Senior Pastoral Search Application Page

Welcome to the "best church this side of heaven " — the Messiah Baptist Church of Brockton, Massachusetts. We are honored to introduce you to our family, community and ministries. Messiah Baptist Church is an expansive, family oriented, multi-cultural, multi-generational church that strives to exemplify God's teachings by offering spiritual guidance, community support, and an empowered voice to the unheard disenfranchised, also to provide a safe place for the marginalized, and feeding the poor and hungry. Messiah Baptist Church is a community-based church which has helped shape the political, educational, social, and civic landscape of the City of Brockton since its inception in 1897. As Brockton's demographics become more diverse, Messiah's goals and spiritual objectives are to strive to create and sustain ministries that align with addressing the ever-changing needs of our community and society.

We are a church in transition. As a place of worship, the ministry is fully engaged in our commitment to spiritual development, meeting the needs of the community, and collaborating with civic and political leaders. As people of God, we are proud of our ability to provide training and/or access for incorporating spiritual, intellectual, and real life experiences and/or perspectives. Although we are a small congregation, we are financially solvent with an in-house financial institution that promotes financial independence and self-reliance.

Based on scripture in Matthew 28: 19-20 and Acts 2, Messiah Baptist Church is commissioned to connect people with God through authentic relationships and ministries that serve our families, communities, congregants, and the kingdom of God.

Messiah Baptist Church is an expansive, family-oriented, multi-cultural, multigenerational church with a heart for God, evangelism within our community, and for the marginalized and unheard voices. We share a commitment to learning and acting on the Word of God as a baptizing community that operates with expectancy, renewed energy, clarity, sobriety, while challenging ourselves and others to live honorably while celebrating equity within the calling that God has placed on us.

The Congregation hopes to:

 a. Find suitable candidates that are able to qualify with American Baptist Church standing or meet the requirements for privilege of call within a one-year period.

 b. Retain a compassionate, welcoming, well versed, and humble servant of God committed to: 

1. Preaching, teaching and sharing the Gospel amongst the congregation and members of the community; 

2. Partnering with leadership to assist in developing a vision aligned with increasing membership, use of advanced technologies, and the financial growth of Messiah Baptist Church.

 3. Creating opportunities to work with Brockton's political, social, civic and grass root organizations to improve the plight of all Brockton citizens. 

We encourage you to engage our hearts, minds and spirits as we journey towards our true calling. God is up to something and we will work and wait with expectancy as He unveils His plan for us! Share this journey with us! 

Sharon Molden and Doreen Lindsay, 

Co-Chairs Senior Pastoral Search Committee On Behalf of the Messiah Baptist Church 

POSITION: Senior Pastor

REPORTS TO: Congregation and the Deacons (Diaconate).

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 

Galatians 5: 22-23 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Senior Pastor provides spiritual, pastoral, outreach, administrative and servant leadership to the congregation of Messiah Baptist Church so the congregation might fulfill its mission as a light of Christ in the city of Brockton. The Senior Pastor relates to and connects with multiple generations, diverse congregants and partners with civic, social and political leaders/organizations to advocate for the disenfranchised, those without homes in our community and those in our urban environment. In addition, the pastor represents the congregation in denominational or community organizations, and activities to learn new ways that the church can support and engage with and/or within the surrounding area. Recognizing the importance of spiritual health and one's personal relationship with God, the Senior Pastor takes time for regular prayer, Bible study, rest, professional and personal development, recreation and occasional sabbatical refreshing. Lastly, the Senior Pastor extends God's grace to others and leads by example as one who is relational, authentic, transparent, approachable and humble.

• Conduct worship that enables people to hear the word of God and participate in personal and corporate devotion and relationship with God.   
• Plan in consultation with the Music Director and staff, all elements of all scheduled worship services of the Church.   
• Prepare and deliver sermons and lessons at all scheduled worship services of the Church unless on occasion the congregation authorizes another to fulfill this responsibility.  
•  Prepare and lead all special worship events of the Church, including but not limited to Tenebrae, Watch Night, Thanksgiving, Holy Week, as well as requested weddings and funerals, unless otherwise provided for as authorized by the Church. 

• Guide the spiritual formation of the congregation through teaching, preaching and leadership by example and scripture.   
• Work with the Staff and Christian Education Committee to ensure that the Church is provided with opportunities to pray and to study the Bible and the Christian tradition.   
• Work with the staff and Missions Committee to ensure that the Church is provided with opportunities to be involved in hands-on service opportunities within and beyond the Church, such as partnering with organizations and community to address and/or advocate for issues involving persons without homes, proper nutrition and other marginalized issues involving the citizenry.   
• Work with the Stewardship sub-committee to encourage the congregation to give time, talents, and treasures/resources in service to God.

• Oversee all areas of the congregation's ministry in consultation with the Deacons, Trustees, Church Council (Advisory), and Committees. > Support, supervise, manage and provide input for the evaluation of church employees in conjunction with the Deacons and an established Personnel Committee.   
• Build a sense of team-work among church staff and Committee Chairs.     Hold and/or attend regular meetings to coordinate the ministries of the church and facilitate communication.  
• Enable Deacons, Trustees, Church Officers and Committee Chairs to better perform their duties through training and support.  
•  Work with the Trustees and/or Business Manager to see that the facilities of the church are functional and in good repair.   
• Provide spiritual guidance and encouragement of/and with the volunteer staff of the Messiah Baptist Jubilee Federal Credit Union.  
•  Assist associate ministers/ministerial staff by providing training and resources necessary for the attainment of ministry goals. 

• Have a heart for urban ministries and an understanding of the challenges of sharing the gospel in a city with many differing views and opinions.  
• Make a concerted effort to engage new visitors and encourage them to take an active role in the Church.  
• Provide training opportunities to the congregation for outreach and evangelism.   
• Work with the Missions Committee to support various mission opportunities, to encourage the Church in giving to missions, and to involve the Church in personal mission service. 

• Visit or contact church members to encourage their involvement or to address their personal needs (especially all homebound church members).  
• Provide pastoral care in conjunction with other staff, committees, and deacons through visitation, phone calls, counseling and prayer.  
• Make appropriate referrals when necessary and quickly respond or refer to appropriate sources, crisis situations which arise in the congregation.