Ministry Discernment Profile - Pine Grove Presbyterian Church

Our full Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP) – #12795 – is listed on the Church Leadership Connections website, but we wanted to provide a summary on this page as well.

Overview

The Pine Grove Presbyterian Church is seeking a permanent full-time pastor to share with the Upper Spruce Creek Presbyterian Church, located approximately 10 miles away. Both congregations worship in historic church buildings and average around 45-50 attendees each Sunday.

MDP Narratives

1. 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?
  1. We strive to be an active member of our community by sharing the Word with our friends and neighbors through engagement and fellowship activities. Our historic church building has been upgraded with air conditioning and technology which allows us to share our traditional Sunday worship services (and other events) both in-person and online. Our congregation members are active in many community organizations, and our facility hosts several events including the local Ferguson Township Senior Citizens group; Town Talk – a local community-based discussion and history group; a small food pantry and winter clothing for those in need; the local Cub Scout Pack; and we invite friends and neighbors in for community dinners and other events. Our congregation also participates in many donation and support drives to help those in need. This community outreach is not forced, rather it comes from the ideas and energy of our congregation members. It is through this continued love and devotion that we hope to continue to bring the Word of God to our community and inspire others to be good stewards.
2. 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?
  1. Our church is in the small community of Pine Grove Mills, located five miles west of State College and Penn State University’s main campus in central Pennsylvania. As such, we have a diverse demographic area with a wide range of ages, professions, income levels, and general interests. Our community continues to grow, with new homes and businesses being established. Our school district is continually ranked as one of the best in the state, with an elementary school located across the street from our building. Seated at the foot of the mountain, our community is walkable with an elementary school, churches, post office, convenience store, small shops, and restaurants all within walking distance. Just outside of town are abundant farms and nature areas to entice the outdoor enthusiasts, and a plethora of arts, entertainment, education, sporting events, and recreation activities available as well. The University brings in national touring productions and offers other high-end activities and performances, as well as being a driving economic force in the area.
  2. An emerging need in our community is togetherness. Families are often pulled in many different directions and often lose sight of their faith (or never established faith to begin with) and it is the duty and goal for our church congregation to work to meet with our neighbors and friends, invite them into our church family, and share the Good News for all.
3. 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?
  1. The pastor who answers this call will serve both the Pine Grove and Upper Spruce Creek congregations and will begin the call by helping the churches navigate the transition from having separate pastors to sharing a pastor. At Pine Grove Presbyterian, we have a paid part-time organist, part-time cleaner, and a part-time administrative assistant. We also have a devoted and involved Session and Board of Deacons. We seek a leader who will provide energy, enthusiasm, and new insights into how to ‘love our neighbors.’ Sometimes new eyes can help us see missed opportunities that are right in front of us. We all have different talents, and we seek a leader who can work with our session, deacons, and the entire congregation, strengthening each individual in the talents they have been given by God.
4. 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.
  1. We seek a leader who is spiritually mature, trustworthy, and authentic and lives their faith, i.e., they have a rich spiritual life evident from their words (being able to articulate a clear and consistent theology) and their actions. Because our congregation has a wide spectrum of members, we need a leader who will appreciate each person as a child of God and as someone who needs to be heard and loved. We seek someone who will listen and allow all voices to be heard and respected. We seek someone who can walk that fine line between creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all and challenging us to look beyond ourselves and our personal beliefs to truly seek what God is calling us to be and do. We seek a leader who will “walk the talk” with us and recognize, respect, motivate, and nurture all members to develop and use their gifts and work with us all to do the important work of the church. To help us continue and extend our ministries and missions, we seek a pastor who is an excellent communicator, from the pulpit, in small group settings, and in one-on-one conversations. A love and appreciation for music would be an added bonus.
5. What areas of ministry do you expect the person called to be responsible for? Share specific tasks, assignments, and programs.
  1. The Pastor will…
    - lead regular Sunday worship, administer the sacraments of communion and baptism; lead special services and officiate weddings and funerals.
    - develop the shared pastoral relationship with the Upper Spruce Creek church, identify logistical challenges, and work to establish processes and procedures that work for both congregations.
    - in conjunction with the Session, manage the overall care and well-being of the congregation and the success of church programs and work to protect the unity of the church by acting in love towards all church members.
    - moderate and attend all session meetings and congregational meetings and serve as an ex officio member of all committees needed.
    - lead Bible/book studies for adults
    - lead our children/youth in different activities throughout the year
    - provide pastoral care and be available for congregational needs as they arise through office hours or other means
    - enrich and share in the musical portions of worship and fellowship.
    - encourage leadership among members to help them use their spiritual gifts.
    - establish ways to invite and welcome new people to the church.
    - lead and inspire the congregation in the development of new ministries and be available as a resource person
    - build connections in our Presbytery
    - manage part-time support positions

Contact us

If you feel our situation matches your intentions, or you have additional questions about our church and shared pastoral position, please reach out to [email protected].