Senior Pastor

Job Description

Teays Valley Church of God is a congregation located in Scott Depot, WV. We are situated in a suburban area between two population centers, Charleston, WV and Huntington, WV. Affiliated with the Church of God with general offices in Anderson, Indiana and Church of God Ministries in West Virginia, we are a growing church of 500+ representing a wide range of age demographics.

Our purpose, Connecting our Community to Christ, drives our focus on Holy Spirit-empowered outreach, with a goal of leading 50 individuals annually to a relationship with Christ through 2028.

We seek a Senior Pastor to build on our current ministry, leading us to the next phase of outreach and service in Putnam County and the surrounding areas.

The ideal candidate will deliver dynamic preaching and leadership aligned with the core theological principles of the Church of God (Anderson, IN), including:

The Bible as God’s inspired, inerrant, infallible authority for His church
Adherence to Wesleyan Holiness Theology
The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit as the sanctifier, enabler, equipper, and power of the Church and the Spirit-filled life of Holiness
The reality of experiential salvation, the second work of grace, and the imminent return of Christ
The present day reality of the Kingdom of God, the New Testament Church, and the Body of Christ
Holding to the biblical interpretation of marriage as one man, one woman
Commitment to God as Creator and to His expression of humanity in two and only two genders, male and female
Teaching of literal Heaven and Hell
Standing on the sacred nature of life from conception to natural death

General Description:

The Senior Pastor serves as the spiritual and strategic leader of Teays Valley Church of God, delivering biblically grounded preaching, setting a clear vision for ministry growth, and providing collaborative oversight to staff and volunteer ministry leaders.

Mission:

The primary mission of the Senior Pastor is to advance the Kingdom of God by sharing the Gospel with the church community, nurturing spiritual growth among believers, and equipping the church for effective ministry and outreach

Qualifications:

Preferably ten, but a minimum of five years, of ordained Church of God pastoral experience (youth, music, children’s pastorship included)
Minimum of five years in a pastoral position in the Church of God including leading / administering multiple staff members
Bachelor’s degree in theology, biblical studies, divinity, or a related field (or equivalent ministry experience)
Unwavering presentation of the Gospel as presented in the Bible
Exceptional written, verbal, and electronic communication skills, including proficiency in social media and virtual platforms
Strong (dynamic) public speaking and presentation skills to engage diverse audiences
Excellent problem solving, delegation, and team building skills
Active listening and genuine care for the congregation
Excellent social perceptiveness and hospitality

Expectations:

Good communication skills: Deliver relevant, biblically grounded sermons that connect Scripture to daily life, while guiding the congregation to discern truth in a complex world.
Team building: Model, train, and inspire others to do the work of ministry-the pastoral staff, the church leadership, and the church body. Foster consensus and inspire the church to fulfill its mission through shared vision and teamwork.
Heart of love: Demonstrate love for God, their family, God’s people, the church, the ministry, and the lost , regardless of their background.
Exemplary lifestyle: Model integrity, humility, honesty, and Christian maturity in all personal relationships including family life, and ministry.
If married, the Senior Pastor must have a supportive spouse who also has an excellent sense of God’s calling for ministry.
Financial stewardship: Practice wise financial and resource management in personal and professional contexts.
Person of faith: They must rely on God’s wisdom and model a life of faith, prayer, and spiritual discipline.
Accountability: Collaborate with the Church Leadership to ensure alignment with the church’s purpose and governance model.

Specific Responsibilities:

Preach the Bible cover to cover as the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God in a way that challenges the saved to apply the truths of God to their lives and the lost to yield to them. The Senior Pastor will ensure adequate time is spent in sermon preparation, as well as oversee that qualified substitutes will fill the pulpit when they are absent.
Give oversight and management to staff, which includes, but is not limited to:
- leading weekly staff meetings,
- participating in staff fellowships,
- counseling, and encouraging,
- taking the lead in staff organizational/planning days,
- and helping the staff to understand and implement the vision of Teays Valley Church of God. (Staff should be understood to include both paid staff, unpaid staff, and an ever-increasing number of lay leaders within the congregation.)
Serve as a compassionate shepherd through pastoral care, including weddings, funerals, hospital visits, and crisis intervention, with support from staff and volunteers.
Promote the Church of God’s mission locally, regionally, and globally by supporting initiatives in the movement and mission partnerships.

Application Requirements:

Resumé focused primarily, but not exclusively, on your path to and through ministry.
Your personal statement of faith at this time in your life.
Your Philosophy of Ministry:
1. One to two pages describing why you do ministry, and why you do it the way that you do. *Please do not include the how (strategy) or the what (vision/mission) in this description.*
A recent congregational survey at TVCOG indicated the following skills, disciplines, and priorities are important for the new Senior pastor. Include a paragraph on your thoughts on each of these:

a. Reaching the lost d. Bible study

b. Preaching e. Ability to work with people

c. Prayer f. Community involvement

Please send the above requirements to search@TVCOG.org. The search committee will begin looking at applications after October 1, 2025.