PASTOR-CHURCH PROFILE. elmhurstcrc.org

Transcription

1 PASTOR-CHURCH PROFILE elmhurstcrc.org

2 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...1 POSITION DESCRIPTION...2 OUR CHURCH TODAY...5 MEMBERSHIP DATA...6 FINANCIAL DATA...7 COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORS...8

3 Dear Prospective Pastor, For more than 60 years, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church (ECRC) has been a congregation of believers intent on growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. From our humble beginning in Bellwood, Illinois to the beautiful facility we have today, our mission to serve Jesus Christ has remained the same. The following pages provide some basic facts about ECRC, including our mission and vision. In the process of compiling this document, we found it a challenge to describe ECRC with words on paper. We have tried our best, but you would have a better sense of the heart of our congregation if you worshiped with us during our annual satellite worship service with the prisoners of the Louisiana State Penitentiary; or if you attended the annual Christmas programs for our Little Lambs ministry when our sanctuary is filled with community members for four consecutive nights. As with any organization, the tone at ECRC has been set from the top. ECRC has been blessed with a history of strong preachers and long-serving pastors who have made ECRC their home. Each has walked closely with the Lord and served us with distinction. Their vision and leadership, coupled with a dedicated staff and supportive lay leadership, has enabled ECRC to grow and thrive. When Rev. Bert DeJong retired in 2011 after ably leading us for 27 years, Rev. Peter Semeyn accepted our call to be Lead Pastor. During his tenure he worked closely with our Associate Pastor, Rev. Gregg DeMey, to shepherd ECRC. In May 2017, after six years serving as our Lead Pastor and 43 years of ministry, Rev. Semeyn retired from full-time Christian ministry. In order to fill the position, our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) appointed a search committee to find a new Lead Pastor. After much prayer and many discussions, the search committee unanimously recommended that Pastor DeMey be appointed Lead Pastor. This recommendation was supported by our Elders and approved by the SLT. We are thrilled that the congregation has warmly embraced Pastor Gregg in his new role. Our committee has now been tasked with finding an Pastor of Discipleship to lead the discipleship ministries of ECRC. We think this an excellent opportunity for a pastor who desires to serve God s kingdom through the local Church. We are praying for God to bring His choice to our Church and that He will make His choice clear to us. We invite you to prayerfully consider if God is calling you to be our new Pastor of Discipleship and join our community of faith. ECRC Search Committee 1

4 POSITION DESCRIPTION ANNOUNCEMENT Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, a congregation of approximately 1,500 people, has begun a search for an Pastor of Discipleship to help the congregation live into its vision of being God s source of shining light and living water in the western suburbs of Chicago, by drawing people to know Jesus, becoming like Jesus, and serving as Jesus. The congregation has identified five activities by which it carries out its vision: WORSHIP: A Vision for Celebrative Worship CONNECT: A Vision for Fellowship GROW: A Vision for Discipleship SERVE: A Vison for Ministry SHARE: A Vision for Outreach RESPONSIBILITIES 1. The Pastor of Discipleship shall be responsible for building the discipleship culture of the congregation (children, youth, and adults) characterized by a lifelong commitment to discipleship. The fulfillment of this responsibility will include establishing the direction of the discipleship ministry, teaching, developing curriculum, encouraging volunteers and staff involved with discipleship, and providing oversight for discipleship ministries. 2. The Pastor of Discipleship shall share responsibility with the Elders for the pastoral care of the congregation. More specifically, the Pastor of Discipleship, along with the other ministry leaders, will coordinate care for individual members enduring crises, as well as other spiritual needs. The Pastor of Discipleship will share responsibility with the Lead Pastor for weddings, funerals, and the public presence of the congregation in the community and in the denomination. 3. The Pastor of Discipleship will serve on the preaching team and he may be expected to preach up to 10 times each year. 2

5 POSITION DESCRIPTION PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES The Pastor of Discipleship shall be: 1. A proven leader able to cast and communicate vision, develop and implement strategies, courageously measure the effectiveness of those strategies, and adjust strategies in a manner consistent with biblical values. 2. A wise Shepherd, passionate about and gifted to nurture the faith of congregants, both young and old in the faith, and in a variety of contexts (from the lectern to the café). 3. A skilled team builder, as well as recruiter, equipper, and encourager of both staff members and volunteers. PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS The Pastor of Discipleship shall be: 1. A leader and team player who effectively employs his leadership style in our ministry context for the advancement of the kingdom. 2. Characterized by a hunger and ability to learn, as well as an ability to share God s truth with powerful teaching. 3. A gifted discipler and teacher who can clearly and persuasively speak to individuals, both Christians and non-christians, as well to groups of all sizes and who can create and sustain nurturing relationships with people. 4. A godly person who is humble, emotionally healthy, comfortable in his own skin, whose enduring and contagious faith is nourished by spiritual disciplines. 5. A culturally astute individual, like the men of Issachar, who understands the times (I Chronicles 12:32), and is especially in tune with how to position the church to engage younger generations. 3

6 POSITION DESCRIPTION EXPECTATIONS The Pastor of Discipleship shall be: 1. Able to give testimony to his love for the Lord and his call to pastoral ministry. 2. Ordained or be ordainable as a Pastor by the Christian Reformed Church in North America. (Ordained individuals from other historically Reformed denominations will also be considered.) 3. Supportive of the vision and core values of the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS The Pastor of Discipleship reports to the Lead Pastor. The Pastor of Discipleship supervises all staff members involved in discipleship ministries. This group currently includes the Student Ministries Coordinator, Coffee Break Co-Directors, Children s Ministries Coordinator, and Special Needs Coordinator. SALARY/BENEFITS Salary commensurate with experience Housing Allowance Health, Life, Dental, Vision & Disability Insurance Professional Development Allowance 4

