Part-time Associate Pastor at Coit Community Church (Grand Rapids, MI)

Coit Community Church is located in a diverse neighborhood of upscale and low-income housing in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. We pray to find a pastor who has a deep desire to help lead and love the church and continue our community outreach. 

We are a small, urban, multi-racial, and multicultural congregation of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Historically, the congregation has had close bonds with its community with many neighbors saying they appreciate that Coit has been a long-time advocate on their behalf. 

Coit Community Purpose Statement:

As a church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Coit Community Church exists to help build a build a city for all people through the movement of the Gospel that brings personal conversion, social justice, and cultural renewal to Grand Rapids, and hopefully, through the city, into the world.

Position Summary:

The position of associate pastor is part-time and will work closely with our current pastor Rev. Jerome Burton. The desire is that the associate pastor will be mentored by Rev. Jerome and work towards succeeding him to become our full-time pastor upon his retirement, which is currently expected in 2023.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Person must display a deep relationship with Christ and show a clear willingness to grow in the faith and be willing to disciple others to do the same.

• Must believe the Bible is God’s authority that governs our lives and accepts Christian Reformed Church doctrine, confessions, theology and practices.

• Work closely with the church council.

• Begin preaching once a month and assume preaching full-time when Pastor Jerome’s retirement becomes near.

• Be visible in the church and community, including holding regular office hours.

• Provide pastoral care and counseling to Coit members and church neighbors.

• Get to know the pastors of Grand Rapids Classis North, the structure, culture and goals of Classis by being at all Classis meetings.

• Must be ordained by the CRCNA or by a denomination whose ordination the CRCNA accepts for transfer.  The persons without such ordination must be willing to be equipped and approved for CRCNA ordination according to the requirements specified by the CRCNA Church Order for Commissioned Pastor.

Contact info: email Pastor Chris ([email protected])