Part-Time Interim Pastor

Description

St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church is prayerfully seeking a Part-Time Interim Pastor to provide spiritual leadership, biblical preaching, teaching, and pastoral care to our church family during this season of transition.

The Interim Pastor will partner with the congregation and church leadership to faithfully discern and live out God's calling for St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church and our surrounding community. The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep love for Jesus Christ, a shepherd's heart for people, and a passion for biblical discipleship, prayer, unity, and community engagement.

Overview of Church and Community

St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church is a multicultural, Christ-centred congregation located in the Wychwood neighbourhood of Toronto (St. Clair Avenue West and Wychwood Avenue).

For more than 100 years, our church has faithfully served the community by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples. We are affiliated with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ) and are committed to the authority of Scripture, the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the mission of God's Church.

We are a warm, welcoming congregation representing many cultures and generations. Our desire is to grow spiritually, strengthen relationships within our church family, and actively engage our community with the love of Christ. We are seeking an Interim Pastor who can provide stable spiritual leadership while helping prepare the congregation for the calling of our next permanent pastor.

St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church is engaged in a variety of ministry expressions that reflect our commitment to worship, discipleship, and community presence, including:

• Sunday worship services
• Young adults, youth and children’s ministry
• Women’s and men’s ministry
• Bible studies and new believers training
• Prayer and intercessory ministry
• Community outreach and missions
• Music ministry which includes: Praise and worship and Church choir
• Audiovisual and multimedia ministry

Church Purpose | Mission Statement

Our Mission
To be a caring family of God reaching out to all people through faith in Jesus Christ, biblical teaching, prayer, fellowship, and community outreach.

Our Vision
To grow as a Christ-centred, Bible-believing church that loves God, loves people, and makes disciples of all ages while strengthening unity, prayer, and service within the church and the wider community.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a Bachelor of Divinity (or equivalent theological degree) from an accredited theological institution.
• Have a minimum of three (3) years of pastoral ministry experience.
• Be ordained or eligible for ordination in a Baptist denomination recognized by the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.
• Hold, or be willing to pursue, accreditation with the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec (CBOQ).
• Demonstrate a theology and ministry philosophy consistent with Baptist principles and the Statement of Faith of St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church.
• Be legally eligible to work in Canada.
• Provide a current Police Record Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screening.

Role and Responsibilities

Biblical Leadership

• Faithfully preach and teach the Word of God in a clear, relevant, and biblically sound manner.
• Lead Sunday worship services in collaboration with worship leaders
• Administer Communion in partnership with the Deacons.

Discipleship

• Provide weekly Bible teaching and discipleship training.
• Encourage spiritual growth throughout the congregation.
• Support and strengthen ministries to children, youth, and young adults.

Prayer Leadership

• Build upon the church's strong intercessory prayer ministry.
• Foster a culture where prayer is central to worship, ministry, leadership, and decision-making.

Pastoral Care

• Provide pastoral care through visitation, encouragement, prayer, counselling, and spiritual guidance.
• Officiate weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other pastoral services as mutually agreed.

Leadership

• Work collaboratively with the Deacons, Management Board, ministry leaders, and church committees.
• Encourage leadership development and mentoring across generations and cultures.
• Participate in regular leadership meetings
• Lead with transparency, humility, accountability, and integrity.

Church Transition

• Demonstrate an understanding of healthy church transition principles.
• Assist the congregation through the interim period with spiritual wisdom and stability.
• Encourage healing, healthy communication, and congregational unity where needed.
• Work collaboratively with the Pastoral Search Team as requested.
• Help prepare the church spiritually and organizationally for the successful transition to its next permanent pastor.

Interim-Specific Expectations

The interim pastor is not a candidate for the permanent pastor position

Work with the leadership to maintaining stability, mentoring leaders, and preparing the congregation for the next pastor.

Community Engagement

• Encourage outreach initiatives that reflect the love of Christ and support the church's mission.

Preferred Skills

Preferred Qualities: The ideal candidate will demonstrate

• A vibrant and growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• A consistent and disciplined prayer life.
• Strong biblical knowledge and effective preaching and teaching abilities.
• Proven pastoral leadership experience.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Integrity, humility, emotional maturity, and godly character.
• Ability to manage conflict with grace, wisdom, and biblical discernment.
• Passion for mentoring and developing future leaders.
• Compassion, approachability, and genuine care for people.
• Appreciation for multicultural ministry and intergenerational church life.
• Experience leading churches through periods of transition is considered an asset.

Reporting Relationship

The Interim Pastor will serve under the direction of the Deacons and Management Board and will work collaboratively with ministry leaders, committees, and volunteers.

The Interim Pastor will respect and uphold the Constitution and By-laws of St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church and the principles and practices of the Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.

Contact

Application Process: Interested candidates are invited to submit the following

• Cover Letter expressing interest in the Interim Pastor position
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement of Faith
• Philosophy of Ministry
• Copies of theological credentials (upon request)
• Three references, including:

• • One pastoral reference
  • One ministry or church leadership reference
  • One personal/professional reference

Applications should be submitted electronically to:

Pastoral Search Team
St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church
152 Wychwood Avenue
Toronto, Ontario

Email: Show email

Job posting will be open until the position is filled. Review of applications will begin immediately. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Employment Equity

St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church welcomes applications from all qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada. Accommodation will be provided throughout the recruitment process in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

We thank all applicants for their interest in serving with our congregation. We pray that God will guide each applicant as they seek His direction for ministry.