Candidate Profile

Lead Pastor – Westminster Presbyterian Church 

Gulfport, MS.

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We design the profile to define who would be a good fit for this position based on seven broad criteria listed below.

The profile assumes the qualifications for a pastor found in 1 Timothy and Titus.

Because Westminster is a multi-generational church, the pastor will be more of a generalist and will be required to perform a variety of tasks. They are committed to an egalitarian position on church leadership, affirming women as elders and pastors.

We know, as does the search committee, that there may not be a pastor who checks every box on the following list. If, after reading the profile, this opportunity intrigues you—even if you feel you would need to grow in a few areas—we strongly encourage you to have a conversation with David Zook. He is leading the search.

12 months of post-placement advanced training and support will be provided to help you onboard successfully and hit the ground running with what God has called this church to in its next chapter.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHURCH

CHARACTER

  • The candidate will be approachable, grounded, civic-minded, with an appreciation of people, including the military and veterans.
  • The candidate is fully at ease with the gracious spirit of Southern hospitality and deeply resonates with its people and lifestyle.
  • The candidate is devoted to his family. 
  • The candidate will be marked by humility. Even as the Pastor, he recognizes that he is the first among equals in relation to the Elders. 
  • The candidate will lead the Elders and staff to make tough decisions when they are needed.
  • The candidate will exhibit optimism about the way forward.
  • The candidate will carry himself with confidence in his capabilities. 

KNOWLEDGE

  • The candidate will possess sound theological training in line with ordination requirements.  
  • The candidate will understand how to help people grow closer and more sensitive to God.
  • The candidate grasps the steps to create a healthy and well-balanced church.
  • The candidate is convicted of the centrality of Christ as revealed in Scripture. 
  • The candidate will know how to manage a church, lead staff and elders.
  • The candidate will understand the importance of stewardship and be willing to communicate it in sensible ways that resonate with people.

SKILL

  • The candidate and his family practice hospitality.
  • The candidate possesses the skill to effectively reach out to neighbors and the community.
  • The candidate demonstrates the skill to preach, teach, and apply Scripture.  
  • The candidate knows how to assimilate people into the church. 
  • The candidate knows how to mobilize people based on their gifting, passion, and personality and inspire them to act.
  • The candidate comfortably connects across generations.  
  • The candidate possesses the ability to move the church forward into a new season.
  • The candidate demonstrates the ability to make wise decisions and to say “no” when appropriate.
  • The candidate can build ministries and ministry teams.
  • The candidate can train people to share their faith. 
  • The candidate creates an environment where people grow closer and more sensitive to God.  
  • The candidate develops spiritual and missional leaders and delegates responsibility to them.
  • The candidate demonstrates the ability to effectively communicate (written and verbal) to the congregation. 
  • The candidate demonstrates fiscal savvy.

GIFT MIX

The candidate will possess the gift mix of:

  • Shepherding
  • Exhortation
  • Faith
  • Evangelism
  • Hospitality

We would like to emphasize that this is a mix that works together. They are not separated by silos. Some seasons of the life of the church might require one of the five emphasized over the others without neglecting the others.

Shepherding: The gift of caring for, protecting, guiding, feeding, and nurturing the spiritual health and growth of individuals or groups like a shepherd cares for sheep. It involves relational investment, oversight, correction, and helping people become more like Jesus over time. It reflects the long road of obedience that God wants us to walk.

Exhortation: The gift of motivating, comforting, challenging, and urging believers toward faithfulness, perseverance, and godly action. It strengthens the weak, restores the fallen, and spurs the body forward in love and good works through timely words, presence, and relational investment. It flows from God’s desire to be with us and for us in our daily lives.

Faith: Extraordinary, unwavering confidence and trust in God that enables bold prayer, action, and expectation of His intervention, often in the face of impossibility. It moves mountains, inspires others, and demonstrates the reality of the living God. It reflects God’s desire for us to depend on him and to trust him for our daily lives. 

Evangelism: The ability to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers in ways that lead to genuine conversion, discipleship, and incorporation into the body of Christ. It carries a God-given burden for the lost and often equips others to share their faith naturally. It flows from God’s love for us and his commitment to proclaim salvation to the ends of the earth. 

Hospitality: The warm, generous, and joyful welcoming of guests, strangers, and those in need into one’s home or community. It creates space for relationship, belonging, rest, and gospel witness, often at personal cost and inconvenience. It reflects God’s invitation to us to be with him.

PERSONALITY

The candidate is an influencer and builder.

  • He can make things happen by turning thoughts into action.
  • He takes control of situations in a good way and will make decisions that are best for the group.
  • He will be a good communicator.
  • He likes to measure progress in healthy, holistic, and sustainable ways so the church can advance the Kingdom.
  • He will bring the best out in others.
  • He takes risks so long as God is in those risks.
  • He is wired to make an impact on the congregation and community.
  • He loves to meet new people and win them over. 

PASSION

  • The candidate has a heart for the greater Gulf Coast community and care for loved ones.  
  • The candidate prioritizes loving God and others.
  • The candidate has a passion for building the Kingdom through the local church.
  • The candidate thrives with the challenge of moving a church forward into its next chapter.
  • The candidate has a deep conviction for missions as interpreted by the Church.

STORY

The candidate’s life will be marked by getting things done to expand the Kingdom in God’s timing, not his. He will have several years of life experience, with the competency or capacity to turn vision into action to equip others to do the same. His positive influence will be evident through stories of how he shaped mindsets both within and beyond the church while building ministries in healthy ways.

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