Senior Pastor
About Bethel Church Janesville
Who We Are:
Established in 1965, Bethel Church is a community of 300+ that is actively seeking to share the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our community. We are a multi-generational church with a thriving children’s and youth ministry, engaged adult discipleship groups, as well as an active group of seniors. Our VBS in 2024 had over 166 in attendance and our youth group has recently had 77 students. We dedicate 10% of our budget to local and international missions. We have a strong executive pastor on staff as well as a dynamic associate pastor who focuses on youth and worship. Lay staff includes a children’s ministry director, visitation coordinator, communications director, treasurer, financial secretary, maintenance, and administrative assistant.
Where We are Located:
Bethel Church is located in Janesville, Wisconsin, a growing city of 65,000 located halfway between (~35 miles) Madison, WI and Rockford, IL on Interstate 39/90. We draw members from throughout Rock County (population 163,000) with the majority living within a few miles of the church, which is located in a primarily residential area but adjacent to a major thoroughfare. Janesville is a former General Motors town that survived the closure of “the plant” in 2009 and has rebounded beautifully with a strong commercial, healthcare and industrial economic base. Home to excellent schools, 2 major hospitals, and an abundance of parks and green spaces, Janesville is a very family-oriented community.
Job description
Job Title: Senior Pastor
General Description: Bethel Church is seeking a senior pastor to help us step forward into the next chapter of
God’s calling. Collaborate with our dedicated executive pastor, associate pastor, and lay leaders as we
passionately strive to spread the gospel and make a powerful impact in our community. We invite you to consider
this opportunity to lead, inspire, and see God transform lives.
We eagerly anticipate a period of growth and development for our church under the guidance and vision of
the next Senior Pastor that God leads to us. Our dedicated and compassionate congregation is committed to
fostering a supportive and welcoming community where every individual is encouraged and discipled to
become more like Christ. We are focused on providing numerous opportunities for involvement, service,
connection, and spiritual growth. In a culture marked by division, we aim to be a place of unity, steadfast in
the truths of God’s Word. We believe our church has the potential to expand our programs, deepen our
ministry to our members, and significantly impact our community for Christ. We look forward to
collaborating with and supporting the vision that God unfolds for our new Senior Pastor and the
Overseers/Elders in the years to come.
Responsibilities:
● Oversight: The Senior Pastor has direct oversight of the overall ministry of the church.
● Vision: The Senior Pastor, working with the pastors and overseers, shall prayerfully develop and
implement a united vision for the spiritual direction of Bethel Church.
● Preaching: The Senior Pastor is expected to be the primary preacher/teacher during Sunday Morning
services (42-48 weeks/year). He is expected to be able to effectively develop and deliver biblical
instruction that reaches members and attenders of Bethel of all ages.
● Congregational Care/Counseling: The Senior Pastor shall oversee the care ministries of Bethel.
● Discipleship/Mentoring: The Senior Pastor shall work with the other pastors to develop discipleship
groups.
● Unity: The Senior Pastor shall value and promote generational unity.
Relationships:
● The Senior Pastor is called via congregational vote and is accountable to the Overseers (Elders).
● The Senior Pastor provides for the spiritual direction of Bethel. This direction is affirmed by the
Overseers.
● Pastor reports to and serves under the Senior Pastor. (The executive pastor handles many
of the administrative duties of the church, which frees the Senior Pastor from direct responsibility for
those areas.)
● The Senior Pastor shall have a primary role in the selection and hiring of associate pastors and ministry
staff.
Requirements:
● Must agree with Bethel Church’s Statement of Faith.
● Demonstrate the qualifications of an elder. (1 Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4)
● Be truthful, gracious (Jn 1:14), humble (1 Pe 5:5), and full of the Fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23)
● Be a teamplayer who works well with others. (Matt. 5:23-24; 18:15-17; Eph. 4:25-32)
● Be a strong Biblical preacher/teacher.
● Have prior pastoral experience at a similar size church or larger with similar infrastructure and a
multi-pastor staff.
● Demonstrate the spiritual gifts of leadership, preaching, discipling/mentoring, strategic planning, and
faith.
Benefits:
● Family health insurance
● Vacation
● Retirement plan
● Conference expenses
● Ministry expenses
Apply
Application:All applications for this position MUST be made through the Converge Placement Network
(https://www.convergeplacementnetwork.org/). (Registration with the network is required prior to application and there is a fee associated with the registration, but once registered you are eligible to apply for all open positions on the network.
