Employment

Lead Pastor-International Christian Fellowship of Warsaw

September 2, 2009

Currently International Christian Fellowship of Warsaw is looking for a New Lead Pastor. The Position Description is included below. ICF’s constitution, which includes its Mission Statement and Core Values is available on the ICF website.

A little About ICF

International Christian Fellowship is an independent evangelical church that is serving the English speaking community of Warsaw Poland.  A typical Sunday service would have an attendance of between 90 to 120 people with normally at least 15 different nationalities represented.  We have a diverse congregation with many different church backgrounds.  ICF has been in existence since 1997 and due to the transient nature of the expatriate congregation it is estimated that over 1000 people have called ICF their home church for some period of time.  One of the great rewards of serving at ICF is knowing the positive impact on lives here has in turn an impact all over the world as families and individuals from our community move on to other postings or return to their home countries.

Please read more about ICF and its various ministries on the ICF website.

Current Staff

After our current Lead Pastor leaves for the US at the end of November, we will have 1 other staff member.  This staff member is the Student Ministries Coordinator who is responsible for coordinating the ministries that impact our children, youth, and young adults.

Search Process

We are asking applicants to express their interest in the position before September 30th, 2009.  ICF has assembled a Search Committee who will be responsible for making a short list of possible candidates.  This short list will be contacted to begin a process of learning more about them and having them learn more about ICF.

ICF is looking for our new Lead Pastor to come as soon as possible, but of course with the understanding that some patience may be required depending on the circumstances of the successful applicant.
If you believe that the Lord might be calling you to ICF as our new Lead Pastor please send your resume (Curriculum Vitae) and a cover letter explaining why you think you would be a good match for our church to search@icf-pl.org.

International Christian Fellowship, Warsaw Poland Lead Pastor Position

ICF orients itself around a set of key elements: a Mission, a Purpose, thirteen Core Values and a Statement of Faith. These particular elements help describe the church’s unique identity - what is most important to ICF, and what this church aspires to be and accomplish in Christ’s name. Our mission and purpose are stated here. Our ICF values and Statement of Faith can be found in the ICF Constitution and By-laws.

Mission. It is the mission of the International Christian Fellowship to present Jesus Christ to the English-speaking community of Warsaw through contemporary worship, relevant teaching, and authentic friendships, in order that all might know Christ and use their God-given gifts for service in our communities and throughout the world. (Matt 28:18, Matt 22:34)

Purposes.

Exalt. We acknowledge God alone as worthy of worship and desire to deeply connect with Him in loving relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deut 6:5, 10:12; Ps 51:17, 63:4, 95:1-6, 149:3; Matt 22:37-38; Rom 12:1; Rev 4:11)
Embrace. We serve the English-speaking community in Warsaw, both international and native Poles, by loving them as Jesus loves. (Matt 5:16; 1Tim 6:18; Heb 10:24; Jas 2:17; 1Pet 2:12)
Establish. We explore, learn, teach, and live the Biblical story of God and what it means to be a follower of Jesus. (Matt 18:19-20, 22:39; Acts 2:42-46; Rom 15:7; Col 3:13-14; 1Tim 2:1-2)
Equip. We prepare every Christ follower in our community for service to God and others by using their God-given gifts and passions. (Matt 28:20; 2Tim 2:2; 1Cor 12:4-7; John 14:12; Eph 4:11-12)
Extend. We choose in faith to join with God in bringing about His purposes in the world. (1Cor 9:22-23; John 3:16; Matt 28:18-20)

The Position
The Lead Pastor’s primary roles are developing and overseeing the teaching/preaching ministry of the church, overseeing leadership and development with emphasis on developing the Leadership Board (elder team) itself, and seeking God along with the other leaders and pastors as to the direction and needs of the church. He will be responsible to model and promote the vision of ICF, in accordance with the Mission, Purpose, and Values of the church. He will be charged with the accountability and spiritual development of any other staff members. The Lead Pastor’s accountability is to God and to the Leadership Board.

The Lead Pastor’s primary roles and responsibilities are further elaborated below:

Vision and Leadership.

• Together with the other leaders, seek God in prayer for the vision He is calling the church to for the future.
• Act as the primary communicator of the vision to the church and to newcomers.
• Promote the ministry/organizational scenario consistent with ICF’s Vision, Values and Statement of Faith.
• Review and approve Vision and Values for specific ministries.
• Ensure the Spiritual formation and leadership development of the Leadership Board, staff and ministry team leaders, while providing broad strategic oversight to the church’s leadership development process.
• Ensure that church members are empowered and encouraged to use their gifting and God-given talents for the furtherance of God’s Kingdom.

Pastoring/Shepherding/Staffing

• A facilitative leader, devoted to a team approach to ministry.
• Committed to, and nurturing others in lifelong development.
• Oversee the development of the staff and ministry team leaders to carry out ICF’s vision, ensuring that they are properly coached/mentored.
• Responsible for hiring and firing of all staff with review and approval from the Leadership Board.

Teaching

• Discern Scripture-based topics/subjects to be taught in various contexts of the church, and propose to pastors/teachers.
• Preach and teach on Sundays and coach other preachers; occasionally teach/oversee seminars and courses to ensure church’s strength in truth and practical ministry.

Strategic Planning

• As a vision-caster, he would be responsible for coordination of the strategic planning process (or oversee a team/individual to do such).
• The strategic plan would be reviewed and approved by the Leadership Board.

Policy

• As part of the Leadership Board, articulate positions on key Scriptural matters, review policy for the church operations.
• Ensure that policies are understood and implemented in the church.

Qualifications.

In terms of character and Spiritual maturity, the Lead Pastor should exemplify a Christ-honoring life, demonstrating those same Biblical qualities demanded of church elders (1Tim 3:2-7; 1Pet 5:1-4; Titus 1:6-9). He should have a verifiable history of leading with integrity and humbleness, able to lead with a balance of grace and truth - under the guiding light of Scripture and the Holy Spirit. As well, he must demonstrate an ability to maturely and accurately handle the Word of God (backed by a substantial degree of Bible and theological training). We would also expect him to be committed to prayer as the key expression of his dependence on God and guidance by the Holy Spirit.

In the way he approaches the Bible and in his philosophy of ministry, we would expect the Lead Pastor to maintain a healthy tension between preserving the essentials (key doctrines and established Biblical positions held by ICF), and allowing a variance of opinion over non-essentials. Although we are “evangelical” in theology, as a church we are inter-denominational in character, and are looking for a Lead Pastor who is able to recognize and respect the legitimate voice of other historical streams of the Christian faith.

Finally, in “post-modern” Europe it is vitally important that the ICF Lead Pastor would be able to read and understand the times we are in. He should have the capacity to orient the church toward effective ministry among post-Modern people, especially those of the international variety. The Lead Pastor would need to have substantial exposure to cross-cultural ministry and an ability to comfortably relate to diverse cultural perspectives. He will preferably have some experience living in other countries besides his home country (a history of some years of living in Europe would certainly be a premium), although this is not required.

Finances

It is ICF’s goal to offer a competitive compensation package to the successful candidate.  The range of this package can be discussed with the Pastoral Search Committee and its’ members.