Position Description

Our Community

As Canada’s capital, Ottawa is the perfect place to experience some of the country’s best attractions, celebrations, cultural activities and flavours in one welcoming city! With a population of just over one million, it is a big city with a small town feel. Centrally located between Toronto and Montreal, it is a green city with an abundance of parks, a large network of walking and biking paths, community, and recreation centres, and nine National museums. Ottawa is the home to a wide range of professional sports teams such as the Ottawa Senators, PWHL Ottawa, the Ottawa 67’s, the Ottawa Red Blacks, Atlético Ottawa, the Ottawa Black Bears, the Ottawa Blackjacks, and the Ottawa Titans.

Ottawa features a wide range of educational institutions such as Public, Catholic and Christian schools, three major universities and two colleges. The Ottawa Hospital has three campuses, plus a new state of the art hospital being built for 2028. We are blessed to have The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) which is a global leader in pediatric health care and research.

Our Church

Alta Vista Baptist Church (AVBC) began as a vision from the Home Mission Board of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptists in September 1957. Property was bought and the construction of the church was

completed in May 1963. From its beginning AVBC’s strengths have been: a healthy complement of leaders, including lay-preachers; a rich, varied music ministry; an emphasis on both evangelistic outreach into the community and on training believers to study and apply God’s Word to their lives; a reliance on God through prayer to guide and bless His people; and a commitment to meet the needs of the whole person so that we might reach our potential in Christ. After over 40 years of ministry and after six years of service at AVBC, our Lead Pastor was called to retirement in April 2024.

AVBC is a vibrant and effective church that ministers in the south part of our National Capital city. It draws people from all ages, welcoming young people, families and seniors to “exalt Christ and love people”. As a thriving community of believers, the people of AVBC highly value having a relationship with others and reaching its community with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our average Sunday attendance is about 90 people, with a rotating regular group of about 150 people. The church demographic consists of a strong compliment of “empty nesters” and up, with a growing presence of young families and young adults. This latter group is an area for targeted future growth.

We have shared our building with both an Arabic and a Spanish Church for more than 20 years and many of their youth participate in our youth activities. Our Pastor of Youth and Children's Ministries has forged a close relationship with a High School that is directly across the street from us and we support their Christian Club in several ways.

The church has recently undergone a major renovation and is now welcoming to those with physical challenges, with a bright new front entrance with cathedral ceilings, a newly repurposed and comforting nursery, and many modern upgrades to the sanctuary, foyer, offices, and classrooms.

AVBC is a Board Lead Church governed by a board of elders who are elected by church membership. All pastors are by virtue of their position, deemed to be Members of the Church, and Members of the Board of Elders. Currently paid staff consists of a youth and children’s Pastor, a part-time worship director and a part-time office administrator. The Board of Elders, which includes the pastoral staff, provides general oversight to the church. The Lead Pastor and staff are expected to oversee day to day ministries of the church.

Our Sunday morning services are led by our Lead Pastor and the Pastor of Youth and Children's Ministries, and occasionally by guest preachers such as missionaries who we support. Elders and other ministry leaders also participate in the service in various ways, such as by conducting announcements and leading congregational prayer.

Our Worship Services are very important at AVBC. We have a Director of Worship Ministries who coordinates the in-person and online sessions, manages the online content, and leads the musical elements of the Sunday Service and the many talented musicians and artists who seek to glorify God with their gifts.

We are blessed with vibrant youth and children’s ministries overseen by our Pastor of Youth and Children's Ministries. These ministries include Kids Church, regular weekend events, and a summer camp, and play an important role in connection and outreach to young families.

Regarding one-on-one discipleship, we have many congregants committed to small groups called Care Groups, who gather regularly to study the Bible, pray together, and provide care for others.

Our Mission

Alta Vista Baptist Church exists to glorify God by making disciples who are obedient to Jesus Christ and equipping them to do the same.

Position Description

Overview

The Lead Pastor is the Teaching Elder who is the primary male spiritual overseer of the church as defined in the General Operating By-Law of Alta Vista Baptist Church with a primary focus to provide spiritual leadership to the church. The Lead Pastor is directly responsible for the care and feeding of the congregation in obedience to Biblical teachings and principles. He shall provide spiritual leadership and pastoral care for the people, in love and compassion. He shall spare no effort in training, leading, and preparing the membership for evangelizing the lost. He shall be much in prayer and thereby bring honour and glory to God through his ministry.

Reporting Relationships

The Lead Pastor is directly responsible to the Board of Elders. He reports to the congregation through the Board of Elders.

Accountabilities

• Care and feeding of the congregation
• Effective biblical preaching and teaching
• Model a lifestyle of spiritual growth and discipleship
• General Responsibilities
• Conducts Preaching and Teaching ministry
• Mentors and trains staff and lay leadership
• Conducts baptisms, weddings and funerals
• Oversees counseling activities and provides counseling as time permits
• Nurtures congregation (visitation/encouragement/prayer)
• Acts as team leader and oversees pastoral and administrative staff activities
• Delegates responsibilities to staff and lay leadership as appropriate
• Oversees church ministries and assigned church committees
• Oversees liaison with outside church groups and organizations

Additional Duties

• Participates in outside ministries where appropriate
• Other related duties as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Board of Elders

Person Specific Requirements

• Meets the Biblical requirements of an Elder (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and 1 Peter 5:1-3)
• Called to ministry
• Possess a diploma or degree in Theology from a recognized Bible College or Seminary
• Has a minimum of 10 years pastoral experience as part of a multi-staff ministry team
• Strong communication & interpersonal skills
• Well organized

This is a full-time permanent salaried position (guided by the salary grid of the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches) with benefits.

Applicants must be credentialed by the Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches or be able to be credentialed by them. Our core beliefs are found in our Statement of Faith. https://altavistabaptist.org/what-we-believe/

If you believe the Lord may be leading you to consider a call to serve in this role, please submit your cover letter, resume, and/or questions to the Alta Vista Baptist Church Pastoral Search Committee:

Apply to: pastoralsearch@altavistabaptist.org Application deadline: 30 September 2024