Job Description: Assistant Pastor for Church Planting United Presbyterian Church, Cañon City, Colorado 11/11/15

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George Eaton
6 years ago
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1 Job Description: Assistant Pastor for Church Planting United Presbyterian Church, Cañon City, Colorado 11/11/15 Kathleen is a 23 year- old young woman who recently moved from Texas with her boyfriend, their young daughter Robin, and a new baby on the way. She also has a daughter who lives with her husband in a different state. Part of the reason they chose to move to Colorado was her boyfriend s desire for legal marijuana. We met this young family in our local homeless shelter, Loaves and Fishes. The boyfriend s mother is also part of their family unit. After a couple of months in the shelter, they were able to leave when her boyfriend found work in landscape maintenance and they worked out government assistance. She is currently volunteering at the local pregnancy center. Kathleen worshipped with us for a time, but our congregation is unable to offer much to her and her family. She now is part of the local Vineyard Church, our community s largest and most vibrant congregation. Our congregation has hosted a baby shower for her. For the moderate successes that Kathleen represents there are dozens of other stories of what could have been. Many have been moving to Colorado for marijuana, homelessness has been on the rise, and the transformation of gospel of Jesus Christ is barely known in our community, even though we have many traditional churches. With your help this can change. By planting a missional congregation in Cañon City, the good news of reconciliation in Jesus Christ can ring out above the false attractions of drugs, and the true love of Jesus Christ that calls all to accountable community. Jane is a great grandmother of three wonderful girls aged from 7 to 16. For years she brought these girls to our church. But during all the years deep troubles in their home life festered, many in our congregation having some inkling, but not wanting to report suspected abuse. Accountability, confrontation, and messy love have never been part of our nearly 150 year old congregation. Recently arrived and learning about their situation, the pastor and his wife felt uncomfortable with the lack of communication with child protective services. Enough information came to a church member that this member reported the mother of these girls, the granddaughter in law of Jane, Carey. Carey was a prison guard who, as a result of our reporting, was eventually caught in the midst of intimate affairs with prisoners, a felony offence. Carey was eventually fired, put on probation, but has been allowed to keep her children. Now her children are practically barred by her from coming to church. Stories of abuse, neglect, silence in the face of injustice, and corruption in government begin to feel normal to residents of Cañon City and many of our churches, like our own did for over a decade, do and say nothing. Unfortunately, as a result of this situation many of our church members feel confirmed in the belief of keeping yourself to yourself. James lives in fear, preparing for the worst by storing away food, guns, ammunition and supplies. But he is proud of that fear, uniting it with a patriotic vision of America bristling with guns to prevent its conquest by as yet unknown forces. James, and many like him, are church goers who loudly praise the name of the God of property rights and personal protection. With your help the gospel of the God of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself and his rights to reach

2 out to his enemies to bring reconciliation, can reach deep in to James life and many like his, showing him that he can be part of a community that drives away fear by the perfect love of Jesus Christ. There are hundreds of stories to tell of people in Cañon City. There are stories of river rafting guides who have been piloting rafts that lose tourists into the merciless rocks and foam of the Arkansas River. There are a few devoted to capitalizing on the outdoor opportunities of Cañon City, only to be resisted at every turn. There are farmers and ranchers who are alone in the mountains, happy in isolation, wondering why Jesus would ask them to join a church. There are travelers who desire no home, and need no church or community because they feel god in the wilderness. And there are the hundreds of high school students involved in sexting, as recently reported in the national media. It is, needless to say, a community in need. The Opportunity I, the transitional pastor of the United Presbyterian Church, have met these people, have heard their stories, and am downcast by the fields white unto the harvest that lacks workers. The workers of the field keep plowing the same old rows in an ever shrinking field of the established churches. The churches are becoming barren relics of days gone by. But one of these churches has decided that it is not good enough to disappear and leave only our historic building as a legacy. We want to leave a gospel legacy, and we want you to come create opportunities for this. You would be a church planter, free to form a vision to minister to whatever community in Cañon City you feel called to, and free to form a new congregation that will help bring this vision to reality. Though you will not be utilizing many, if any, of the members of UPC, you will not be alone. Although this is somewhat like a parachute plant, I would be working with you. The connections I have made and the lessons I have learned in the last year and a half would be there to help you start out quickly. I have done a lot of research into the need and feasibility of a church plant, and there are already potential congregations in Cañon City, dispersed, and in need of a call to a missional community. There are ministries already in place that you can partner with to minister and build a congregation. UPC will not be providing a core group, instead will be a congregation to partner with in an adoptive grandparent type of way. Cañon City Cañon City is a small city of around 15,000, though the surrounding area out of city limits brings that figure up to about 30,000, excluding the prisons. Cañon City is a complicated town, full of contrasts. Its main industry is its many prisons. There are 13 of them around the city, of all security levels, including Supermax that houses some of the most notorious global and national terrorists. Consequently, many in the city work for the state and federal prison authorities. But Cañon City is also a town full of recreational opportunities and tourism. We have the Royal Gorge, which draws many tourists to its bridge, train, and whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River. This attraction draws international visitors of many ethnic and language groups. We have some world class rock climbing outside of town, and we lie on the major thoroughfare for cyclists who ride across the nation. Cañon City is also a retirement community,

