In any business looking to hire you can be sure that the managers and HR people have spent a good amount of time crafting a job description. After all if you are going to spend good money on an employee it needs to be very clear what they are being paid for.
Churches should operate with an even greater level of clarity in a vocation where eternal souls are involved. Yet looking at many job postings and reading church bylaws, the functional job description for Pastors vary widely. This is important because a man looking at a church might end up taking a job he doesn’t understand, or a church might hire a man of conviction who pursues a Biblical ministry, that offends them.
Fortunately we have an exceptionally clear book on the matter. The Bible, specifically the New Testament points us to the description of a New Testament Church.
Here is a biblical job description for a pastor, grounded in key Scripture passages that describe the character, responsibilities, and spiritual qualifications of a faithful shepherd:
Biblical Job Description: Pastor (Elder/Overseer)
Title: Pastor / Elder / Overseer (Greek: poimēn, presbyteros, episkopos)
Position Summary:
The pastor is a qualified man called by God and affirmed by the local church to shepherd God’s people through the ministry of the Word, prayer, and oversight. He must model Christlike character, faithfully teach sound doctrine, protect the flock from false teaching, and equip the saints for the work of ministry.
Primary Responsibilities:
1. Preach and Teach the Word of God
"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
—2 Timothy 4:2"He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
—Titus 1:9
2. Shepherd the Flock
"Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly."
—1 Peter 5:2"I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
—Jeremiah 3:15
3. Lead by Godly Example
"Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
—1 Timothy 4:12"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith."
—Hebrews 13:7
4. Pray for the Church
"We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
—Acts 6:4"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers."
—Ephesians 1:16
5. Equip the Saints for Ministry
"And he gave...the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."
—Ephesians 4:11–12
6. Guard the Flock from Error
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock...I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you...Therefore be alert."
—Acts 20:28–31
Qualifications:
1 Timothy 3:1–7
Above reproach
Husband of one wife
Sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable
Able to teach
Not a drunkard or violent but gentle
Not quarrelsome or a lover of money
Manages his own household well
Not a recent convert
Well thought of by outsiders
Titus 1:5–9
Blameless
Not arrogant or quick-tempered
Lover of good, upright, holy, disciplined
Holds to sound doctrine
Accountability:
Accountable to Christ, the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
Accountable to fellow elders and the congregation (Acts 14:23, Hebrews 13:17)
It’s not enough for a church to use squishy language in it’s job description. Words like “ministry” or “minister at large” are frankly vague enough to be manipulated into whatever shape the prevailing powers in a church want them to mean. By being specific, you can be objective and clear.
So next time someone asks you for a job description of a Pastor I hope you’ll refer back to this article.