What is the congregation’s or organization’s vision for ministry? Additionally describe how this vision is lived out.
Tower Hill’s vision is to fulfill our mission by creating environments that connect all generations to Jesus. Weekly worship is a central part of that connection. As our church community grows closer to Jesus, they discover their identity and purpose in God’s mission to the world. Since different people respond to different worship environments, there are two distinctly different worship styles at Tower Hill: traditional and contemporary.
Worship, however, is just a part of spiritual formation. Opportunities exist for all age groups to grow through small group experiences. With over 100 adults enrolled in our current offerings (bible studies, short and long-term groups, etc.), we believe that this is critical in helping a growing congregation feel cared for and to develop close community.
Our vibrant Next Gen Ministry offers dynamic and relevant teaching from cradle to college, both on Sunday mornings and through mid-week programs. We believe that our faith commitments are only as good as our ability to hand them off to the next generation.
Our goal through all our ministry strategies is to develop disciples who participate in the mission of God. As a congregation, we are constantly listening to the Holy Spirit for how to reach/engage our greater Red Bank community, consistently supporting our local mission partners who are caring for the “least of these” in our midst.
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How do you feel called to reach out to address the emerging needs of your community or constituency?
The role of the church in meeting the spiritual needs of all generations requires consistency, flexibility, and an openness to follow the Spirit’s lead. If last year’s pandemic taught us anything, it’s how we must embrace all three in order to continue the work of the church. Finding hybrid solutions became a challenge when restrictions limited our gathering options.
While in-person worship continues to play a crucial role in the church’s ministry, providing online worshipping options went from being supplemental to mission-critical. In providing more interactive, accessible digital experiences, we continually look to expand in-person connections through small-groups and ministry opportunities for all ages which enable members to grow in Christ together.
Our church has taken steps to meet our people where they are, but we want to do more. The launch of our app and podcast and other social media platforms have enabled us to provide content and connection 24/7. Continued growth and expansion of these efforts to find new and better ways to engage our community digitally as well as in-person is a key component of our continued growth.
By combining these efforts, we create a more fulfilling experience for our current congregation, and enhance our efforts to make disciples of more of God’s children within our greater Red Bank community.
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How will this position help you to reach your vision and mission goals?
With a church our size, we require an Associate Pastor to help us achieve our vision and mission. It is simply not possible for our church to continue to grow and reach its full potential without the assistance of an Associate Pastor - a partner to: share the pastoral burdens and responsibilities of our large congregation, and to assist our Lead Pastor in implementing the church’s vision and goals for the future.
The Associate Pastor will be a leader, expected to develop new ideas—and implement them—which will increase engagement within our current community but also attract those who are not yet participants. We want to develop (and redevelop) disciples who want more than just a Sunday worship experience, but a whole-life experience that depends upon daily work and walk, both individually and communally. This is because we believe that reaching our full potential as followers of Christ is not just about weekly attendance and volunteerism, but about life transformation.
The Associate Pastor will be tasked with expanding and enhancing our discipleship offerings, both in-person and digital, and finding new ways for our church to meet the needs of the people.
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Provide a description of the characteristics needed by the person who is open to being called to this congregation and or organization.
The individual must have a deep Christian faith and commitment to loving the people. They must be able to handle a non-traditional Presbyterian church, one that is known for innovation, and be willing to reimagine customs and methods for the sake of gospel effectiveness.
The individual must be an exceptional communicator. The person being called to this position will be involved in many aspects of the church and with many members, staff and volunteers. They will be required to not only communicate the vision, but exemplify it in their own actions and approach to their job. They should have the confidence of their convictions, but also evidence empathy and the ability to accept and integrate the ideas of others.
The person being called to this position will show leadership in developing and implementing new ideas, strategies and processes, which will require them to develop a plan and to motivate others to join them in their efforts. The individual must be adaptable and open-minded, while also maintaining the confidence to make a decision and implement it. The individual should be a creative problem-solver. They must be willing to reimagine how things are traditionally done, all while inspiring the staff and the congregation.
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What specific tasks, assignments, and program areas will this person have responsibility?
This position is responsible for the development and implementation of a church-wide strategy for adult discipleship in collaboration with key staff and volunteers. In order to accomplish this mission, the Next Steps Pastor will:
- Further develop (and in some places, reimagine) the existing Next Steps spiritual formation framework/language of Tower Hill: come, connect, contribute
- Oversee the baptism ministry, its systems, processes, and volunteers (including our baptism trainer)
- Collaborate closely with (and oversee) the Dir. of Next Steps, Dir. of Guest Services, and the Connect Team in order to create alignment around the Next Steps pathway
- Coordinate guest follow-up for both physical and digital church attendance
- Collaborate with the Dir. of Next Gen. to implement yearly Confirmation program
- Work in partnership with Tower Hill leadership, staff, and congregation in order to accomplish church-wide ministry goals
While the primary focus of this position is Next Steps ministries, the Next Steps Pastor will also serve according to the larger pastoral needs of the congregation which includes, but is not limited to:
- Worship leadership: the Next Steps Pastor will regularly participate in worship (lead sacraments as needed) and will contribute as a member of the preaching team
- Conduct weddings, funerals, and counseling sessions (and general pastoral care) as needed
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Optional Links
https://towerhillchurch.org/
https://www.facebook.com/TowerHillChurch
https://www.facebook.com/groups/thnextgen
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