3 as its climate is warmer and drier than most of Colorado. One quarter of our population is retired. There are a number of groups represented here: corrections and law enforcement officers, military veterans, younger adventure seekers and business owners, a largely conservative elderly contingent, ranching and farming families, professionals who commute to Colorado Springs or Pueblo but desire to live in a smaller town, and many others. Our community has a number of churches, although only a few are deeply engaged in the community, and the missional movement has not yet made many inroads here. Church here tends to mean building and Sunday morning. Two thirds of our town is not involved in any religious organization. Our largest churches, a Vineyard, and an Evangelical Free Church, are engaged and have proven excellent ministry partners. Our transitional pastor has co taught with Vineyard, we ve had a pulpit swap, and have joined in with their youth group. Nevertheless, both of these churches have represented an attractional, theater style, and mildly megachurch feel, leaving evangelical Christians who want to engage missionally at a smaller level with few options. Other younger people have expressed a desire for something with more historical roots, deeper theology, and a more contemplative and liturgical worship style. An ECO congregation is well suited to address such needs. And although such a worshipping group should form, it is our hope that this church planter would seek to create a congregation as a missional community focused primarily on being in the community. Possible Missional Situations 1. Working with New Creations Inn (NCI) a Christian transitional housing program that operates in a community environment, raise up a congregation from their graduates and current tenets to build a missional community as a lifestyle in Cañon City. 2. Encourage immigration of Christian telecommuters who enjoy the outdoors to form a missional community who might, due to low property values and cost of living, purchase larger homes and engage in a tenancy program: outreach by provision of housing, partnering with Loaves & Fishes, the local interdenominational mission. 3. Create a mission to prison guards and employees who are constantly exposed to an us vs. them situation, whose job it is to inflict punishment. Teach the reconciling love of Jesus Christ to a group of people who are daily exposed to enemies. There are Christians in the prison system, UPC has a number of retired folks, and two currently employed (maintenance and social work in prisons) who could be invaluable to understand this community. 4. Mission to the recreational community. This would likely be the most difficult to reach as it is more seasonal and less interested in traditional worship. Some in the recreational community are involved in local politics for the improvement of the community and raising its status. Many in the whitewater rafting community are in need of Jesus Christ as well! UPC currently has a regular attender who owns and operates a whitewater rafting/bicycle touring company. 5. Intergenerational ministry. Not only is UPC an older congregation, Cañon City is an older community. Whatever congregation forms a key aspect of its mission could be visitation,

