CONGREGATION LEADER: POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Messianic Congregation Leader will be the primary spiritual leader and primary communicator of the SODC vision and mission to the staff and to the congregation at large.  His general duties and responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and presenting weekly Bible-centered messages, striving to develop preaching and teaching methods that inspire and challenge spiritual growth of the congregation with the capacity to make the gospel attractive to those we most seek to reach
  
  
• in cooperation with the Board of Elders, maintaining the vision and direction for SODC and providing general oversight
  
  
• directly overseeing, equipping, encouraging and personally meeting with select members of the SODC staff
  
  
• maintaining spiritual disciplines to ensure personal spiritual growth
  
  
• administering the ordinances of the Body and officiating life cycle events
  
  
• providing (personally, or by delegation) pastoral care to congregants facing physical, emotional and/or spiritual challenges
  
  
• equipping the saints for the work of the ministry through faithful exposition of the Word of God
  
  
• protecting the flock from false teaching
  
  
• creating ownership of the ministry and a sense of shared purpose among the laity through exemplary leadership, involving others in the decision-making process, and actively participating in select meetings and events
  
  

In addition to the general duties and responsibilities listed above, the Congregation Leader may be involved in the following specific activities:

DISCIPLESHIP / TRAINING

• meeting one-to-one with men for general discipleship
• counseling couples, pre-marital and otherwise
• meeting with ministry leaders
• event-specific training (eg;consult re: immersion, b'nai mitzvoth, etc)
• discipling groups (eg;"Joshua's Men" men's program)
• leadership training (eg;havurah leaders training)
• teaching Jewish evangelism seminars
• teaching Bible studies
• participating in training b'nai mitzvah students
• administering conflict resolution
• teaching membership classes

ADMINISTRATIVE / PLANNING

• planning with elders and beit shammashim
• preparing policies and procedures with elders
• personal planning (scheduling appointments, events, etc)
• planning regular elders and staff meetings
• planning for various retreats(congregational, J-men, youth, etc.)
• co-planning special services & events (Pesach, holy days, picnics, seminars, mission trips, etc)
• evaluating volunteer staff

EVANGELISM / VISITATION

• meetings with pre-believers
• follow up of newcomers and other contacts
• "Joined Together" outreaches
• hospital visitation
• home visits (congregants)

COORESPONDENCE

• returning select phone messages
• returning select email messages
• writing updates and time sensitive messages to the congregation

SERVICE EVENTS

• weekly Shabbat services
• Celebrate Havdalah services
• special services (holidays, holy days, congregational meetings)
• "emissarial" services in local churches

STUDY / PREPARATION

• private study for sermons and Bible studies
• preparation for various presentations (eg; seminars, services, etc)
• preparation for various meetings (eg; VHS; deacons; ministry teams, etc)
• preparation for weddings, funerals, b'nai mitzvot, etc

Except in the unusual event of transitions or disciplinary measures, the SODC Congregation Leader will serve as Head Elder of the Elder Board, having equal authority with his co-Elders. The Congregation Leader will be strictly accountable to the Elder Board (see excerpt from SODC By Laws, attached below).

[The writing below is taken directly from the SODC By Laws concerning the office of Congregation Leader. It is included here to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the office as SODC interprets it.]

Congregational Leader

Ephesians 4:7-13 includes "pastors" among the gifts God has for the benefit of the Body of Messiah.  We interpret the pastor as Congregational Leader as being the Head Elder and primary shepherd of the local flock, the Chief Shepherd being Yeshua Himself

(1 Peter 5:2-4).

a.         Qualifications

The Congregational Leader must satisfy the same scriptural standards for Eldership, as noted in Article VII, Section A.1.b.  A candidate for Congregational Leader must be Jewish by birth, mature and have formal academic Bible training and knowledge of Jewish history, culture and traditions as well as familiarity with the Hebrew language.  He shall have faithfully served a minimum of one year in the capacity of Elder, Pastor or Congregational Leader in his ministry experience.  He should be a person sensitive to the needs of both Jewish and Gentile believers and be committed to the Constitution & By-Laws of Son of David Congregation.

b.         Appointment

The Board of Elders shall choose candidates for the office of Congregational Leader.  The congregation shall participate in the appointment process during a review period determined by the Board.  During this period, congregants may submit relevant information, which will assist the Elders in the decision-making process.  The Congregational Leader shall be appointed by unanimous vote of the Board of Elders, and shall be ordained by prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6; 13:3).

c.         Duties

As Head Elder, the Congregational Leader shall fulfill the duties of an Elder, as noted in (Article VII, Section A.1.d.).  Additionally, his duties include but are not limited to:

i)      proclaiming and teaching the Word of God with the goal of edifying and instructing believers as well as clearly presenting the Gospel;

ii)     discipling believers for leadership and equipping of the Body;

iii)      prayer for the concerns of the congregation and counsel for individuals in the congregation;

iv)      administering the ordinances of the New Covenant;

v)              officiating special ceremonies, including weddings, b'nai mitzvot, brit milot, and funerals.  

d.         Sabbatical

The Congregational Leader may take a sabbatical according to the guidelines noted in Article VII, Section A.1.e.

e.         Termination

The Congregational Leader shall serve for the duration of the term specified in his contract, and will be subject to regular review of his good standing in the congregation and conformity to the Biblical qualifications for Elders.  The Congregational Leader may be removed by unanimous decision of his fellow Elders for just cause, but not before attempting to apply corrective discipline for the purpose of restoring him (see Article VII).  The Congregational Leader may resign his office, but not before submitting written notice to the Board of Elders sixty days in advance, or a lesser time as determined by the Board of Elders.