Pastor

About the Church:
First Congregational United Church of Christ is looking for our next settled pastor. With historical ties to Doane University, we are a congregation of approximately 250 people with a thriving children’s program and an emphasis on community outreach. Our Sundays include an informal 9am service, followed by a more formal 10am service. Our congregants are involved! They teach Sunday school, play in the guitar group, serve on Church Council, lead and participate in Bible and book studies, sing in the adult choir, make meals, help with children’s programming on Wednesday afternoons, unload food trucks and pack grocery bags, teach ELL and citizenship classes in our church classrooms for our immigrant community, and collect donations for our often-utilized clothing closet. From worshiping on Sunday to moving nearly 4,000 pounds of food a month, First Congregational is a special place.

About Crete:
We are located 25 miles southwest of Lincoln, Nebraska, in the growing town of Crete. The city boasts more than 8,000 residents and has many amenities, including a hospital, a great public school system, and various employers like Nestlé and Smithfield. Walking downtown you may hear many languages spoken in addition to English: Spanish, Mayan languages, Vietnamese, Marshallese, and Karen. Crete is also home to Doane University–a small liberal arts university–that offers opportunities for public events like athletic
events, theater performances, public lectures, and vocal and instrumental concerts. An easy drive to Lincoln provides access to a bustling mid-size city–home to Nebraska’s flagship university–. Lincoln offers an impressive array of entertainment options for all: art galleries, a 100-mile paved trail system, UNL sporting events, diverse dining options, malls and popular chains like Costco, Scheels, and Trader Joe’s, the Lied Performing Arts Center for Broadway shows, plays and musicals, the Pinnacle Bank Arena for sporting events and concerts, and Pinewood Bowl for outdoor entertainment. What is great about Crete is that it is a community that provides many opportunities for a diverse group of people. Crete offers a small town feel with big city amenities.

Description of Work:

This position includes a broad scope of pastoral responsibilities, including:

• Preparing, leading, and preaching during Sunday services (in collaboration with the Administrative Assistant and
  including Communion on a schedule to be discussed with the Church Council)
• Assisting, coordinating and/or leading youth Christian education, including teaching Confirmation classes and
  leading adult Bible studies
• Attending the Church Council meetings (typically one Sunday a month, following the church service)
• Assisting with midweek youth programming
• Conducting baptisms, weddings, and funerals
• Performing pastoral care, including hospital visits and visits with homebound congregants
• Participating in staff meetings and maintaining semi-regular office hours
• Interacting with community partners and ministry of other churches in the area
• Providing support for existing community ministries

Qualifications:

United Church of Christ First Congregational is a church with regular attendees and members from infants to elderly. The congregation is made up of members who are new to the area, new to the church or who are longtime, multi-generational members of First Congregational. We seek a pastor who will minister to that entire spectrum of people as well as support our outreach and ministry within and around the Crete community. We seek a candidate who is:

An Effective Communicator and Preacher

• a person of faith who attends to and cultivates congregants’ spiritual lives and needs
• is effective in planning and leading worship
• communicates effectively and clearly utilizing various modes of communication
• encourages people to relate their faith to their daily lives

A Pastor and Teacher Who is Effective Working with Youth, Adults, and Community

• desires to minister to all ages through various opportunities including forming relationships with youth and
  guiding confirmation
• ministers to people in crisis situations, makes pastoral calls and is an effective counselor
• has a strong commitment to the educational ministry of the church
• identifies people’s talents and connect them with needs

Accepting of People of Diverse Backgrounds and Traditions

• is active in ecumenical relationships
• continues, supports, and/or grows opportunities to serve the community
• regularly works at bringing new members into the church and encourages participation in First Congregational
  activities

Salary and Benefits:
Compensation package starts at $100,000 (salary, housing allowance, and full benefits)

Questions:
If you have any questions, would like to see our full profile, or submit a ministerial profile, please reach out to one of the Search & Call Committee co-chairs, Jared List ([email protected]) or Julie Rasgorshek ([email protected]).