Interim/Transitional Pastor for Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church

Ministry: Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church

Job type: part time

Position type: 101 – Pastor or Co-Pastor (installed)

Presbytery: coastlands

Position Description PDF: Open PDF

Details:
CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION: Here at Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church (WSPC) we know that everyone has a story. The beauty of the gospel is that no matter what your life's story is, Jesus has come to redeem it and give it another ending. That's why we proclaim that we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard! Our story starts on March 10th, 1836, when colored members of the First Presbyterian Church (Nassau Presbyterian Church) in Princeton, New Jersey, were dismissed to form "The First Presbyterian Church of Colour of Princeton." Four years later, Col. John Lowrey, an elder at the First Presbyterian Church, gave special permission for the colored members to receive communion at their church. As a result, the Sacrament of the Holy Communion was given on the 2nd Sabbath of October 1840. This date marked the church's official beginning, later referred to as the "Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church for Colored People in Princeton." Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church began during a time of social, political, and religious upheaval in the Princeton Community and the nation. The church emerged as a determined congregation of slaves, servants, and free people who challenged the basics of the African Colonization Society and the weight of the Fugitive Slave Laws. Nurtured by the hope of the Underground Railroad and the challenges of the 1818 and 1837 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church responses to the sinfulness of slavery, the equality of all God's creation, and the period of Reconstruction, Witherspoon, along with other African American religious institutions, sought diligently to bring consciousness to the theological and social attitudes of the times. Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church continues to hold a significant place in Princeton with members from many communities, occupations, and interests. The church's open and diverse congregation seeks to be stewards for peacemaking and racial reconciliation. We are now ready to search for an interim/transitional pastor who can help move us into our next season of ministry, helping us prepare for our next installed pastor. We are looking for leadership, transitional work, and engaging worship. At Witherspoon, we seek to provide a warm, deep-seated, God-centered spirituality and minister to all persons who are in need of God's grace, to commit to Christian education and social justice through bible study, service, mentoring, youth activities, lectures, and programs, to draw from the rich cultural, artistic, political, theological and intellectual resources of the Princeton community, to celebrate and preserve the rich heritage and tradition of the African American Christian pioneers and to serve the surrounding community and to actively encourage everyone to share their unique gifts and talents. Are you the pastor we seek for such a time as this? We look forward to exploring how God might be calling us to ministry together. PASTOR RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Plan and lead the regular Sunday worship service and special services, coordinating efforts with other staff and volunteers. 2. Supervise staff in collaboration with the Personnel Committee. Staff includes Office Manager, Sexton and church musicians. 3. Coordinate pastoral care with the deacons to provide administrative leadership. 4. Provide guidance and support to the Pastor Nominating Committee and the congregation as we prepare for our next installed pastor. 5. Facilitate and empower the committees by working with chairs and members. 6. Participate actively in the life of Coastlands Presbytery. 7. Officiate at weddings and funerals, as requested and pending availability. 8. Moderate Session meetings at dates and times as arranged. 9. Moderate two (2) bi-annual Congregational Meetings to be held on Sundays immediately following worship. Additional congregational meetings can be convened as needed. 10.Ensure officer onboarding/training occurs at least annually. 11.Support New Members classes as needed. WSPC RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. The congregation will support and partner with the pastor in Christ ministry through WSPC. 2. Seek to listen and learn alongside the pastor and be open to the work of the Holy Spirit. 3. The Session will conduct an annual review of compensation and benefits, and overall congregational mission/ministry. 4. The Session will provide appropriate and just compensation. TERMS: We are seeking an interim pastor on a part-time basis, serving approximately 20 hours per week until a permanent pastor is hired, meeting all Presbytery of the Coastlands’ requirements. Salary and benefits will meet or exceed Presbytery guidelines. Manse available. TO APPLY: Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to personnel@witherspoonchurch.org. For questions or information, please contact Angela Witcher, Chair of the Personnel Committee at awitcher712@gmail.com.

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