PEBBLECREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH NEW PASTOR SEARCH Who We Are PebbleCreek Community Church (PCCC) is a non-denominational protestant church located within the gated, active adult resort community of PebbleCreek in the city of Goodyear, Arizona, in the west Phoenix metropolitan area. Our church has grown over 23 years with our PebbleCreek community, which today is 73 percent complete, but still building. With some 9,000 residents, three golf courses, a 400-seat theater, two clubhouses with pools, exercise facilities and restaurants, PebbleCreek is a very desirable community. By definition as an active adult community, 80 percent of our households are required to have at least one resident 55 years or older. Most of us are retired and are transplants from all over seeking an active adult life. Some of our church members were among the first people in PebbleCreek, others have moved in within the past several months. We are an eclectic group with many talents and diverse needs, but all focused on the glorification of Christ our Lord. Worship Service, Eagles Nest Ball Room, PebbleCreek 1
Pastor Search In October of 2017, our Pastor for the past four years, Dennis Kizziar, told us he plans to retire upon selection of a new pastor. We asked God to help us in our search for a replacement who will lead our church serving our members while at the same time reaching out to our unique community as a whole. In this context, our new pastor may be someone who has lead a larger congregation for some time, but now seeks an opportunity to move into a community like PebbleCreek with a commitment to minister for another five or more years. On Sundays our church converts one of the PebbleCreek ballrooms into a sanctuary. We do not have a building; rather, we try to apply the time, talent and cost saved by employing the wonderful facilities we enjoy here at PebbleCreek. We seek a pastor who shares this vision, who will work with us to build further upon it. A significant portion of our new pastor s time must be spent studying, teaching and preaching the Word, working with our part-time staff of music director, secretary and treasurer, and working with our Elders, Deacons and other volunteers. When we add to that ministering to our congregation and community in its broadest sense, the assignment could be considered a full-time job. There are many opportunities and concerns which must be well thought through with the Board of Elders. Pastor Qualifications We are looking for a pastor with the following qualifications: 1. Master of Divinity from an accredited seminary 2. Minimum of ten years recent experience pastoring a church similar to PCCC 3. In agreement with our Statement of Faith and Church By-laws accessible on our church website www.pebblecreekchurch.org 4. Willingness to live in the PebbleCreek community, if possible 5. U.S. Citizen If you are interested in being a part of our future, please submit a letter of interest and your resume as provided below. We look forward to discussing the position in greater detail. Upon further consideration, a more formal application form and background check will be required for candidates selected for an interview. 2
THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY AND LOCATION OF PEBBLECREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH The community of PebbleCreek is located within Goodyear, Arizona. Originally named after Goodyear Tire & Rubber, the city was once a principal source of cotton for tires. In 2008 Goodyear was an All-American City of the Year, and today it is a contiguous part of the Phoenix metropolitan area in the growing west valley of Phoenix. PebbleCreek is a master planned, gated, "active adult resort community with more than 4,500 homes completed to date and another 1,700 in the master plan. PebbleCreek residents enjoy a country club lifestyle close to everything", as developer Ed Robson says. This is an age-restricted community (80 percent of households must have one member who is at least 55 years of age, and no children younger than 19 may be permanent residents). There are excellent facilities and provisions for visiting children and grandchildren. PebbleCreek Community Church is centered within this community and provides nondenominational Christian worship and service in Jesus' name to all. When our community church was founded, there were few churches surrounding our gated community. Today, with the growth of the City of Goodyear, that has changed, and most faiths are represented with a number of church buildings and synagogues not far away. One thing they have to offer, which we do not, are youth programs. For more information about our PebbleCreek resort community and to see a brochure of the community, go to www.robson.com/communities/pebblecreek. We work with the Robson group and would be pleased to introduce you to their representatives here in PebbleCreek. PebbleCreek Resort Community 3
FOUNDING HISTORY OF PEBBLE CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH In 1995 six couples who were some of the original residents of PebbleCreek were led by the Lord to begin the journey to establish a house of worship within this new and unique community. On December 25, 1995, they held what was called Informational Sunday to begin laying the foundation for what would become PebbleCreek Community Church. The meeting was attended by approximately 30 people. The vision of those founders was that it would be a true Bible teaching church in which members and visitors of all denominations would feel the comfort of being in a house of the Lord a house of worship where the gospel is clearly proclaimed. With a small initial choir, the first service was held in the then one-year-old clubhouse within the original development of our community, where Sunday services continue 23 years later. Choir, PebbleCreek Community Church From the beginning, PebbleCreek Community Church has been a mission-minded church. Its outreach programs touch those in need worldwide. The first guideline in its Covenant of Fellowship is To Walk Together in Christian Love. PebbleCreek Community Church is a non-denominational, caring church that proclaims the Bible message of the living Christ. 4
AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR CONGREGATION PebbleCreek Community Church consists of members from diverse backgrounds and religious experiences. Our church is made up of those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and desire to follow Him as Lord. As a result of our diversity, our church is blessed with much God-given talent in its membership. From former clergy to gifted musicians to dedicated boards and staffs, church members are fully engaged in God s work. Visitors witness a friendly and sharing congregation. Our attendance drops during the summer months when nearly half of our community, and our church, find relief from the Phoenix heat by vacationing or returning to homes they still maintain north and to the east of us. Many of these residents also have churches in their home towns. However, all the functions and activities of our church continue during this time to actively serve the Lord and minister to the many who have come to love our quieter summer months. During the months from October to June, our attendance averages around 150 with surges around holidays and with special events. OUR WORSHIP STYLE We have a traditional worship style. Our choir is accompanied by a piano played by gifted pianists. Hymnals are used with some added praise songs. Our director of music conducts the music program in line with the pastor s message. A lay person reads the Scripture. The Elders, Deacons and Trustees actively support the worship service. We believe that our search will lead us to a pastor who is called to a ministry of preaching and teaching of the Word of God and will minister with us and to us in the Lord s work. THE PURPOSE, STATEMENT OF FAITH, COVENANT OF FELLOWSHIP AND ORDINANCES OF PEBBLE CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH (Please refer to www.pebblecreekchurch.org for more detailed documents) The PebbleCreek Community Church PURPOSE is to glorify God by serving Him in five specific ways as spelled out in our Constitution (see church website). The Constitution provides Scripture references for the basis of our STATEMENT OF FAITH and those Scripture references which specifically designate the ORDINANCES of our church which are the Lord s Supper, and water baptism. As a standard of Christian conduct, members, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, endeavor to follow the guidelines put forth in our COVENANT OF FELLOWSHIP. PASTORAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS The pastor, a minister of the Gospel, is responsible for a quality of life and relationship that commends the gospel to all persons and communicates its joy and its justice. The 5
pastor's responsibilities include studying, teaching and preaching the Word of God, administering baptism and the Lord's Supper, and praying with and for our congregation. But in this somewhat unique community, there is much more. With the Elders, the pastor encourages our people in the worship and service of God, equipping and enabling them for their tasks within the church and their mission in the world. The pastor, as a member of the Elder Board, exercises pastoral care, devoting special attention to the poor, the sick, the troubled and the dying. The pastor oversees the administrative responsibilities of our church and advises the leadership in their decision making, all the while reaching out in concern and service to the community as a whole. With the Elders and Deacons, the pastor shares in the ministries of sympathy, witness and service. BOARD AND STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS Board of Elders The Board of Elders functions as a Board of Directors. It is the duty of Elders, individually and jointly, to strengthen and nurture the faith and life of the congregation committed to their charge. Both men and women serve as elders. Together with the pastor, they encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equip and renew them for their tasks within this church and for their mission in the world. Board of Deacons It is the duty of Deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless and to any who may be in distress. They assume other duties as may be delegated to them from time to time by the Elders. The Deacons are under the supervision and authority of the Elders who may select and appoint other members of the congregation to assist the Deacons in their ministry of compassion. In the execution of their duties, the Deacons reach out beyond our church membership to others in our community with needs. Board of Trustees Subject to the authority of the Board of Elders, Trustees have the responsibility to, among other things, ensure that our worship facility is prepared for worship, that all support equipment is working, and that ushers and greeters are trained and in place. Trustees also oversee the acquisition, maintenance and care of church property. PEBBLECREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH FACILITIES Worship services are held in the spacious ballroom of the Eagle s Nest Clubhouse each Sunday morning. Our Trustees turn the ballroom into a warm and inviting worship setting with a pulpit, cross, choir area, church banners, flags and piano, all backed up with an excellent sound system. Sunday services begin at 9:00 a.m. with Sunday Bible study preceding and a gathering for fellowship with refreshments following. 6
Church Fellowship Dinner Bible study, choir practice, social and church business functions meet in various rooms within the PebbleCreek Community s two clubhouses, as well as in the homes of our congregation. PebbleCreek Church facilities do not include space for separate offices; thus, the pastor, secretary and treasurer have home offices. Each year we negotiate a fee with the PebbleCreek Homeowners Association a fee in connection with our use of the ballroom on Sundays. Church Budget Please refer to the church website for the current financial statements of the church. WHERE TO SEEK MORE INFORMATION AND SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTEREST AND A RESUME Please contact our Pastor Search Committee through our Chairperson, John Aycock, as follows: Mr. John Aycock, Chair Pastor Search Committee 15648 West Roanoke Ave. Goodyear, AZ 85395 pcccpastorsearch@gmail.com 7