Lead Pastor/ Head of Staff

Community West Church is a member of the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO) denomination. Located in the western Henrico County suburbs of Richmond, VA, we are in search of a Lead Pastor/ Head of Staff. www. communitywestchurch.org

Church Profile and Job Description provided below:

Church Profile:

Who Are We?

Community West Church is a vibrant, multigenerational congregation located in Richmond’s West End. We seek to love our neighbors, share the good news of the gospel, and worship the Lord with our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. As an ECO Presbyterian church (https://eco-pres.org ), we are committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ in an ever-changing world.

Jesus never required a person to be a certain way before he received them. The same is true today: Jesus invites people to himself, just as they are.

We seek to be a church where people experience the transforming love of Christ in the midst of the realities of everyday life, become committed to following him, find fellowship and belonging in community, and in response, joyfully invite others to experience the love of Christ and the goodness of the gospel. We strive to make our services approachable to growing followers of Jesus as well as those who may be attending church for the very first time with beautiful worship music and Biblically-based teaching that can be applied to real-life situations.

What’s Our Story?
Our journey started in 2009 when a handful of people from Third Presbyterian Church launched a second site. In 2014, it became a church plant with the hope that a new site and new church community might be especially suited to reaching people who had not previously been part of a church or those who had given up on church due to poor past experiences.

Over the years, this growing church that is now Community West worshipped in a variety of locations throughout Richmond\\’s West End including a hotel ballroom, the Knights of Columbus Hall, and a nearby private school. In 2016, God provided the opportunity to purchase a rare tract of 19 acres of land. In late 2019, God’s generous provision through the financial gifts of Third Church, the Community West congregation, and many friends, allowed us to make the final payment on the purchase of the land and own the 19 acres debt-free.

Prayerful plans began for how we might steward the land moving forward, and dreams began to take shape for our first church building. In time, a capital campaign was launched, and we continued to worship in rented space at the Steward School as we awaited God’s provision and timing for our first facility.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic altered life and plans for all of us. We were no longer able to rent space from the Steward School. We began to worship, socially-distanced, in the covered pavilion on the land and continued to do so for three years – in heat, rain, snow, and all kinds of weather. Communal in-person worship was a gift in that difficult season in the world. It was a sacrifice of comfort that also eliminated rental costs and allowed more resources to flow towards the capital campaign and the goal of worshipping in our first church building. Through God’s continued provision and the sacrificial response of his people to the capital vision, we had an August 2021 groundbreaking ceremony, and in December 2022, just weeks before Christmas, we worshiped for the first time in our new building.

Now in 2025, we find ourselves in a season of growth; we are increasing staffing, refining current ministries and programs, and seeking the Lord’s direction for how we will steward our resources to further his Kingdom. We hope and pray for continued growth, especially in our student ministry, in discipleship and depth of faith for all ages, and in furthering our outreach with God’s love and good news both locally and globally. We look forward to what the Lord has in store in the next chapter of our church’s story and are eager to see how God’s provision of our next lead pastor will be part of that process.

What Do We Value?
In our suburban context, we hope to disrupt the isolation and busyness many experiences in modern life, offer a place where people can be honest about the joys and struggles of their lives, find connection with some fellow travelers, and develop a growing relationship with God.

We equip our people to love the communities where God has placed them among friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers, and believe God will use us to help many more people find purpose and fullness of life in Jesus.

Children’s programming, student ministry, and home groups are all part of Community West’s discipleship pathways through which we grow disciples of Jesus Christ who understand they are sent into the world in love. Adult home groups pause periodically for focused learning experiences on topics such as marriage, parenting, finances, spiritual practices, inductive Bible study, and more. For children and students, summer brings additional opportunities for learning and fellowship. We continue to grow and expand discipleship pathways and recently have been experimenting with new ways and forms for mutual discipleship and mentoring.

