Denomination: Presbyterian – ECO

Weekly Attendance: 350

Location: Midland, TX

The Role: Christian Formation Pastor

Meet First Presbyterian Church Midland:

First Presbyterian Midland has been worshiping and growing together in West Texas since 1885.

Through generations of booms and busts, Midlanders at FPC hold fast to the one thing that is sure and unchanging, the love of God shown to us in Jesus Christ. As our community members have explored the depths of the earth for some of the richest natural resources in the world, we have sought to explore the depths of the soul, growing deeper in our love for Jesus and for one another, finding the truly abundant life only God can give.

We’re blessed to be a worshiping body of believers with diverse worship expressions and traditions. In all our services, we aim to exalt God, to draw closer to him, and to be sent out in our city and world with the good news that Christ is Lord. During our Sunday morning worship services, we offer nursery and children’s ministry. Of course, children are always welcome to remain in worship with their families, too.

About the Christian Formation Pastor:

First Presbyterian Church Midland is searching for a Christian Formation Pastor who will help lead the church and provide specialized efforts in the area of intergenerational Christian Formation, education, and discipleship. This person will serve as the staff resource for the Christian Formation Committee.

The Christian Formation Pastor’s Responsibilities Include:

• Working with the other pastors to enrich the vision of FPC Midland.
• This person is primarily responsible for adult discipleship and formation, and creates a culture that attracts, recruits and welcomes lay people who desire to join the formation/education opportunities at FPC.
  • This could include adult ministries, teaching opportunities, and small groups.
• In collaboration with the pastors, this person provides guidance, input, and feedback regarding curriculum, resources, and sequencing of materials for age-appropriate development.
  • This will be done in cooperation with student and children’s ministers.
• With the Lead Pastor and Formation Committee, initiates and oversees the ongoing process of developing, adding, and reviewing the Christian Formation Objectives and Key Results, based on the needs set forth by this group.
• Performs pastoral duties such as preaching, baptisms, visitation, weddings, funerals, participating in Presbytery, and spiritual counseling.
• Volunteers on community boards and groups that align with ministry and goals as approved by the Lead Pastor.
• Manages assigned ministry budgets.
• Evaluates curriculum, programs, and staff performance for supervised ministries.
• Supervises and coordinates student confirmation process.
• With volunteer leadership, plans and helps to execute Immeasurably More, First Ladies events, Women’s Retreat, and Men’s Retreat.

What You Bring:

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Christian Formation Pastor:

Education & Experience

• 2+ years’ experience, degree, or formal training in Christian education and disciple formation.
• If hired as a pastor, seminary training or ordination in a Reformed denomination, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of the Bible and Reformed theology.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Acceptance and agreement with the vision and goals of the church as well as the ECO Essential Tenets and Confessional Standards
• Acceptance and agreement with the vision, mission statement, values, and goals of FPC Midland, including Staff Covenant
• Be a faithful follower of Jesus Christ with a willingness to be helpful and supportive of others in their spiritual journeys

What it’s Like to Live in Midland, TX:

Midland-Odessa is known for its unique West Texas culture, the legion of oil rigs that stand on top of dusty plains, and Friday Night Lights, a book and film based on one of the town’s high school football teams. Yet there’s more to this West Texas town than meets the eye. Spend some time here and you’ll discover more than a few surprises, such as a working re-creation of William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, a replica of Stonehenge, and the second-largest meteor crater in the United States. Not only that, but the Midland-Odessa area also has a thriving arts scene with top-class performers and a world-class performing arts center. All of these elements combine to make Midland-Odessa and the Permian Basin a destination that has something to offer everyone.

The city was established in 1881 as an important railroad stop for the Texas and Pacific Railway, and it didn’t take long for it to develop into a major cattle shipping center. However, its real boom came in 1926, when the discovery of oil would change Midland-Odessa from a ranching and shipping community to an industrial one. Since then, it has grown to be a lively town that is part of the thriving Midland-Odessa area.

Although Midland-Odessa is a truly modern city, it still retains its cowboy spirit. Experience it for yourself at the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo, one of Midland-Odessa’s premier events that features a rodeo, livestock show, a competitive horse show, and plenty of live country music. Of course, the rodeo is just one of many events it hosts throughout the year. Other events include a craft beer festival, a car show, and a regional fair.

When you’re ready to hang up your cowboy hat, catch a performance at the Globe of the Great Southwest, the aforementioned recreation of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre located on the campus of Odessa College. The Permian Playhouse is another theater in Odessa that produces a wide variety of plays and musicals throughout most of the year. Meanwhile, the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale has much to offer you music lovers out there. The company includes a symphony and three instrumental ensembles that offer top-class performances at the Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, a world-class facility situated between Odessa and Midland. Finally, the Ellen Noël Art Museum of the Permian Basin, one of only two Smithsonian-affiliated museums in Texas, presents the works of more than 400 American artists.

All of this just scratches the surface of what Midland-Odessa has to offer to visitors and resident families.