Full-Time Lead Disciple Maker at Cornerstone Church of Oakdale (Oakdale, CA)

Cornerstone Church of Oakdale

Minister/ Senior Pastor Job Description

Revised August 2026

Introduction

The senior pastor (or minister) leads in a process for discerning and clarifying vision, then gives leadership and supervision for implementing that vision through the various ministries of the church. To do this, a team approach should be developed with all staff members (paid and unpaid) and with all ministry groups and leaders of the church.

The senior pastor is pastor-leader, preacher, challenger, trainer, teacher, resource, initiator, counselor and guide. However, he works with many other “members of the Body” who also “minister” to one another and the world. 

Since each church and each minister is unique every church’s position description would show variance in some areas of leadership and expectations. The educational qualification for those who are professional church leaders include a college degree and a Master of Divinity degree or its equivalent.  Salaries, benefits such as retirement, health insurance, and professional expenses such as conference expense, continuing education and time off will vary depending on experience and education. Such items will be negotiated and agreed upon with the minister at the time of employment and reviewed at least annually. 

Responsibilities, accountabilities and opportunities for service need to be clarified with position descriptions for all professional staff persons, as well as with expectations and responsibilities of laity and their mutual responsibilities. The position description should clarify the responsibilities, mutually agreed upon performance goals, lines of accountability, and authority parameters for the senior minister and for each staff person. Similar position descriptions should be written for all leaders and workers in the church, for they bear responsibility along with clergy for the church’s performance.

Theology of Ministry

The theme of ministering is found throughout the scriptures.  There are functional differences between apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors, and the general body of disciples, but the concept of the one body was and is the important image of the church.  There is the call of God to the individual to be “set apart” as God’s servant in ministry, and there is the validating corporate call of a specific church to the individual to serve in a designated position as a minister to and with a congregation.  Such ministry is founded in the ministry that Jesus provided: prophet, priest, and wise ruler.  Therefore, ministers are preachers, teachers, leaders, and servants for our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Senior Pastor Is:

Accountable to: ultimately, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The Senior Minister is an equal member of the Elder Council and will lead in submission to the will of the Council.  With his leadership, the church council determines the mission, ministry and policies for the local congregation.    

Accountable with: Fellow staff members (paid and unpaid) as a team and the congregation as a family for the total ministry of the local church life and the mission to the community and world. 

Accountable with:  area and region leaders, national denominational leaders, other churches, and ecumenical groups, for meaningful participation in and support of broader mission efforts.

Accountable for:  Vision Discernment and Mission Implementation

            WORSHIP SERVICES

1. Preaching
2. Responsible for liturgical plan for each week (currently using Planning Center)
3. Responsible for Proclaim presentation for Sunday morning worship
4. Administration or Ordinances
5. Officiate at Weddings and Funerals of church members

EQUIPING THE SAINTS FOR MINISTRY

1. Teaching (Bible Study, Membership Classes)
2. Training Leaders
3. Evangelistic, Ethical and Discipleship Training as needed (providing for training so that followers of Jesus will also make disciples).
4. Premarital Counseling for church members
5. Enable Congregational Care (training and encouraging members to care for each other as an example of their love for Christ) along with the Congregational Care Leader and their team.
6. Maintaining Church Order and Bylaws Governance and Boundary Principles

