Pastor/church planter

Donside Community Church, Pennan Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2UD

Reporting to: Donside Community Church Elders   Salary: TBA dependent on experience

Deeside Christian Fellowship Church (“DCFC”) is seeking to appoint a full-time pastor to a church plant it has established in Tillydrone, Aberdeen.  We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-motivated individual with pastoral and church-planting training.  Relevant experience is desirable but not critical provided the individual demonstrates a sense of calling and passion for the role.  As the church has already started and has a newly refurbished and well-equipped building this represents an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to, by God’s grace, help fully establish the church and see it become an independent evangelical church.

About Donside Community Church (“DCC”)

DCC is a recently planted DCFC church near the centre of Aberdeen.  DCFC is an independent evangelical church, formed almost 50 years ago in a suburb of Aberdeen.  As the church has grown to capacity it has sought to plant other churches: Banchory Christian fellowship, now a fully independent church; DCC; and Hope Church, Torry, which commenced Sunday services last year.

DCC is the fruit of over 20 years missional activity in the Tillydrone district of Aberdeen undertaken by the Lighthouse, an organisation created and funded by DCFC, to bring gospel transformation to the Tillydrone Community.  Tillydrone is a public housing estate built in 1968-1975 composed of blocks of flats and terraced housing.  It is ranked in the bottom 20% in the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and is designated as a priority regeneration neighbourhood by the local authority.

In the past 36 months DCFC has acquired and refurbished the former Tillydrone Library and Family Centre to create a high-quality base for the work of the Lighthouse and to accommodate the new church.

Whilst DCC is currently controlled by DCFC the aim is have the church self-funded and independent within a 10-year timeframe.

Role Summary

DCC is seeking a pastor to take on a pioneering role in a new church setting.  First and foremost, the candidate must have a pastor’s heart and a passion to get alongside people in the community.  Whilst he should have strong leadership qualities, he will also have to be comfortable serving as part of a wider team, and particularly to work closely with the established missional activities of the Lighthouse.  He should have a focus on evangelism but also be able to disciple new converts.

Key Responsibilities

Evangelism

  • Developing church ministries and supporting existing evangelistic activities including those of the Lighthouse project

  • Evangelistic preaching

Bible teaching and pastoral duties

  • Regular bible preaching and proclamation of the Gospel

  • Sunday ministry and leadership of weekly activities eg prayer meeting

  • Pastoral visits and one-to-one discipleship

Church leadership

  • Responsibility for the spiritual and pastoral care of the Fellowship

  • Oversight and mentoring of volunteers within the church to lead various ministries including children’s work and youth work

Eldership

  • Serve as part of the eldership, embracing the biblical model of plurality of leadership

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

  • Degree level or above in theology or other equivalent ministry training

  • Clear understanding and passion for urban mission and pioneering church growth

  • Pastoral heart

  • Proven ability to preach and teach

  • Leadership and inter-personal skills

  • High degree of self-motivation, ability to take initiative, and strong work ethic

  • The ideal candidate would have experience in church-planting and pastoral care but candidates demonstrating a calling and equipping for such work will also be considered

Doctrinal position

Suitable candidates should be able to agree to our Statement of Faith  

Applications should be submitted to the following email address: Derekleith1903@outlook.com 

Please enclose with your application: a full CV and a covering letter of no more than two pages summarising your proven ability with regard to the key responsibilities and skills & experience outlined above; and your spiritual history and goals and how you hope that this job may fit in.