Peace Mennonite Church (PMC) welcomes all who seek to follow Jesus’ way of peacemaking and compassion. We rejoice in the diverse characteristics each person brings to our community, and we embrace differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, mental ability, economic status, marital status, and age.

Peace Mennonite Church is part of Mennonite Church USA and Western District Conference.

General Overview

The primary responsibility of PMC’s Pastor is to provide theological direction for church participants, consistent with PMC’s Statement of Faith and Mission Statement. To accomplish this, Pastor will facilitate weekly worship, support church committees and groups, and provide pastoral care of PMC participants.

We are seeking a 50-75% FTE pastor.

Qualifications for the Position

  • Seminary education (Master of Divinity preferred)
  • Proponent of Anabaptist theology
  • Active ministerial ordination credentials within an MC USA affiliated conference, or a willingness to seek ordination credentials if new to the ministry.
  • Willing to pursue continuing education to develop knowledge, gifts and skills to serve PMC

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinating and Planning Worship

  • Coordinate the worship schedule in consultation with Worship Committee.
  • Provide order of worship for every Sunday, provide information to worship volunteers.
  • Actively participate in Sunday worship 2-3 times a month. At 50% FTE, Pastor would be expected to actively participate and preach in the worship services two times each month. At 60-75% FTE, Pastor would be expected to actively participate and preach in the worship services three times each month. On the second Sunday of each month, the worship service is an informal “Gracious Space” service at 4:00pm with a potluck dinner following. During months with a fifth Sunday, Pastor will work with the Worship Committee to ensure adequate planning for that Sunday’s service.

2. Supporting PMC Committees and Groups:

  • Committees with greater pastoral involvement:
    • Coordinating Committee
      • Consult with Moderator and participate in monthly meetings as an ex-officio member
    • Ministry Team
      • Participate in monthly Ministry Team meetings
      • Work with Ministry Team on benevolence requests
    • Worship Committee
      • See “Coordinating and Planning Worship” section above
    • Gracious Space Team
  • Committees with more flexible level of involvement; Pastor is expected to maintain regular communication with each committee liaison regarding the work of the committee:
    • Peace and Justice Committee and its sub-groups: the Indigenous Justice Group and the Justice Matters Team
    • Social Committee
    • Christian Education Committee
    • Building and Grounds Committee
  • Nurture small group activities

Pastoral Care

  • Be available as needed for pastoral care visits, emails, phone calls, messages
  • Assist congregants in membership and discerning gifts for leadership & consensus building
  • Participate in pastoral rituals such as baptism, funerals and weddings

Maintaining Relationships with Broader Lawrence and Mennonite Communities (Outreach)

  • Connect with local clergy through Lawrence Interfaith Clergy and/or other local clergy group(s)
  • Work with local congregations on joint service and worship projects
    • First Baptist: LINK, Family Promise, Easter Sunrise
    • Vintage: Good Friday, Easter Sunrise, open to more collaboration
  • Participate in a Western District Conference pastor-peer group (historically, this has been the I-70 group)
  • Attend Western District and MC USA conventions

Oversight of PMC Office Staff and the day-to-day operations of PMC

  • Have regularly scheduled in-person office hours
  • Participate in the budget drafting process and manage the church operations consistent with the approved budget
  • Oversee the work of office staff, approve their hours each month and conduct annual reviews
  • Facilitate preparation of the PMC weekly newsletter by providing worship and other content to Administrative Assistant and proofreading the newsletter
  • Facilitate preparation of the Sunday bulletin

Expected Ethical Standards

See A shared Understanding of Ministerial Leadership: Polity Manual for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA (c. 2017 by MennoMedia, Harrisonburg, VA)

Accountability and Support

The pastor is accountable to the Coordinating Committee and receives support from the Coordinating Committee as well as the Ministry Team.