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Senior Pastor is to preach and/or teach in the Sunday Morning service. He should also lead    a Bible Study, though he may delegate the teaching portion of that study.
2. The Senior Pastor is to work with the Worship Team leader in preparing appropriate worship services. These services should be well-prepared, honoring to the Lord, and in a form that is most suitable for our congregation.
3. The Senior Pastor is to regularly lead the congregation in the Lord’s Supper or Communion. This should be done at least once a month. He should also lead in regard to baptism. These should be offered at least every three months. 
4. The Senior Pastor is responsible for all administration of the church. This includes office, staff, janitorial, grounds and buildings. This is not to imply that the pastor will do these things: only that he will oversee and delegate them as appropriate. 
5. The Senior Pastor will lead and guide all other members of the pastoral staff. He, with the council, will be responsible to ensure that all staff, pastoral and otherwise, fulfill the requirements of their job descriptions.
6. The Senior Pastor will be a member of church committees and boards where appropriate. 
7. The Senior Pastor will lead the deacons to maintain contact with all supported church missionaries and missions.  He is to see that the congregation is also involved in the lives and ministries of those missionaries and missions. 
8. The Senior Pastor will delegate and oversee the planning of outreach activities in the surrounding neighborhoods in coordination with the deacons and other ministries as appropriate. He will oversee the assimilation of new attendees and work toward creating a hospitable environment in the congregation. 
9. The Senior Pastor will participate in and advise the Christion Education of all ages. This includes Sunday School classes, youth, and adult education.  He will delegate many responsibilities to volunteers in the church.
10. The Senior Pastor will provide short-term counseling as needed.  He will be available and responsive to crisis situations. He will provide pastoral care through the most effective means possible. 
11. The position requires great flexibility in time schedule.  The Senior Pastor should be available for evening activities as well as work on the weekends within reason.  The Pastor is free to take one or two days off each week depending on the needs of the congregation. 
12. The Senior Pastor may have other duties assigned by the church Council that are appropriate and consistent with CRC doctrine and philosophy.

THE MINISTER SHALL

1. Lead officers, boards and committees in vision discernment and in long range and short-term planning and execution of their tasks by consulting, advising, coordinating and evaluating. 
2. In cases where there are part-time or full-time paid staff, a team approach to ministry is desired with the senior minister functioning as coach/player. The senior minister supervises staff, develops staff, holds staff accountable for performance goals, and creates an environment for healthy relationships.
3. Provide for office administration through staff or volunteers for assignments such as central record keeping of minutes, membership records, etc. for all boards, committees and church business meetings as well as reports of church officers. 

DENOMINATIONAL AND INTER-DENOMINATIONAL ACTIVITES

1. Agree and sign the Covenant for Officebearers of the CRCNA.
2. Participate in when appropriate, and cooperate when appropriate with clusters or associations, regional and national programs, events and activities.
3. Cooperate with other local churches in appropriate ecumenical efforts and witness. Be involved in other community agencies and programs as appropriate and in keeping with the congregation’s vision and mission. 
4. Support denominational mission work and institutions as they are an extension and expression of the church’s vision and mission.

PERSONAL GROWTH AND RECREATION

1. Appropriate time for personal reading, research and meditation.
2. Plan for regular continuing education through a variety of possibilities approved by council (books, conferences, podcasts, mission trips, further formal education etc.). 
3. Take scheduled vacation each year.
4. Have one or two days off each week as agreed upon at time of employment. 
5. Attend appropriate denominational and inter-denominational conferences, conventions regularly and encourage other staff persons and members of the congregation to do likewise. 
6. When attending conferences, conventions or scheduling continuing education units, the Council will make sure the responsibility of Sunday service is covered by Pulpit Supply. The added Sunday off will be included in the Senior Pastor/Ministers Benefits Package and will be included in the yearly budget proposal prior to congregational approval. 

EVALUATION

The council will supervise the senior minister as a normal part of their function. The council will ensure the senior pastor is utilizing his gifts and experiences in a manner that is reflective of healthy discipleship and integrity. All raises and corrective actions shall be based on their actively participating and personally growing in the areas of their responsibilities. 

Such appraisal on the part of the minister effectiveness as well as council members improves communication and a sense of healthy community as part of the body of Christ. Positions are likely to be rewritten when there are changes in staff in relation to that person’s gifts, strengths, passions and experiences. Regular accountability is a positive and mutually beneficial experience with emphasis on the positive qualities of leadership, celebration of achieving objectives and the determining of new objectives. Failures in participation and growth will be addressed by the council with love, grace and truth, seeking the well-being of the individual and the church in Christ and through the Holy Spirit.