Wellesley Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, in Wellesley, Massachusetts is searching for an outstanding, deeply faithful Senior Pastor to lead our vibrant and joyful congregation.

As Senior Pastor, you will join a gifted pastoral team that works together closely and collegially. You will serve full-time with a wide range of pastoral duties, including planning and leading worship services, preaching regularly, leading the church staff, and attending to those in the congregation with pastoral needs. You will also work closely with the lay leadership of the church to realize our vision and grow our five ministries.

We are seeking a dynamic individual with a clear Christian commitment, spiritual depth, and theological acuity who will envision how Village Church can significantly impact both our church members and the wider community. We desire a Senior Pastor who will faithfully lead us into the future — remaining open to the surprises God may have in store for us.

Applications for the Senior Pastor are due July 31, 2014. Selected applicants will be interviewed in the Fall of 2014.

2 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02482 781-235-1988 x11 www.wellesleyvillagechurch.org An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ

SENIOR PASTOR Wellesley Congregational (Village) Church ____________________________ United Church of Christ Wellesley, Massachusetts

Senior Pastor Job Description

The Senior Pastor is the leader of the ordained and lay staff, with a full range of pastoral duties but with a particular emphasis on preaching and coordinating worship. The Senior Pastor collaborates closely with the pastoral and administrative staff, music professionals, and lay leaders to implement and nurture the vision of our congregation as expressed in our Covenant and Church Purpose. Responsibilities: Plan and lead faithful, compelling, fresh and relevant worship services: Preach approximately three times per month at one or both Sunday services. Coordinate other special services, such as Maundy Thursday worship, Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, etc. Serve as Head of Staff: Coordinate weekly staff meetings, meet regularly with the music leadership, and attend meetings of the Church Council. Notice and cultivate the gifts of others. Demonstrate a commitment to collaborate with pastoral and administrative staff, music professionals, lay leadership and with the congregation while also realizing our vision and purpose. Support the Pastoral Residency Program: Meet weekly with our two Pastoral Residents to provide mentorship, guidance, and support, as part of the pastoral team. Affirm the congregation in its role as a mentoring community. Lead with a generous spirit, sharing the process of pastoral ministry in ways that reflect your own spiritual practices and love of pastoral ministry. Provide pastoral care and spiritual nurture, as part of the pastoral team. Know and love the congregation. Educate: Develop and teach adult education programs, including Growing in Faith Together, as part of the pastoral team, with special emphasis on faith formation, the Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) programs, and small group learning and ministry opportunities. Support additional church programs: Meet with the Worship Ministry Deacons and other Deacon ministries aligned with the church’s mission, and work regularly to bring new members into the church. Inspire and facilitate opportunities for lay leadership in worship and various ministries, as part of the pastoral team.

Support administration and finance: Provide spiritual leadership for the annual stewardship and special appeals, while maintaining knowledge and understanding of the church financial systems and controls. Understand and support our congregation’s commitment to be environmentally faithful stewards of God’s creation. Officiate at weddings, funerals, and baptisms, as part of the pastoral team. Develop external relationships: Act as ambassador for the church with the UCC at all levels; maintain communications with Lilly Endowment, Inc. and other granting groups; and maintain connections and worship opportunities with local faith partners. Village Church has been a resource to other congregations on matters related to governance, adult faith formation, vibrant youth programs, small group ministries, new clergy training, and being a teaching congregation. We wish to continue leaning forward, trying new things, and following the Spirit wherever it leads. The Senior Pastor is called by the congregation, works in a collegial and collaborative manner with the other pastors and staff, supervises the ordained staff, and is evaluated annually by a team of church members facilitated by the Board of Human Resources. Qualifications: Master of Divinity, ordained or eligible for standing in the United Church of Christ with at least 5 years experience in Parish Ministry, including experience in worship leadership.

About Wellesley Congregational Church

Who We Are

Wellesley Congregational Church (affectionately known as Village Church) is located in

Wellesley, Massachusetts, which is twelve miles west of Boston. The town features seven

neighborhood elementary schools that lead into a single middle school, and then into a

newly built high school. The community has shown great commitment for over four decades

to diversity within our educational system, including METCO and A Better Chance. The town

includes the campuses of several colleges and private schools, including Wellesley College,

Babson College, MassBay Community College, Tenacre Country Day, and Dana Hall School.

The population of Wellesley is approximately 28,000, but our church congregation includes

members of all ages from surrounding communities.

At Village Church (founded in 1798), we are particularly known for our vital worship,

outstanding music, longstanding commitment to the nurture of young people, and

commitment to social justice ministries. We have over 1,000 members, with average weekly

worship attendance of approximately 350, making us one of the largest Protestant

congregations in Massachusetts. We are often described as a healthy church where people

seek to grow in their faith and where joy is manifest. We maintain an operating budget of

approximately $1.4 million and have combined endowment and restricted funds of almost $5

million. We have a history of loving and supporting our pastors, as well as one another.