4 care, and outreach to the vulnerable senior population, many of whom make up the bulk membership of Cañon City s churches. 6. Farming/gardening ministry. Cañon City s land is somewhat fruitful, home to many small orchards, vineyards, and hay farms. A church plant could create a community gardening project to help alleviate food insecurity, a vision that Loaves & Fishes also has. They desire to teach more traditional food security techniques like canning and preserving as well. You could develop this as a key aspect of a new congregation. Background The Grandparent Church: United Presbyterian We have a grand vision at United Presbyterian Church in Cañon City, CO. Our church is nearing its 150 year anniversary, but we have gone through some hard times. Our average age is increasing and our attendance is declining. But through the generous and faithful giving of our congregation over many years we have assets that we are looking to invest in Christ s kingdom in ways that our congregation is presently unable to. We are a church of grandparents and great grandparents and we are engaging on a mission that befits such as we are: the support of other ministries through hospitality, encouragement, financial support, and relationship building. Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. Our congregation is in need of a grandchild a new congregation to support in these ways. We have decided to seek a church planter to use the gifts of our congregation to make a new beginning for the Reformed tradition and ECO in our town. The church plant would not utilize members of our congregation as a core group and it would be a separate congregation with leadership that has not been involved at United Presbyterian. It must have a very different culture. The task of the church planter would be to start a new congregation, mostly from scratch, but not without connections and some immediate interest. This new congregation would be welcome to use any and all facilities of United Presbyterian Church, as well as many of its assets. Our church building is a blessing and a burden. It is a beautiful stone church built in 1900, and our steeple competes for the tallest point on our skyline. It is strategically located near downtown, across from the Fremont County Administration Building, and two blocks away from the new Macon Plaza which hosts many community events, like Bikes and Brews and the Italian Festival. Our sanctuary with Tiffany stained glass is equipped with a projection system, sound equipment for a praise band, and other conveniences. It can seat around 250. We also have a Memorial Chapel built on in 1987 that can seat around 30. We have two manses, the smaller is housing the transitional pastor. Our larger manse is currently our office building, but we will be repurposing it for the needs of a modern manse with capability of hosting groups. The Session of UPC hopes that the church plant will help reinvigorate the congregation by giving it a clear mission and purpose with concrete ways our older members can aid, encouraging those who have dropped out to return, and inspiring other cultural Christians in our community to join in with a meaningful mission in ways they are capable. But none of this should constrain you, the church planter, in your vision for a new missional community.

5 We at UPC hope that we can provide every opportunity for the presence of a missional ECO congregation in Cañon City for many years to come. With facilities, funding, and a supportive group of grandparents we trust that God has a great future for ECO in Cañon City. Details: 1. The church planter would serve as an assistant pastor (accountable to Transitional Pastor/Lead Pastor) at UPC for a period of one year during which the vision, mission, and strategic planning would occur. 2. This year would also involve making connections and forming a core group. 3. During or after this first year, the church planter would launch the new institution of which he or she would be the lead pastor. 4. Contracted funding will continue from UPC for a further three years, to total around $180,000 over the four years inclusive of the first year employment package. After this first year, the funds would simply be donated to this new congregation for their leadership to use responsibly. a. Year One: $50,000 b. Year Two: $60,000 c. Year Three: $40,000 d. Year Four: $30, First year employment package will total $45,000 ($35,000 salary + $10,000 healthcare and other benefits) along with $5,000 from UPC for marketing/relationship building. Manse will be provided. 6. UPC will share any and all facilities as needed by the mission of the church plant. Responsibilities 1. Develop a vision and mission for a new congregation 2. Establish a new ECO congregation in all aspects 3. Create, maintain, and strengthen ties with members of United Presbyterian to involve them in this mission in a supportive capacity 4. Seek long term funding by creating relationships with other congregations 5. Develop a stewardship plan to bring the new church to self sufficiency by the end of UPC funding period. 6. Develop a leadership plan to continually train new leaders 7. Develop a multiplication plan to develop new congregations 8. This position is specifically tailored to create freedom to succeed in church planting, not to fill gaps in UPC s needs. Opportunities 1. Regular preaching at United Presbyterian Church in the first year 2. Partnering in missions already established in the community Essential Qualifications 1. ECO Ordained or eligible (transfer, candidacy, etc.)

6 2. Successfully completed church planting assessment process 3. A passion for the gospel and missional community formation 4. A desire to see God transform lives by making visible the kingdom of God 5. Encourage harmony in intergenerational relationships 6. Financial responsibility 7. Personal and professional accountability 8. Joyfully work with ECO s church planting network (coaching) 9. Ability to work independently and on a team with the transitional pastor and whomever might replace him 10. A willingness to commit to reaching the lost in Cañon City and Fremont County Thank you for considering this position. Please do not hesitate to contact Rev. Dr. Wagenfuhr at any time with questions or to express informal interest: upc- pastor@outlook.com

4. HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ALLOW GOD'S WORD TO SHAPE THEIR PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS, AND TO NUTURE CONSTANT LEARNING AND THE LIFE OF THE MIND?

4. HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ALLOW GOD'S WORD TO SHAPE THEIR PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS, AND TO NUTURE CONSTANT LEARNING AND THE LIFE OF THE MIND? Narrative on the Health of Mission and Ministry Mission Affinity Group Report by the Session of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church September 20, 2014 - Meeting With Partner Sessions 1. HOW HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT