About the Ministry Discernment Profile

As one of the first steps in the search for our next Pastor, the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) completed the Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP) that is required for posting positions with the Presbyterian Church (USA).

The MDP has been approved by the Session of Fourth Church and the Committee on Ministry of the Presbytery of Chicago and is officially posted with the PCUSA.

As you will see below, the profile provides prospective candidates for the position of Pastor an overview of Fourth Church and of what we are looking for in our next pastor.

MDP: Ministry Requirements

Church Mission/Vision Statement

We are a light the city, reflecting the inclusive love of God. Comforted and challenged by the gospel of Christ, we strive to be a welcoming, serving community. At the intersection of faith and life, we share God’s grace through worship, preaching, education, and ministries of healing, reconciliation, and justice. We affirm the worth of all and nurture each individual’s spiritual pilgrimage. Inspired by our heritage, we confront the future with hope and confidence in God’s purpose.

Tasks, expectations, duties, supervision, assignments, and responsibilities for the position

Responsibilities of the Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at Fourth Presbyterian Church include

• Lead our worship life. Continue the dynamic preaching tradition, inspiring the congregation and lay leaders to grow in faith.
• Serve as Head of Staff — supervising, building, and developing a collegial team of ordained and nonordained staff members, encouraging a culture of service, joy, and friendship with our colleagues in ministry.
• Moderate the Session with attention to organizational effectiveness, intentionality of ministry shaped by our long-range plan, and the spiritual experience of officers and lay leaders.
• Be our pastor, serving with a spiritual maturity. Walk with us through difficult times. Celebrate with us in joyful times. Love us at all times.
• Champion the work of stewardship and resource development. Lead the congregation through a capital campaign, which is in an early stage.
• Be an advocate and interpreter of Chicago Lights, Fourth Church’s primary means of serving the city.
  

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MDP: Narratives

How would you describe the congregation’s/organization’s specific vision for ministry? How will this vision impact the community? Is the congregation part of a ministry vision or program?

Fourth Presbyterian Church: A Light in the City views itself as a forward-thinking, inclusive institution. We are rooted in tradition but ever seeking to thrive in our evolving world and to discern what God is calling us to be and do at this time.

Fourth Church recently completed a comprehensive long-range plan as a declaration of our ministry vision. The framework encompasses four strategic directions:

• Connections and Belonging: Build and sustain an all-encompassing culture of personal invitation and welcome that creates opportunities for deeper engagement and meaningful connections and ensures a sense of belonging.
• Faith Formation: Be a faith community that supports individuals and groups in exploring and growing their relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
• Community and Engagement and Partnerships: Live out our faith by serving as a catalyst through targeted, impactful programs grounded in community need, by working in solidarity with community partners, and by raising our voice through advocacy and social leadership.
• Church Sustainability: Create and sustain a shared purpose and common set of values among Fourth Church staff and leadership, develop our internal skills, and ensure the systems and financial resources to preserve the long-term impact our ministry are in place.

Fourth Church’s active congregation participates in our ministry programs through worship, adult, children, and youth education; spiritual programs; caring ministries; and local and global mission work.

What is the nature and context of the community in which your congregation lives out its mission/vision? How will you address the emerging needs that are impacting your community?

Fourth Church is an urban church in Chicago, serving a large and diverse community, including members, nonmembers, and visitors. Our congregation is a “hybrid” community due to those who participate remotely. This online presence is important, and we wish to further explore and expand our digital media outreach.

Because of our love for, and deep commitment to, Chicago we are active participants in the city. Illustrating this dedication is Chicago Lights, our community outreach arm, whose programs partner with youth and adults to build brighter futures. We are searching for a candidate who will also truly and fully embrace Chicago.

We strive to build a sense of connection and belonging between all members and visitors, where all can explore and grow their relationships with God. We believe that our calling is to “reflect the light of Christ by loving God and one another” and that Christ calls us to put our faith into action by reaching out to all people, with special care for “the least, the lost, and the lonely.”

Fourth Church has a tradition of collaborating with numerous civic and interfaith organizations with hope of providing a collective voice to motivate and achieve change. We strive to be a global church sponsoring international and goodwill trips.
We are active participants in our denomination. Fourth Church clergy and members have held significant leadership roles in the PC(USA), NEXT Church, and the Presbytery of Chicago. We are a founding member of the Covenant Network.

How will this call help complement the responsibilities of other staff/volunteer positions, and the life of the congregation/organization, so that you may accomplish your short- and long-term goals for ministry?

This call is for a pastor who possesses administrative dexterity, financial acumen, experience with large organizations, and an ability to build consensus among multifaceted groups within the staff, volunteers, congregation, and the Chicago community at large. The pastor must have the intuition and insight to recognize individual and group strengths, knowing how to support and delegate to employ their respective talents. The pastor’s role is expansive, and they shall need to administer the support structure of associate pastors and church staff. The size and breadth of Fourth Church provides a wealth of resources, which should be deployed under the pastor’s leadership to achieve the goals set forth in the long-range plan.

The pastor will be a mentor and pastor to the associate pastors, supporting their professional and ministerial growth within the church and community at large.

Provide a description of the skills, gifts, and training the person you hope will become a part of your ministry must have to lead the congregation towards the vision and mission established.

The pastor shall be a vibrant and powerful preacher with the ability to communicate a deep understanding of Reformed theology and inspire and challenge the congregation. The pastor should possess an intellectual curiosity and the agility to weave scripture together with counsel for living in today’s complicated world — an “intersection of faith and life.” The candidate must exhibit compelling leadership and spiritual maturity, capable of guiding a large, diverse congregation forward to achieve our defined vision and mission.

The pastor must be able to lead a complex organization and ensure its financial and operational sustainability. They should have a record of commitment to social justice, racial equity, and community outreach. The person should be able to facilitate strategic planning, navigate change, develop staff, embrace innovation, and lead in thoughtful risk-taking. This role includes the oversight of all ministry, pastoral care, and education and spiritual programs. This role must foster a culture of generosity, stewardship, and unity.

What areas of ministry do you expect the person called to be responsible for? Share specific tasks, assignments, and programs.

Fourth Church is seeking a leader to minister to and energetically motivate a large congregation that is diverse in age, faith backgrounds, geographic location, and life experiences. The pastor must be an inspiring orator and skilled worship leader with spiritual and intellectual depth reflecting the preaching tradition of Fourth Church.
This call is for an experienced administrator who will serve as head of staff, supervising and developing a complex organization and a talented team of ordained and lay leaders. Responsibilities will include the ability to lead productive fundraising campaigns, financial oversight, management of church resources, evaluation of staff members and boards, and changes required to create an efficient, effective, and collaborative environment.

Because a portion of the congregation lives outside of Chicagoland, experience with digital engagement and the ability and enthusiasm to enhance this component of outreach and worship is important.

The new leader will be a deft communicator who exhibits humility, leads by example, engages with congregants, and actively expands our congregation with a wider community.

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Contacting the PNC

If you would like to submit your name for consideration as a possible candidate to serve as our next pastor or if you have names of individuals you would like to recommend to the PNC, comments about what you hope the committee will consider in the search and discernment process, or questions for the committee, please email the PNC.

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