Senior Pastor at SonRise Christian Fellowship (Fallbrook, CA)

SonRise Christian Fellowship

Fallbrook, California

Position Title:  Senior Pastor

Position Summary:  This sacred role is reserved for the one the Lord has called to provide for both the faithful and prayerful shepherding of our congregation and oversight of the ministries of our church. 

Key Responsibilities:  

• Serve as a living example of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
• Teach the word of God.
• Provide pastoral care to those in need.
• Lead and supervise staff pastors and lay ministry leaders.
• Serve as moderator of Session (our Board of ordained Elders).
• Collaborate with the Session to develop, adopt, implement, and communicate a vision plan for the church.
• Administer the sacraments and officiate weddings and funerals.
• Equip God’s people for works of service.
• Plan weekly, seasonal, and special worship services.

Required Qualifications:

• A Masters of Divinity or equivalent from an accredited seminary.
• Acceptance of SonRise Christian Fellowship’s  Mission Statement and Core Beliefs (found on website).
• A minimum of 5 years of full-time church pastoral ministry experience.
• One who is above reproach and demonstrates consistent Christ-like behavior.

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to effectively preach, teach, lead, and minister to others.
• Ability to compassionately care for the spiritual needs of others through counseling, visitation, and prayer.
• Prayerful dependence upon the Holy Spirit when engaging in ministerial duties.
• Administrative and leadership competence with written and verbal communication, staff management, delegation, and conflict resolution. 

Supervisory and Reporting Relationships:

As the governing body of our church, Session is responsible for all matters of spiritual governance of SonRise, including providing oversight and accountability for the ministry and leadership of the Senior Pastor, and the hiring and firing of church staff.  The Senior Pastor serves as Moderator of Session and  overall supervisor of all church staff and ministry leaders. 

Working conditions:

At times, the workload of Senior Pastor can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding; thus, requiring a prayerful discernment as to how best to balance the needs of ministry with personal rest and recuperation throughout the year.  

As might be expected, the position of Senior Pastor requires the capacity to be flexible and open to ministering to the spiritual needs of the congregation at times that cannot always be predicted or planned.  This will, at times, mean having to work long hours (at all hours) and to travel long distances in San Diego and Riverside Counties to visit those in hospitals and care facilities.  

The Senior Pastor attends standing weekly and monthly meetings with staff and various and varied groups within the church.

Benefits: 

Salary and Housing Allowance, $90,000-$100,000 plus benefits.

After one year of service, Session annually provides the Senior Pastor with four weeks of vacation and one week of study leave twice per year.

Church Information:

Our longtime pastor has given notice of his intent to retire by the end of 2025, and it’s our goal to have a new pastor in place by then for a smooth transition.

SonRise Christian Fellowship is located in Fallbrook, a beautiful town of 34,000 in northern San Diego County that calls itself “The Friendly Village”. Our church has been a part of this community since 1961, when it was founded as Fallbrook Presbyterian Church. Over the decades, we have seen seasons of incredible abundance as well as seasons of loss and change; through it all, we are aware of the Lord’s faithfulness. 

Our congregation is made up of approximately 150 regular attenders who range from 0-100. We are an intergenerational and interdenominational group who are united in our focus on seeking and walking in the will of God. Together we believe that the Bible is the written, infallible word of God, and we seek His will for us through fervent prayer on a regular basis. As an independent reformed church, we are governed by an elected group of ordained Elders, collectively known as Session.

While healthy growth is always desirable, we believe it is second to following the specific call that God has put on this church. That call is expressed in our  Mission Statement and Core Beliefs. We desire to be a landing place for those in our community and beyond who need the love of Jesus to be felt tangibly in their lives and who want to grow in that love.

How to apply:

First Review of Applications will begin April 18, 2025

To apply for the position of senior pastor at SonRise Christian Fellowship, please send an email with the following attachments to pastorsearchcommittee@sonrisefallbrook.com. 

• A cover letter that articulates your interest in the position and a summary of your qualifications
• Your Resume
• A list of at least three references that can attest to your personal character and professional competency
• A written response of 500 words or fewer that describes your faith journey. It should address how you came to know Christ, your sense of calling to ministry, and mentors who have shaped your ministry.

Completed SonRise Christian Fellowship Acknowledgments Form