Position Description

Church Overview: 

Transformation Church was planted seven years ago with the intention of making passionate disciples of Jesus who will have a significant and lasting impact on the city of Thunder Bay and beyond. Transformation Church is purposefully located in an area of Thunder Bay with many marginalized, addicted, and spiritually seeking people whom we welcome into fellowship. We are a vibrant multigenerational and multicultural community with members of diverse denominational backgrounds. Many members work in various local outreaches.

Position Summary: 

We are seeking a Lead Pastor who loves Jesus, is Spirit-filled, and expectantly looks forward to leading Transformation Church into a new season of spiritual growth and revival. The Lead Pastor provides spiritual, pastoral, and administrative leadership to the congregation of Transformation Church. This role involves preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and organizational oversight. The Lead Pastor must demonstrate personal spiritual growth and community engagement, and must work closely with the church board, staff, and volunteers to fulfill the church's mission and vision. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Spiritual Leadership: 

• Prayerfully read and study scriptures to preach and teach biblically sound sermons. 
• Provide visionary leadership and direction for the spiritual growth and development of Transformation Church. 
• Lead by example in personal spiritual growth and practice of disciplines including prayer and Sabbath rest.

Pastoral Care: 

• Provide pastoral care, prayer, counselling and spiritual and emotional support to congregants. 
• Conduct weddings, funerals, baptisms, child dedication, and the Lord's Supper. 

Administrative Oversight: 

• Oversee the daily operations of the church, including supervision, equipping, and empowerment of staff, delegation of tasks when appropriate, budgeting, development of policies for the local congregation, and facility management. 
• Chair the Transformation Church Board of Directors. The Board is responsible for the strategic planning and outreach initiatives of Transformation Church.
• Ensure compliance with Wesleyan Church policies and procedures. Consult with denominational leaders.

Community Engagement: 

• Cultivate a strong presence in the community through prayer and mobilizing outreach teams.  
• Strengthen existing healthy relationships with church and community leaders and organizations (eg, City Pastors’ Prayer, Grace place, NorthWind). Create new partnerships that align with the church mission/vision.
• Encourage participation in outreach and evangelism (eg, neighbourhood BBQ’s, distribution of cookie tins/gift cards, Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk). 

Discipleship and Education: 

• Promote discipleship programs that encourage spiritual growth and maturity. 
• Support and guide small group ministries and educational programs. 
• Promote, encourage, and participate in leadership development within the congregation. 
• Attend denominational conferences.

Qualifications: 

• A strong personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a strong commitment to personal and corporate prayer. 
• A passion for studying and understanding scripture. Able to encourage, mentor, and inspire others to seek Truth in a deeper way.  
• Humility and willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit and to encourage all members of the body to work in unity through the giftings of the Spirit under the Headship of Jesus Christ. 
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. 
• Extend grace, be non-judgemental and avoid strong opinions on non-essential tenets of faith. 
• A minimum of 3-5 years of church leadership experience. Must be ordained or on track to be ordained.
• Bachelor of Arts degree in religion or equivalent theological education is preferred.  
• Adhere to the mission/vision of Transformation Church. Abide by Wesleyan doctrine as outlined in The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church. 
• A heart for community engagement and service. Comfortable with street ministry and able to adapt well within the cultural context of Transformation Church and broader Northwestern Ontario communities. 

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service so the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV