River Valley Community Church is prayerfully seeking a full-time Lead Pastor to lead our congregation into its next season of ministry. RVCC affirms and supports the leadership of both women and men in all areas of church ministry. Candidates should be aligned with and supportive of this conviction.
We are looking for a biblically grounded, Christ-centered leader who loves people, communicates Scripture clearly, develops leaders, and has a heart for reaching our community with the gospel. The Lead Pastor will serve as the primary spiritual and ministry leader of the church, providing leadership in preaching, pastoral care, discipleship, staff development, outreach, and church administration.
River Valley Community Church is located in Waverly, Ohio, and is committed to helping people know Jesus, grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and serve others.
We desire to be a welcoming church where people from different backgrounds and stages of life can encounter the grace of God, grow through biblical teaching, and find a place to belong and serve.
Our next Lead Pastor will help us remain faithful to Scripture while guiding the church toward continued spiritual health, community impact, and future growth.
The Lead Pastor will serve as the primary preacher, spiritual leader, and ministry overseer of River Valley Community Church.
The Pastor will work collaboratively with the Church Advisory Board, Associate Pastors, staff members, ministry leaders, and volunteers to fulfill the church’s mission and ministry priorities.
The ideal candidate will lead through prayer, biblical teaching, personal example, relationship-building, encouragement, delegation, and the development of others.
• Serve as the primary preacher and teacher during Sunday worship services.
• Prepare and deliver biblically faithful, Christ-centered, understandable, and relevant messages.
• Develop preaching plans and teaching series that support the spiritual health and direction of the church.
• Work collaboratively with the Worship Team Leader to plan meaningful and well-prepared worship services.
• Lead or oversee Communion, baptisms, weddings, funerals, and special services throughout the year.
• Serve as the primary spiritual leader and overseer of the congregation.
• Help the church understand and fulfill its mission, vision, and values.
• Provide biblical and pastoral guidance to the Church Advisory Board.
• Lead the congregation in prayer, discipleship, worship, service, evangelism, and mission.
• Help identify ministry priorities and communicate a clear direction for the future.
• Provide compassionate pastoral care to members, attendees, families, and others connected to the church.
• Provide or coordinate hospital visits, home visits, bereavement care, crisis response, prayer, and spiritual support.
• Offer short-term biblical and pastoral counseling within the limits of the Pastor’s training and experience.
• Refer individuals to qualified professionals when specialized or long-term care is needed.
• Equip Associate Pastors and care-team volunteers to assist in meeting the pastoral needs of the congregation.
• Lead, supervise, encourage, and develop Associate Pastors, church staff, and ministry leaders.
• Conduct regular staff and ministry-leadership meetings.
• Recruit, train, support, and equip volunteers.
• Encourage teamwork, healthy communication, spiritual growth, and biblical conflict resolution.
• Delegate responsibilities appropriately and help others grow in their leadership and ministry gifts.
• Provide administrative leadership for the church’s ministries and day-to-day operations.
• Supervise office staff and provide direction for the effective functioning of the church.
• Work with church leaders to develop and follow appropriate policies and procedures.
• Promote responsible stewardship of church finances, facilities, staff, and ministry resources.
• Oversee operational areas through qualified staff members, teams, and volunteers.
• Work within the church’s approved budget, bylaws, and governing policies.
• Provide leadership and oversight for Christian education and discipleship ministries for children, students, and adults.
• Encourage opportunities for people to grow spiritually, build relationships, serve, and participate in the mission of the church.
• Lead the church in reaching Waverly and surrounding communities with the gospel.
• Help create a welcoming and inviting environment for guests.
• Oversee an intentional process for helping new attendees become connected to the church.
• Maintain relationships with missionaries and ministries supported by the church.
• Encourage local, national, and international mission involvement.
• Demonstrate a growing and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Meet the biblical character qualifications found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, Titus 1:5–9, and 1 Peter 5:1–4.
• Agree with and support the church’s statement of faith, mission, values, and governing documents.
• Have a clear calling to pastoral ministry.
• Be a person of prayer, integrity, humility, compassion, and wisdom.
• Demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity.
• Maintain appropriate personal, professional, and ministry boundaries.
• Handle confidential information with wisdom and care.
• Be able to work collaboratively with church leaders, staff, volunteers, and congregation members.
• Experience preaching and teaching Scripture clearly and faithfully.
• Previous pastoral or ministry-leadership experience.
• Experience providing pastoral care and spiritual guidance.
• Experience leading staff members and volunteers.
• Strong communication, organizational, and relational skills.
• The ability to delegate responsibilities and develop ministry leaders.
• The ability to lead through change while honoring the history and people of the church.
• Ministry education, licensing, ordination, or equivalent ministry experience appropriate to the position.
• A willingness to complete all required background checks and follow church safety policies.
This is a full-time salaried ministry position requiring a flexible schedule that includes Sunday services, some evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional emergency pastoral needs.
The Lead Pastor will maintain regular office hours while also protecting appropriate time for sermon preparation, prayer, leadership development, family life, and personal renewal.
Compensation and benefits will be based on education, experience, ministry responsibilities, and the church’s approved compensation structure.
Interested candidates should submit the following:
• A cover letter describing their interest in River Valley Community Church.
• A current résumé.
• A personal testimony and statement of call to ministry.
• A statement of ministry philosophy.
• Links to or recordings of two or three recent sermons.
• Contact information for at least three ministry or professional references.
River Valley Community Church
Lead Pastor Search Team
Email: pastorsearch@2526.us
Mailing Address:
River Valley Community Church, 12459 ST RT 104, Waverly, OH 45690
Application deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
All applications will be handled with appropriate confidentiality.
River Valley Community Church is prayerfully seeking the person God is preparing to lead, shepherd, and serve alongside our congregation. We invite qualified candidates who share our love for Jesus, Scripture, people, and community ministry to prayerfully consider applying.