Our governance is vested in our members and built on the belief that we can work together

through discernment to find a faithful way forward. We believe that every parishioner has

something to offer to our community and we rely on the service of many devoted members

of our church. In 2010 the governance structure of Village Church was realigned to be more

consistent with our church purpose. A Church Council consisting of 14 members, including

the Senior Pastor, provides oversight of the multitude of church activities. Under Church

Council, the realigned organization provides for five Deacon Ministries that are directly aligned

with the stated purpose of the church and its essential work (Worship, Community, Learning,

Service and Sharing). Planning and administration for the core operating functions of the

church are carried out by three administrative boards (Finance, Properties and Human

Resources) and several standing committees.

Each fall, the Board of Nominating works to match the unique gifts that individuals have to

contribute with various leadership, ministry and committee roles within the Church. The

highest elected lay leader is the Moderator, who interacts regularly with the Senior Pastor.

The Moderator presides over the Church Council. Approximately 60 church member Deacons

are responsible for carrying out the five Deacon Ministries. Another 75 or so members work

with the pastors and church staff to manage the core operating functions of the church via the

various administrative boards and standing committees.

Our congregation's bicentennial, celebrated in 1998, proved to be a significant moment in our

history, both for what was accomplished and for what was set in motion. The congregation

celebrated its anniversary by making a special gift to the wider community as we established a

residence in Wellesley for adults with developmental disabilities, meeting an urgent

community need. Also in conjunction with our bicentennial, we embarked on an extensive

visioning process. One outcome was a multi-million dollar capital campaign, among the

largest in the history of the entire United Church of Christ. This effort resulted in a major

renovation of the church's facility and several new outreach initiatives.

Our congregation approved a new capital appeal in March, 2014 with a goal of $5 million. The

purposes of this campaign are fourfold: expand the size of our chapel to be used for smaller

church services including First Worship ($1,000,000); strengthen existing and initiate new

outreach ministries ($250,000); endow the Pastoral Residency Program ($3,250,000); and

continue to reduce the church’s carbon footprint ($500,000).

The Rev. Martin B. Copenhaver served as Senior Pastor of Village Church for the past twenty

years. He is a graduate of Dickinson College and received his Master of Divinity from Yale

Divinity School. Martin departed in March, 2014 to become President of Andover Newton

Theological School. We are seeking a Senior Pastor to replace him and join the rest of our

pastoral staff.

What We Believe We are a congregation of the United Church of Christ. Our own congregation's roots are in

the Congregational Church tradition, which can be traced back to the Pilgrims and Puritans

who settled New England.

The cornerstone of what our congregation believes is our covenant with God and each other:

We are banded together as a Christian church

to maintain the worship of God,

to proclaim the gospel of Christ,

to develop in all people a consciousness of their relations

and duties to God and to each other, and

to inspire them with love for truth, passion for righteousness, and

enthusiasm for service.

To this end we pledge our loyalty to Christ and covenant with each other

to express His spirit in our individual and corporate life,

to live together as Christians and

to submit ourselves to the government of this church, working, giving,

praying for its increase, its purity, its peace, and seeking in every way to

make it a power for the building up of the kingdom of God.

Although Village Church has a proud history, we are always forward leaning, seeking new ways

to live out the Christian Gospel in our time. We are open—to one another, to new ideas (as

well as ancient ones), and to people of other faith traditions. We seek in every way and in

every setting to grow in our faith. While we strive for unity, we are a diverse fellowship of

believers and seekers from every background and tradition. We recognize that everyone may

be at a different place in her/his faith journey.

Through much prayer, study and conversation, we have sought to discern our purpose and

mission as a congregation. That purpose is summarized in a phrase adapted from our

congregation's covenant: "To express His spirit in our individual and corporate life."

Toward that end, our vision is to seek in every way and in every setting, to nurture growth

in faith by

Bonding Together in Community - When we come together in community we deepen our

relationships with God and with one another in ways that help deepen our faith.

Glorifying God Through Worship - We come to offer our praise to God and, in the

process, find ourselves addressed by God. In worship we come to offer the gift of

ourselves and, in turn, receive the gift of God's own self.

Learning the Christian Gospel and Practices - We seek to learn the Christian Gospel and

practices so that we might draw on the riches of our tradition. Such learning is not a

mere intellectual exercise. We learn so that our lives can be shaped by what we learn.

Manifesting Enthusiasm for Service - Service is the giving of time, talents and money to

benefit others. We seek to serve as Jesus served, and to be transformed by the

encounter.

Sharing Our Faith - We seek to share with others what has been shared with us. In

listening to others, and in sharing our faith with others, our own faith is strengthened.

As an Open and Affirming Congregation, we welcome and accept people of any race, gender,

nationality, ethnic origin, physical or mental ability, or sexual orientation. We aim to embody

Christ’s extravagant welcome to those he encountered and we openly support full

participation of everyone in the life and programs of the congregation.