How Do We Reach Our Community?
We believe the church exists for the sake of the community it serves. We desire to meet local needs as a trusted member of the community and offer tangible expressions of God’s love to those around us. Demographic data shows that two-thirds of the people in our immediate area do not have a meaningful relationship with a Christian church. It is our hope that our people, land, and facilities will serve the community well and reflect Christ’s love to them. We want people in West Richmond and beyond to say, “I may not believe everything those people at Community West believe, but I sure am glad they’re here!”

We have been door-to-door to meet and pray for our immediate neighbors, served students and teachers at nearby Godwin High School, held a community yard sale and furniture drive to benefit a local agency serving unhoused people, and have held periodic “Into the Neighborhood” Sundays where we pause our regular Sunday worship service to intentionally love, serve, and connect with neighbors in our local community.

The Generosity Project is a three-part community outreach event developed and expanded over the years to include giving away pumpkins in the fall, Christmas trees in the winter, and geraniums in the spring. The larger community looks forward to these events and the church community does too! They are a favorite time to serve our neighbors together. In a time when churches are often seen as hypocritical and judgmental, we hope to cultivate a reputation for being generous – no strings attached!

We are aware of and concerned about the vulnerable and marginalized, and as followers of Christ, we want to fulfill our Biblical calling to share Christ’s love and compassion in practical ways. We are also expanding our vision and commitment to global missions though building cross-cultural relationships locally and around the world. For the past two years, we have also participated in Operation Christmas Child, sending Christmas gifts and gospel messaging to children around the world.

Where Do We Live and Worship?
Community West Church is located in Richmond’s Far West End in the Short Pump community. Originally agricultural fields, Short Pump is now a prominent suburban hub which includes a mix of single-family dwellings and mixed-use communities with retail and housing units. Situated in Henrico County, residents have access to quality public schools, a robust public library system, a number of local and regional parks, as well as many shopping and dining venues.

Downtown Richmond is a short 20-minute drive from Short Pump. As the state capitol of Virginia, Richmond has a rich history and is conveniently located an hour from the mountains, two hours from the beach, and two hours from Washington D.C. Richmond is home to several major colleges and universities, boasts the natural beauty of the James River, and has many unique and eclectic neighborhoods such as Carytown, The Fan, and Scott’s Addition. The region is fast becoming known for its museums and cultural offerings, outdoor opportunities, and bustling restaurant scene.

Community West Church at a Glance
Covenant Partners (members): 113

Average Weekly Worship Attendance:130 adults, 40-50 children (newborn – 5th grade); 10-12 students (6th-12th grade)

Current Staffing:

Full-Time Positions (2) – Lead Pastor, Director of Music and Worship
Part-Time Positions (6) – Director of Discipleship Pathways, Director of Children’s Ministry, Associate Director of Children’s Ministry, Executive Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Interim Director of Student Ministry

Leadership Structure:
Expansion of all leadership groups is underway to meet the needs of our growing congregation.

Session comprised of 8 active elders and the Lead Pastor (currently 5 men, 3 women). Session is responsible for overseeing the congregation’s spiritual health, mission, and faithfulness to God’s call.

Diaconate comprised of 5 deacons (currently 4 women, 1 man); Deacons serve the practical needs of the congregation as well as supporting the church’s outreach and ministry.

Trustees comprised of 5 trustees (currently all men); The Trustees are responsible for managing and maintaining the building, land, and equipment of the church.

Staff Culture and Vision

• Commit to a healthy work culture, encouraging risk and experimentation.
• Ensure that members know their roles, working toward goals they help to create.
• Prioritize spiritual, physical, and mental health, caring for the whole person.

