• Role Description
• Responsibilities
• Qualifications & Requirements
• Personal Skills
• Position Details
• Information Packet
• Application Instructions

Role Description, Pastor for Preaching & Vision

Under the aid and authority of the Holy Spirit, the Pastor for Preaching & Vision (PPV) serves as the primary preaching pastor and chief spiritual-theological leader of the church. The PPV leads primarily through the faithful exposition of Scripture, prayer, doctrinal clarity, vision for the church, and partnership with fellow elders—helping the congregation treasure Christ above all things and live faithfully in obedience to him.

Responsibilities

Preaching and Teaching

• Serve as the primary expositional preacher, proclaiming the whole counsel of God.
• Lead the preaching ministry with theological coherence and pastoral wisdom.
• Mentor and equip other pastors and approved teachers.

Vision and Spiritual Leadership

• Articulate and steward a clear, biblically grounded vision for the church.
• Guard against theological confusion and mission drift.
• Help the congregation understand not only what the church does, but why.

Elder Leadership

• Serve as a leading elder among equals in close partnership with the Elder Council.
• Provide theological leadership in matters of doctrine, ethics, and church-wide teaching.

Staff Leadership

• Provide spiritual and directional leadership to the pastoral staff.
• Encourage a culture of congregational care and discipleship.
• Evaluate and organize pastoral staffing structure.

Doctrinal Stewardship

• Faithfully uphold and teach the Bethlehem Baptist Church Elder Affirmation of Faith and the life of the church that flows from those convictions.

Bethlehem College and Seminary Leadership

• Ex officio seat on Bethlehem College and Seminary board of trustees.
• Promote healthy communication and a strong relationship between the church and school leadership.

Other Duties

• The Pastor for Preaching & Vision will carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the church from time to time.

Qualifications & Requirements

1. Model servant leadership and exhibit a helpful, joyful attitude.
2. As outlined in Bethlehem’s Elder Affirmation of Faith, pastors must be male and meet the spiritual, personal, and character qualifications of an elder found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9, and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22–23.
3. Be a man of prayer and a man of the word, sensitive to what the Spirit is saying to Bethlehem, devoting himself to daily prayer and Bible reading for the sake of guarding himself from sin and stirring up his heart and mind to renewed passion for Christ; he will lead his family in regular times in the word and prayer; and he will gladly participate in mutual care and accountability with other believers.
4. Undertake his 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.
5. Be a member in good standing of Bethlehem Baptist Church or, if not a member when called to the church, become a member as soon as possible, ideally completing the membership process within three (3) months of the date when employment begins.
6. Understand, endorse, and teach—without reservation—the church’s biblical and theological teaching as expressed in the Bethlehem Baptist Church Elder Affirmation of Faith. He must embody Bethlehem’s DNA.
7. Joyfully minister in accord with the Bethlehem Pastor’s Covenant in a manner that honors Christ and is a positive example to others.
8. While ensuring first loyalty is to God and the wWord, support the leadership of the church generally and specifically for his area of ministry. Strive to maintain positive and fruitful relationships with other Bethlehem employees, members, and leaders. While concerns or differences of opinion may arise, all employees will communicate in a biblical manner and abide by appropriate supervisory direction and any final determinations of the Council of Elders. Whether leading the congregation or submitting to those in authority, he will do so in a joyful manner. While visionary, he will be alert to the needs of the congregation and be a good listener.
9. Maintain insight and organizational skills necessary to work effectively, creatively, and flexibly within the context of a large church with multiple staff members and ministries.
10. Strictly maintain appropriate confidentiality according to the guidelines set forth in Bethlehem’s Employee Handbook and Relational Commitments.
11. Sign our Employee Handbook Acknowledgement Form and comply with all applicable church policies.
12. Be characterized as a compelling and gifted communicator with humility and zeal.

Personal Skills

1. Leadership—the Pastor should be able to lead in a variety of contexts (individual, small groups, large groups) in such a way that Jesus Christ and his gospel are central. He should be a self-starter and take initiative. He should be wise and discerning and know when to be decisive, sensitive, tender, and firm.
2. Preaching—the Pastor should be an effective preacher who is able to rightly handle the word of God and joyfully engage in expository exultation.
3. Relational—the Pastor should have a heart to care for people. That drive should manifest itself in the appropriate use of time.
4. Administrative—while seeking mainly to shepherd people, the Pastor should have the skill set and ability to effectively manage the various administrative tasks associated with the position.
5. Teaching/Equipping—the Pastor should be a fruitful, biblical teacher and champion of Bethlehem’s mission and vision. His teaching should effectively “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).
6. Communication—the Pastor should be able to communicate clearly, concisely, and in a loving and biblical manner.
7. Partnership—skill and wisdom in navigating the complexities of institutional partnerships.
8. Peacemaking—the Pastor should be able to tactfully and winsomely unite people with varying perspectives to advance harmony and love, and to achieve common goals.

Employment Details

This is a full-time, exempt salaried role with an annual salary range of $105,000–$120,000. Our comprehensive benefits package includes health care premium and cost assistance, an HSA plan with employer matching for qualifying plans, life and disability insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 4.5% employer match, and generous paid time off for holidays, vacation, sabbatical, and sick leave.

Information Packet

We invite you to view and download the Applicant Information Packet (a link will be available soon), including: 

• Our Church Profile.
• The Candidate Profile.
• “What to Expect” in Bethlehem’s Search Process.
• The Job Description.

Application Instructions

Thank you for your interest in this position. To apply, please complete the ministry application form and attach your resume along with any other relevant documents. This is a concise, high-level application aimed to gain initial insight into your interest and suitability for the ministry position. The elders will review your application and respond within seven days, either notifying intent to not move forward or inviting you to complete the secondary questionnaire and Leader Portrait.

We will begin accepting applications on Monday, April 27.

Apply April 27