as at Feb 1st, 1996

The Position. The Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care
will be a mature Christian; an accredited/ordained member of the
…. Denomination; and a member of the … Church; who, through
their calling, example and experience will have demonstrated a
high level of commitment to the spiritual, relational and personal
growth of others. He or she will be responsible for the counselling,
visitation, encouragement and small group ministries of the whole
church.

Church Philosophy of Ministry. Our church is ‘evangelical/
charismatic’. Our doctrinal stance is roughly that of the Lausanne
Movement. Our philosophy of ministry is that all Christians are
‘ministers’ by virtue of their baptism into Christ and his church.
Pastoral team members are set apart to encourage the church to
‘minister to itself and to others’. So each staff-person is a
facilitator, encouraging/equipping/empowering the whole church
for ministry. Pastors minister according to their gifts and within
their limits, as does everyone else, and have no peculiar ministry-prerogatives
other than being ‘servant leaders’.

Qualifications. This person will have demonstrated
by their Christian character and their family/marriage/community
relationships that they have the glory of God as their ultimate
aim in life. He or she will have significant interpersonal and
social skills; a degree or diploma in Christian counselling and
Bible/theology from an approved institution; a track record of
sensitive and skilled helping; and a vision for developing training
programs in pastoral care and counselling. He or she will be known
to work well in a team and as a leader and motivator of others;
to keep confidences; and be aware of their personal gifts and
limits (and thus will know when to refer certain cases to others).
Basic typing/ word processing skills and some experience in administration
are desirable. Upon appointment, the person will relinquish all
other responsibilities in the church to major on this calling.

Accountability. The person shall be accountable ultimately
to Christ, the Head of the church; and through the senior pastor
to the elders of our church. Once a week he or she will report
for at least half an hour to the senior pastor with a ministry
time-schedule for the past and coming weeks. The appointee will
participate in weekly pastoral team meetings, and will relate
to a mentor/supervisor outside the church at least once a month
for an hour to discuss sensitive or complex personal and professional
issues. He or she will also relate once a month to a support-group
of church members for prayer, encouragement, performance appraisals
etc. (but not to discuss confidential matters relating to clients/members).
At each elders’/leaders’ retreat, all staff members will submit
to loving, but rigorous performance appraisals. The appointee
will conduct him/herself according to the ethical guidelines of
our denomination: particularly noting the warning against counselling
those of the opposite sex alone in homes, otherwise-unattended
office buildings, cars etc. (except in unusual circumstances).

Key Ministries. The Associate Pastor for Pastoral
Care will be responsible for :

* Being spiritually equipped for this ministry by
spending two or three hours every working day in prayer, Bible
study, devotional and professional reading

* Maintaining his or her family/community relationships
as an example to others; if a spouse/parent they will normally
spend as many nights at home as in ministry /committees outside
the home

* Being professionally equipped by being supervised
when counselling for at least one session a month, and encouraging
his/her support-group to complete performance appraisals regarding
any public ministries

* Training others in pastoral care, counselling and
visitation

* Prayerfully recruiting and nominating to the elders
those who will be accredited as church ‘carers’

* Organising the appropriate follow-up of any church
members suffering personal or family crises

* Equipping counsellors who will available for prayer-ministries
after every worship service

* Leading corporate worship and preaching (guided
by the assessment of the elders/leaders as to giftings in these
areas)

* Conducting baptisms, weddings, accreditation/induction
services and funerals of those with whom they have had significant
personal ministry, in liaison with the senior pastor

* Writing the ‘Caring for One Another’ column in
the weekly church bulletin, updated for the Sunday worship leader

* Facilitating ‘getting-to-know-you’ activities for
newcomers to our church, and their incorporation into an appropriate
small group

* Regularly updating the database of all church members,
attenders and visitors – and their families – and all the church’s
small groups; together with those responsible for keeping pastoral
contact with each.

Salary and Conditions. The initial appointment is
for two years, renewable annually. The appointee will be remunerated
with a basic stipend of $20,800, plus a $12,000 non-taxable allowance
to cover hospitality, books/periodicals, car, rent, travel, and
other ministry-related expenses for which appropriate receipts
are kept. He or she will be required to attend at least one seven-to-10
day spiritual and/or professional enrichment course each year,
the costs to be paid for by the church, following which a training
seminar on the themes covered will be offered to church members.
The church will pay for professional liability insurance. Annual
leave will amount to four weeks (including four weekends), plus
the fifth Sunday whenever it occurs, to attend and learn from
the ministries of other churches. Each pastoral team member is
strongly urged to take off a ‘sabbath’ day each week – the days
to be coordinated by the senior pastor so that a staff member
is always on call. The counselling component of any ministry-week
should not normally exceed 15 hours. Outside ministry-engagements
(eg. preaching, or teaching seminars in other churches) may be
undertaken from time to time in consultation with the senior pastor.

This Ministry Description – together with those of
other pastoral team members – will be reviewed twice a year at
the Leaders’ Retreat, or from time to time if requested by the
incumbent or senior pastor. The elders/leaders have covenanted
to pray daily for each member of the pastoral team, and to offer
whatever personal encouragement they can to each team member and
their families.

‘To God Be The Glory!’

Signed………………………………(senior
pastor)

Signed………………………………(chairperson
of elders)

Signed………………………………(associate
pastor- pastoral care).

Date……………………………..…