English Assistant Pastor
Brief Job Description
This is a full-time pastoral leadership role that requires someone who has mature faith in Jesus Christ, a deep love and understanding of the Canadian-born Chinese (CBC) culture and a calling to be a part of the next season of maturation of the Chinese church in North America. As an English assistant pastor, you will be reporting to the English charge pastor. You will also primarily be working collaboratively with the other 2 English Pastors, and the ECCC pastoral team including the Next Gen (NG) Pastor and Children Ministry Directors to formulate the strategy for preaching, teaching and shepherding the English congregation towards maturity in Christ in alignment with the vision and mission of ECCC. You must lead a life that is exemplary and above reproach according to Biblical Standards (as outlined in ECCC’s Constitution and Bylaws).
Overview of the Church’s History, Community, Next-Gen Vision and Mission
ECCC is a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church located in Edmonton and established in 1983. It was planted during the Chinese immigrant revival movement of that era and grew from a single Cantonese-speaking congregation into a trilingual, multi-generational, multi-congregational church with over 1100 attendees. The English-speaking children’s ministry was started in 1984 and began self-governance as a congregation in 2006. It has now grown to a congregation of close to 300 through biological, transfer and conversion growth.
The English congregation in ECCC has a unique demographic of mostly Canadian-born Chinese, mostly younger than 50 years old (generally following the trend that the younger the generation, the larger its representation), and mostly educated, middle to upper class economic backgrounds. Though presently predominantly monocultural (within the congregation), the community is strong and highly participatory. Families are also tight knit. The relationships in this community far exceed our programs and in general, are quite involved with sharing life with one another. It is encouraging to see that many of those who grew up in the church are still active in the English congregation today.
ECCC Vision for 2025 is: One Church for God’s glory through life-sharing discipleship. We have identified, along with many Chinese churches across Canada, that unity as a trilingual multi-congregational church, sharing of life across cultures and discipleship across generations are areas that we together yearn for biblical reform and revitalization. However, we are equally certain that Christ has promised to sanctify her bride so that one day we may be without spot or blemish (Eph 5:27) and we are confident that He still has plans for the Chinese Canadian church to put on display his “manifold wisdom” (Eph 3:10) in maturing through these same issues. The English congregation has an indispensable role in this, though the vision to accomplish it is still evolving.
A successful candidate for this pastoring role must embrace the fact that Chinese immigrants still require Cantonese and Mandarin church outreach and that these Chinese congregations will always require an English congregation that shares the same missional spirit. We must discover this one-spiritedness together as a church in this next season. And as an English congregation, we must discover how this missional spirit balances the calling to reach our next generation and the calling to reach the lost outside of the church. Patience, a resilient trust in the sovereign, great shepherd heading the church, a heart for the lost and clear ecclesiology will be required to unify and lead the English congregation towards health.
We invite all interested candidates to apply for the position.
Role and Responsibilities
1. Provide leadership, vision, and spiritual direction for the English Congregation of ECCC:
Collaborate with the other 2 English pastors to unite and lead the congregation around maturing towards health and implementing Vision 2025.
Reporting to the English charge pastor, shepherd members of ECCC’s English congregation and provide spiritual leadership and equipping in God’s Word.
2. Preaching and Teaching of God’s word
Preach and teach the word of God with sound doctrine, contextualizing the gospel for the English congregation. The goal is to provide spiritual nourishment and challenge them to grow spiritually. To worship in and show the glory of God in scripture and train them to build a foundation for life by learning to engage with the Bible for themselves. It is to teach them to allow scripture to transform them into men and women in the likeness of Christ and who are ready for whatever calling God may have for their lives.
Guide our congregants to discover a biblical approach to relevant contemporary issues and grow in discernment of how to be set apart but yet lovingly interact with the world.
Work with Next Gen Pastor (church-wide) to build up and equip the next gen and parents to take primary ownership of family discipleship.
Equipping the saints to do the work of the church, living out their faith through service to others within the church and missional activities in the local community and beyond.
3. English Ministry Programs
Oversee English Ministry Programs alongside the other 2 English Congregational pastors. Develop and shepherd these predominantly deacon-run ministries where all involved may encounter God and be impacted by the Holy Spirit. Programs need to be in alignment with the overall vision and mission of ECCC and coordinated with the church calendar of events. Current programs include but are not limited to:
Sun morning worship service,
Sun morning Christian education,
Adult Small groups,
Monthly Weds night Prayer meetings,
Intergenerational Women’ Groups (IWG)
Intermittent special services and events (such as Christmas Eve service, Chinese New Year celebration, Community outreach events and Church camp).
Be a leader of leaders. Guide recruitment, mobilizing and nurturing of lay leaders in the Lord by creating a biblical culture of under-shepherding and discipling amongst the ministry teams.
Build gospel communities within our programs, including across generations, to facilitate discipleship.
4. Pastoral Care
Build relationships with congregants and take time to disciple more intimately those who seek to draw near to God.
When appropriate, to provide pastoral care and counselling for individual members or families of the congregation
5. General Administrative Duties
Attend staff meetings
Assist with Sunday services when necessary
Attend monthly Deacon board meetings.
Qualifications
Mature faith in Jesus Christ, baptized and passionate for life-long discipleship and learning.
Min. 5 years’ experience serving in ministry; preferably in a leadership role, whether clergy or lay person.
Experience in serving or working in an English congregation of a Chinese church is an asset.
Leadership and Teamwork abilities to unify and lead the congregation in reform and revitalization.
An understanding of immigrant Cantonese and Mandarin cultures and the Canadian-born Chinese culture. Strong communication skills required to connect with people from all three.
A demonstrated spiritual giftedness in preaching and teaching the Word of God.
A demonstrated pattern of discipling believers to maturity and nurturing of new leaders.
A demonstrated pastoral, compassionate heart and strong interpersonal skills.
Energetic and innovative, responsible and motivated, resourceful and organized in ministry and leadership development.
Educational Requirement: Graduated from an accredited evangelical seminary with at minimum an MDiv. or equivalent combination of education.
Acceptance of the ECCC’s Statement of Faith, committed to and compliant with its membership covenant and resonance with its vision and mission.
Computer skills (Google suites, social media, zoom)
Other Details
Terms of Employment: Full time
Reporting to: English Charge Pastor or equivalent
Compensation: Competitive Salary and Benefit Package (will be discussed at interview).
How to Apply: Send your resume to: hr@eccc.ca
In your cover letter please tell us about your personal faith journey, your calling to ministry and your philosophy of ministry.
Applicants accepted for interview must provide an acceptable vulnerable sector police records check as well as professional and personal references.