7 OUR CHURCH TODAY ECRC TODAY Today s Elmhurst CRC is made up of families and individuals from a broad spectrum of ages, professions, vocations and backgrounds. The majority of the congregation resides in the surrounding suburbs of DuPage County, located about 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. The current membership of Elmhurst CRC is comprised of approximately 1,500 individuals, representing about 600 families and an ever increasing number of children. The membership of Elmhurst CRC is a unique blend of multi-generational families with deep roots in the CRC and the Elmhurst community, balanced by a growing number of new members drawn from diverse backgrounds and different walks of life and faith. The impact of our weekday ministries, such as Little Lambs, Coffee Break and MOPS, on local families has provided us an ongoing source of new members being added to our ranks. Sunday worship at Elmhurst CRC consists of two worship services that present the same pastoral message within different contexts. The first is a blended service featuring choral music and hymns accompanied by organ and piano. At the second service, congregants participate in a contemporary worship experience led by our praise team. Our contemporary worship service tends to attract more new members from our outreach ministries. In 2017 we added a once per month family service, with children participating in all aspects of worship. Equally important as our Sunday worship and study experiences are the vibrant weekday ministries that meet the needs of children and families throughout our community. The Little Lambs Ministry has been serving children in the Elmhurst area for over 30 years, teaching biblical truths to over 250 children each year. Coffee Break, a weekday Bible study, ministers to women from various denominations and walks of life, sharing the love of Christ and opening the Bible to some for the first time. Other ministries include our Men s Bible Study, Cadets, Gems, Youth Ministries, Single Moms Ministry, Family Outreach, to name a few. In 2008, we gave praise to God for the completion of our new facility. This building has been a blessing in itself, providing opportunities for expanding weekday ministries and ample space for Sunday worship services for adults and children, as well as nursery rooms for infants and toddlers. Our facility also has enabled us to reach out in a practical way to our Elmhurst neighbors. For example, we provide office space and a concert auditorium for the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra. By gathering many into our sanctuary who might otherwise never come, we are thus fulfilling our intention to be a beacon in our community that welcomes people into the fellowship of believers. 5

8 MEMBERSHIP DATA PROFILE OF MEMBERS AGE GROUPS NUMBER IN AGE GROUP years old years old years old years old years old years old years old 80+ years old ATTENDANCE 900 LENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP (PROFESSING MEMBERS) First service Second service Average 0-10 years (393) years (290) years (119) years (85) years (62) 50+ years (32) EMPLOYMENT STATUS Employed full time (47.2%) Employed part time (20.5) Student (2.8%) Full-time homemaker (16.8%) Retired (11.1%) Unemployed at this time (1.6%) 6

9 FINANCIAL DATA PROFILE OF 2018 BUDGET INCOME EXPENSES Elmhurst Ministries Fund $3,160,776 Operations ($767,000) Ministry fees/receipts $56,281 Covenant Education Plan ($664,000) Ministries ($1,226,308) Deaconal causes ($25,780) Operations Fees/Receipts $47,500 Ministry shares ($140,000) Debt service ($430,740) Misc Income $1,750 Capital Maintenance Fund ($137,000) TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS $5.5M $4.9M $3.5M $5.2M $3.8M $3.6M $3.4M $3.2M $4.4M $5.5M $4.2M $3.6M Forward in Faith Capital Campaign Further in Faith Capital Campaign Light & Water Capital Campaign 7

10 COMMUNITY/NEIGHBORS Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church (ECRC) is situated in Elmhurst, Illinois (population: 46,387) and draws its membership from Elmhurst and a number of surrounding communities. Centrally located in the Chicagoland area with direct commuter train and highway access to downtown Chicago, Elmhurst includes a vibrant downtown, an award winning library, a new regional hospital and a college campus, all of which bring people from all over the Chicagoland area to the city every day. Many young families choose to live in Elmhurst for its highly ranked public schools. The congregation of ECRC moved to its current facility, with a worship center capacity of 825, in 2008 (shaded yellow area). Our church facility has high visibility from Roosevelt Road, a major east-west thoroughfare, and is in an area of Elmhurst that has experienced significant development in the last 10 years. OUR NEIGHBORS INCLUDE: 1) Artis Senior Living Community the lot to the immediate east of the church property houses a new memory care center, which opened Spring of ) Elmhurst Memorial Hospital A newly constructed, state-of-the-art regional hospital opened in the summer of 2011 and is located east of the church property and Artis Senior Living Community. students and is located just north of Park Place. ECRC has a strong connection with Timothy Christian, with 130 families sending 262 children to Timothy for the school year. 5) Faith Christian Reformed Church is a sister church within the CRCNA and located approximately ½ mile northwest of ECRC. 3) Park Place Retirement Community a Providence Life Services Retirement Community, including independent living, assisted living and nursing care, opened in 2011 and is located immediately north of the church property. A number of residents worship at ECRC and are part of weekday ministries. 4) Timothy Christian School Timothy provides Christian day school education for over 1,000 preschool - grade 12 The remaining surrounding area is residential, with a mix of high-rise and mid-rise condos and apartment communities, as well as single family homes. 8