greater community, and continuing our commitment to providing spiritual guidance and fellowship. We want to be proactive in our community and take on leadership roles where and when appropriate, as part of our ministry to love and serve others. We want to continue to be a place of calm and safety in an often chaotic world – a place where our souls are nourished and our lives enriched through community and communion with each other.
We are seeking a Senior Minister who will continue to promote the growth of these interpersonal connections which are critical to the health and vitality of SCC.
Execution of Church Vision | The Senior Minister will be called to faithfully and effectively execute the church vision. The Senior Minister will be the strategic leader, guiding initiatives and activities in accordance with an agreed upon strategic plan, developed in collaboration with the Church Council. The Senior Minister should be one who builds on the church’s successes and will lead the church into the future. The Senior Minister is the senior leader of our church, working closely with the Church Council, lay leaders, and staff to effectively lead the development and execution of our vision, strategy, and operations.
Worship and Preaching | Services are designed to provide an opportunity for a moving and inspirational worship experience. The Senior Minister must be able to relate to and connect with both younger and older people from diverse cultures and political viewpoints. The ideal candidate will lead from a place of spiritual vulnerability, and authenticity with actionable messages and themes that congregants can apply to their daily lives. The Senior Minister must be able to relate to, and connect with both younger and older people from diverse cultures and political views.
Church Development | The Senior Minister will be asked to help grow both the size of the church membership and the depth of its spiritual vibrancy. The Senior Minister must be a relational leader providing spiritual fulfillment to both current and potential new members.
Pastoral Care | The Senior Minister will embrace pastoral care and be an integral part of the church community. This is currently a very personal ministry, and the Senior Minister will be asked to continue with a similar dedication.
Stewardship |The Senior Minister will, in partnership with the Church Council, ensure the faithful stewardship of resources - people, facilities, and finances - and promote a culture of generosity - to further the mission and vision.
Outreach, Missions, and Service Ministry | The Senior Minister will champion SCC's mission outreach ministry. SCC supports its mission partners with programmatic and financial assistance in alignment with each agency's need and goals. The Senior Minister will actively engage in the community and help identify where SCC's resources are best served.
The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Minister:
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree and Master of Divinity required
7+ years of experience as a pastor in a leadership role at a church
Ordained (or willing and able to be ordained) in the UCC
Experience as a senior or associate minister for a similar-sized church
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Experienced, warm, and engaging preacher
Proven ability to relate to and work comfortably across all age groups and diverse populations
Ability to provide quality pastoral care for the congregation, develop deep personal relationships, and be present for important life events
Lead from a place of deep spiritually and love, with actionable messages that congregants can apply to their daily lives
Recognizes the importance of Christian Education for our youth as vital for the development of their faith and the future of our church
Ability to operate in an apolitical, unbiased, and non-judgmental manner
Ability to manage multiple people and projects simultaneously
Ability to delegate to staff and lay leaders as needed
Personal Characteristics & Qualifications
Highly relational, outgoing, personable, approachable, warm, and enthusiastic
Loves and experiences God, Christ-centered, and passionate about ministry
Comfortable working with people of all ages and cultures
Organized, effective, and charismatic leader capable of running a multi-faceted organization with humility, vulnerability, and a sense of humor
What it's Like to Live in Southport, CT:
Southport Congregational Church is located in the heart of the historic coastal Southport Village walking distance from the harbor, just an hour outside of New York City and 30 minutes south of New Haven, CT. Southport is a gem of Fairfield County rich in history, coastal charm, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and is host to many aquatic birds, including our resident American Bald Eagle. Southport is a part of Fairfield, CT which is home to Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University. The town is bustling with college students, academics, cultural activities, and a vibrant downtown area with boutique shops and a variety of restaurant dining. Located on the coast of Long Island Sound, the Town of Fairfield offers its residents access to five (5) beaches and one community lake. The Town has a strong public school system which includes 2 high schools ranked among the top 20 in the state.
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