Senior Pastor / Head of Staff

Lenoir Presbyterian Church (ECO)
Lenoir, North Carolina

Lenoir Presbyterian Church (LPC) is a thriving, warm, intergenerational congregation of approximately 230 covenant partners with average Sunday worship attendance of 180. Since joining the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO) in 2016, we have enthusiastically embraced ECO’s Essential Tenets and have experienced a season filled with remarkable “God moments” as we pursue His preferred future for our church. We are prayerfully seeking a Senior Pastor/Head of Staff who will build upon this momentum and lead us faithfully into the next chapter of ministry.

Founded in 1852, LPC has deep roots in western North Carolina. From a humble log church on the frontier to our present-day brick sanctuary and vibrant ministries, we have remained committed to worship, service, and community engagement. Today our ministries extend locally and digitally through livestream worship, youth and children’s programs, music ministry, missions, and outreach initiatives. We are eager for a shepherd who honors our rich history while guiding us forward with clarity, conviction, and hope.

The Senior Pastor/Head of Staff will be a leader of leaders—someone who knows, encourages, and equips covenant partners to grow in faith, knowledge of God’s Word, love for Christ, and fullness of life in the Holy Spirit. This pastor will ensure the spiritual health of the congregation, lead strategic oversight and planning, supervise staff and volunteers, and work collaboratively with the Session, Diaconate, and ministry teams to advance our vision and Flourishing Objectives.

We are seeking a biblically rooted preacher and teacher whose ministry is centered on the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Sermons should proclaim God’s Word with clarity, warmth, and conviction, consistently pointing to Christ and the Gospel. The ideal candidate will be willing to address the compelling and challenging issues of our day through the authority of Scripture and will model a growing, vibrant personal faith marked by prayer, study, humility, integrity, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Relationally, we desire a pastor with a genuine heart for Jesus and for people—someone able to connect across multiple generations and cultivate the next generation of disciples and leaders. This leader will provide thoughtful oversight of worship, serve as primary preacher, guide staff and volunteers with wisdom and collaboration, and care deeply for covenant partners and the broader community.

Qualified candidates must be currently ordained or eligible for ordination in ECO and willing to receive, adopt, and be bound by the Essential Tenets of ECO. A Master of Divinity from an accredited theological seminary is required, along with at least ten years of experience as a Senior Pastor with significant preaching responsibilities. Experience leading staff (both paid and volunteer), guiding organizational change, and aligning vision and structure is essential.

Lenoir, North Carolina, is beautifully situated at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, approximately 25 minutes from Blowing Rock and within 90 minutes of Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Asheville. With a population of just over 18,000, Lenoir offers the charm of a smaller community combined with access to mountain recreation and larger metropolitan amenities. Historically known as the furniture capital of the country, the local economy is now diverse, including technology, healthcare, and education. Many families and retirees are drawn to the area for its affordability, beauty, and quality of life.