Profile of the new WBC Pastor

Westhampton Baptist Church [“WBC”] is trusting God for a pastor who is a person of integrity, a servant-leader, a person of prayer and a compelling communicator. The Westhampton Church family desires a Pastor who exemplifies the 1st Timothy 3 profile of a pastor; a person who loves God, loves his/her family, and delights in spending time in prayer and study of the Scriptures. We are asking the Lord for a humble and gracious person.

Narratives of our expectations include, but are not limited to:

Spiritual Vitality — The Pastor will shepherd the flock by fostering an environment in the Church that facilitates the spiritual growth of individuals and the congregation by modeling a vibrant, growing, fruitful relationship with God.

Preaching – One of the Pastor’s strengths should be preaching. The Pastor will be responsible for all the public worship services of the church, and will provide for the proper administration of the sacraments of Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, weddings and funerals. The Pastor’s sermons will be biblically based, using exposition, life situations, culture, and world developments. These sermons will evangelize, inspire, challenge, and be relevant to the church and its diverse membership. The Pastor will convey spiritual, biblical, and Christ-centered truths with clarity and understanding.

Commitment - The Pastor’s first commitment is to Jesus Christ, manifested by an active prayer life, devotion to the church, and compassion toward those in need. The Pastor will lead others to the same commitment. The Pastor will embrace the Church’s expressed values, mission and vision statements as well as our Baptist heritage. The Pastor will actively support the ministries, local and global, that characterize our church.

Leadership - The Pastor’s leadership will be modeled after Jesus Christ, the ultimate example of a true and humble servant leader, and carried out under the guidance of scripture and the Holy Spirit. The Pastor will be a person of influence and Christian character who has the ability to blend the traditions of our past with a courageous vision for our future. The Pastor will lead us to carry out the cause of Christ and the mission of Westhampton Baptist Church. The Pastor will motivate the congregation to implement and to support church ministries and will lead the staff through a team approach.

Relationships - The Pastor’s relationship with the Lord will affect all relationships within the church and in the community. The Pastor will value the diversity of our congregation, the Richmond area and the Baptist community, leading us to live harmoniously with each other and our neighbors. The Pastor will have a heart for Christ's church that is expressed in a compassion for all generations, families, personal relationships, and communities. The Pastor will foster a familial relationship with the congregation and staff.

Experience and Education – The Pastor will have earned preferably a master’s degree from an accredited seminary or divinity school. Clear evidence of fruitfulness stemming from previous leadership roles within the Baptist community and the church should be present. Since the Pastor will take the lead role in leadership, team building, vision-casting and preaching, previous experience in leadership is also very important.

Duties and Responsibilities – The Pastor is responsible administratively to and serves with the support and direction of the Board of Deacons. The Pastor shall do all in his/her power to preach the Word of God and pastor this church, giving special attention to families in time of crises. It is expected that the Pastor will represent the church to the community with all good taste and Christian grace, seeking to extend the fellowship to those in need. The Pastor is expected to work closely with the Board of Deacons and the Church Council to perform well these functions.

Specific Duties and Expected Deliverables –

• Prepare and deliver sermons that are relevant and seeker sensitive, while challenging members and visitors to become fully devoted followers of Christ,
• Prepare and deliver biblical teachings for the Adult Bible Study held each Wednesday evening, along with other Church functions,
• Invest time in studying the Bible and seeking God in order to bring a fresh word to His people,
• Establish and keep regular, posted hours and be available during times of need and crises.
• Visit the sick and shut-ins of Westhampton Baptist Church on a regular basis, and visit the inactive members in an attempt to have them become more active,
• Take the initiative in recommending and implementing actions that fulfill the values, vision and mission of Westhampton Baptist Church,
• Provide guidance for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and evaluating the total Church program,
• Function as moderator of all Church business meetings, if possible,
• Schedule and lead weekly staff meetings for planning and motivation,
• Be available for Christian counseling, including pre-marital counseling,
• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate the growth of church membership,
• Monitor the spiritual condition of the congregation, and respond to needs and opportunities with teaching, ministries and initiatives,
• Comply with all established church policies and procedures as well as all applicable federal and state laws.

In summary, the Pastor will be called by God and will prayerfully lead “WBC” to a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ, inspire WBC’s congregation to an active prayer life, inspire faithfulness to scripture, and deliver inspirational messages that are inspired by the truth of God’s word. The Pastor will exemplify a life of integrity, a servant-leader relationship with the congregation and staff, and a courageous vision for reaching the lost and those in need.

The pastor’s theology will be consistent with traditional Baptist beliefs. The application of that theology will be moderate, including embracing the concepts of the priesthood of the believer and the autonomy of the local congregation.

The Pastor will be the primary vehicle in making the Baptist faith relevant to those within WBC’s sphere of influence, embrace diversity and seek out ways to create an open and hospitable atmosphere for seekers who are unfamiliar with church traditions.