In Village Church, we emphasize growing and nurturing personal faith, guided by the Holy

Spirit and scripture, as well as the social responsibility that derives from Jesus’ teaching that

we are to minister to others. We provide care for both those within and outside our doors

and are particularly proud of our partnerships.

Since 1997 we have enjoyed an active partnership with the Historic Charles Street AME

Church, an African American congregation with a proud history in the Roxbury neighborhood

of Boston. The partnership has offered both congregations opportunities for rich exchange

and enhanced ministries as we have shared congregational worship (including our “Sharing

the Dream” service on Martin Luther King Sunday), small group Bible study, anti-racism

dialogue, youth activities, choir exchanges and mission commitments.

For a similar period of time, we have had a partnership with For His Children Orphanage in

Quito, Ecuador. Almost 200 people have made the pilgrimage to support this effort, many

more than once. In 2008, we established a relationship with the people of Fumbelo, a village

in Zambia. Church members visit Fumbelo each summer to serve the people and build

relationships. Also that year, we joined with congregations in neighboring towns to form

Family Promise Metrowest, a multi-community program providing shelter, support and

sustenance to families who are homeless. We host families overnight in our church for four

week-long periods each year.

Our Pastoral Staff The Rev. Mary Luti has served as Interim Senior Pastor since April, 2014. Previously, she was the first woman in 377 years to serve as senior minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational. She subsequently returned to Andover Newton Theological School, where she had served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs, as Visiting Professor of Christian History and Worship, and Director of the Wilson Chapel.

The Rev. Pamela H. Emslie, Associate Pastor since 2006, is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School. She serves the church through worship leadership and pastoral care, but the centerpiece of her ministry is planning and implementing the youth programs. Pam leads four programs: High School Youth Group, Confirmation, Middle School Youth Group, and Sixth Grade Youth Group. Her enthusiastic and welcoming nature, as well as her ability to recognize and name the gifts within the youth, makes her well suited for youth leadership. Pam has a continuing passion of prison healing ministry.

The Rev. Elizabeth G. Garrigan-Byerly, Associate Pastor, is a graduate of Andover Newton Theological School. She has served as Pastor of Friedens UCC in Oley, PA since 2011 and will start at Village Church in June. Previously, she served as a Pastoral Resident at Village Church from 2009-2011. Before attending seminary, she worked at Gould Farm, a therapeutic community for adults with mental illness. Liz participates in the UCC Pension Boards’ Next Generation Leadership Initiative.

The Rev. Christina L. Braudaway-Bauman, Pastor at Large, graduated from Boston University School of Theology as a Founders Scholar. She came to Village Church in 2003 as Pastoral Residency Coordinator while also serving as Associate for New Clergy Development of Massachusetts Conference, UCC. In 2013, she became Director of the Pastoral Excellence Network, a new initiative of the Lilly Endowment Inc. affiliated with Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. Chris carries staff responsibility for the adult education program at Village Church.

Ten years ago, Village Church was selected by the Lilly Endowment to sponsor a Pastoral Residency Program. Through this initiative, we seek to build on strong seminary experiences by providing some of the next generation’s most promising pastoral leaders an extraordinary entrance into ministry. Pastoral Residents work full-time over the course of two years to gain experience in the full range of pastoral responsibilities while receiving the support of experienced pastoral mentors, providing a firm foundation for ministry in years to come. There are ten residents who have graduated from our program. Our current residents are:

The Rev. John C. Allen, Pastoral Resident, grew up in Needham, MA, graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina and received his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in 2013. At Union John was awarded the Muilenburg Prize in Biblical Studies and the Hudnut Preaching Prize. He was a leader in Union’s Students for Peace and Justice and writes for the Politics of Scripture series in The Journal of Political Theology. Outside of the ministry, he is a violinist and a sailor who loves cooking and traveling.

Audra C. Teague Mackey, Pastoral Resident, is a native of Virginia and graduate of the University of Virginia. Audra holds a Master of Arts in Social Justice and a graduate certificate in Conflict Transformation. Audra received her Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in May, 2013, where she graduated with honors and was given the faculty award for Worship, Theology, and the Arts. Fluent in Spanish, Audra also speaks Russian. She loves writing, the arts, gardening and being in nature.

The application for the Senior Pastor position is available online at http://wellesleyvillagechurch.org/about-us. It is due by July 31, 2014. Please send your completed application to:

Senior Pastor Search c/o Wellesley Congregational Church 2 Central Street Wellesley, MA 02482

Or seniorpastorsearch@wellesleyvillagechurch.org Selected applicants will be interviewed by Members of Wellesley Congregational Church in Fall 2014, with the expectation of calling a new Senior Pastor by early 2015. For more information about the Senior Pastor position, please contact:

Erin Donato at 781-235-1988, ext. 11 Or

seniorpastorsearch@wellesleyvillagechurch.org