Care & Connections Pastor

Position Summary:
The Care & Connections Pastor helps people find and follow Jesus by developing an expanding network of group leaders, coaches, and care volunteers. This pastor oversees both the Community Groups ministry and congregational care, creating environments where people pursue healthy relationships and spiritual growth, and also ensuring that we have effective connections pathways as people are taking steps in their faith. This role also leads the execution of short-term group experiences and ensures that every person at Real Life has a place to belong and someone to walk alongside them through every season of life.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Groups Leadership & Development

• Work with the Groups Pastor to recruit, train, and develop Group Leaders, Coaches, and Short-Term Group Leaders

• Meet with prospective leaders, identify apprentices, and guide them through the launch process

• Interview potential leaders and prepare them for launching and leading healthy groups

• Regularly cast the vision for Groups engagement to all RLC attendees

• Help lead the planning and execution of Group Launch environments throughout the year

• Connect people into Community Groups and Short-Term Groups

• Coach Group Leaders through their community group life cycle

• Monitor health, effectiveness, and duration of Community Groups

• Oversee registration, promotion, and placement for all Community and Short-Term Groups

Congregational Care

• Provide pastoral care and oversight for people in crisis, grief, illness, or significant life transition

• Develop and lead a lay care team or equivalent volunteer care structure

• Partner with staff and group leaders to identify and respond to care needs within the congregation

• Coordinate hospital visits, crisis response, and follow-up pastoral care

• Collaborate with outside counseling resources and make referrals when appropriate

• Serve in pastoral responsibilities including Pastor on Call, funerals, weddings, and premarital classes

Connections

• Develop, implement and oversee an effective baptism follow up plan

• Oversee a first-time guest experience that is exciting, unique and welcoming

• Own Discover events, focusing on an effective follow up process that helps people take the proper next step in their faith journey

• Ensure that all departments are working together so that no one falls through the cracks and we are connecting people to their purpose at every opportunity

Team & Systems Development

• Contribute to the vision and direction of Groups and Care

• Help develop and oversee the writing of all Group curriculum

• Create new systems and strategies to develop Group Leaders

• Implement the Community Playbook and Leadership Pipeline

• Work with Group Leaders to keep group data current in the website and church database

• Oversee group communications and help manage the Groups budget

• Work in partnership with the Groups Pastor

• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Adult Ministry Pastor

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):
Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in ministry, theology, counseling, or a related field AND/OR a minimum of 3 years' experience in pastoral-level leadership

• Licensed, commissioned, or ordained as a minister strongly preferred

• Demonstrated experience recruiting and developing volunteer leaders

• Background in small groups ministry, congregational care, or equivalent pastoral role

Knowledge & Skills:

• Authenticity, strong moral character, and integrity

• Ability to galvanize volunteer-predominant teams to operate at a high level of excellence

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to speak effectively before groups, volunteers, and church attenders

• Passion for fostering community and inspiring others in their faith

• Openness to consistently connecting with new people

• Growing knowledge in theology, biblical studies, evangelism, and discipleship

• Humility, timeliness, flexibility, and adaptability

• Diligence in holding team members accountable

• Successful completion of an extensive background check including professional and character references

Spiritual Requirements:

• Regular involvement in RLC activities and events

• Signed acknowledgment of Real Life Church's Statement of Faith and Staff Covenant/Lifestyle Agreement

• Exhibits a personal devotional life that is consistent and meaningful

• Practices biblical stewardship in personal finances

• Certified and trained to lead funerals, premarital classes, and officiate weddings

• Ability to assist and guide people through various life stages and transitions

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.