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Job Description:

Position Title: Lead Pastor/Head of Staff

Church: Community West Church

Job Overview: We are seeking a Christ-Centered Lead Pastor to guide our congregation with spiritual wisdom, compassionate leadership, and a commitment to nurturing a vibrant faith community. The Lead Pastor will play a pivotal role in fulfilling our church’s mission, fostering spiritual growth, and engaging with our local community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Biblical Preaching and Teaching: Through Biblically faithful, Christ-centered preaching and teaching, deliver spirit-led, relatable, and life-applicable sermons that inspire congregants to live missionally, deepen their relationship with God, and follow Jesus more intently in their daily lives.
• Leadership: In collaboration with Session, develops and casts vision in a way that inspires engagement of others
• Disciple-Making: Help congregants deepen their faith and create a culture that encourages meaningful relationships that promote spiritual growth and disciple-making.
• Worship Services: In collaboration with the Director of Music and Worship, prepare and lead worship services, administer Sacraments, officiate weddings, and preside over funerals; ensure meaningful worship experiences for a multigenerational church.
• Session Leadership: Serve as Moderator and leader while collaborating with Session members to discern strategic direction, establish goals, manage financial resources, and review the church\\’s overall mission, ensuring that key decisions are successfully communicated; train officers and encourage the shepherding role of elders in the life of the church.
• Congregational Support: Shepherd and support efforts to enhance our strong congregational family as we grow, promoting unity in Jesus amidst diverse preferences and perspectives.
• Community Engagement: Build relationships within the local community, participate in outreach and mission activities, and collaborate with other organizations to address community needs.
• Head of Staff: Work closely with ordained and non-ordained staff to implement the church’s mission and vision, ensuring accountability as established by the Session; responsible for supervising, directing, and holding accountable staff with support from Session; model and promote the balancing of ministry, personal life, and personal spiritual development.
• Mentorship/Staff Development: Mentor staff by fostering teamwork, supportive relationships, and personal and spiritual growth, encouraging the development of individual talents for a stronger whole.
• Lay Leadership: Shepherd congregants and raise up lay leaders and lay pastors, inspiring them to lead in areas where they are gifted; provide oversight to pastoral care.
• Mission Collaboration: Collaborate with other ministries in the West End of Richmond and globally to help others find and follow Jesus, embracing and serving the marginalized.
• Affinity Group Partnership: Build and maintain partnerships with other churches in our ECO “Missional Affinity Group (MAG)” in Richmond.

Qualifications and Desired Skills:

• Personal Faith: Strong and evident personal belief in God the Father, Christ the Savior, and the Holy Spirit; an abiding faith in Jesus and the knowledge that they are a child of God the Father through Jesus Christ; pursuit of Jesus through highly-disciplined spiritual practices including time with the Lord and accountability in community; an active listener to the voice of God.
• Scriptural Knowledge: Deep knowledge of Scripture, placing God’s work and will foremost in life and ministry.
• Engaging Preacher: A great preacher with an engaging preaching style: delivering sermons that are Biblically-based, challenging, and relevant to daily lives; sharing fresh and relatable experiences with God.
• Generational and Cultural Sensitivity: Awareness of and sensitivity to the needs across multiple generations, cultures, differing preferences for worship style, and the varying needs of singles, couples, and families.
• Interpersonal Skills: A warm, personal presence that encourages personal change and builds community through an emphasis on the unmerited grace of Jesus, deep listening, and compassion towards others.
• Teachable and Humble: A teachable, approachable, humble leader with an evident prayer life and transparency of strengths and weaknesses.
• Visionary Leader: One who can identify and lead the implementation of new and evolving strategies to encourage all generations to find and follow Jesus.
• Organizational and Communication Skills: Strong organizational, administrative, and communication (oral and written).
• Collaborative Leadership: Collaborative, team-based leadership with an ability to build consensus, delegate, communicate effectively, and manage multiple tasks including meetings and sermon deadlines.

Education and Experience

• Master of Theology or Divinity, or its equivalent, from an accredited seminary.
• Prefer 5+ years experience as a Senior Pastor or other pastoral role in a thriving congregation.

For additional information, email us at: pnc@communitywestchurch.org

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