Average Late-Career Senior Pastor Salary at First Baptist Church

Job Description for Senior Pastor

The senior pastor of a church is responsible for providing spiritual leadership and pastoral care to the members of his or her church. They serve as the chief administrator, overseeing all administrative functions for the church.

Senior pastors preach and teach their congregation. They are responsible for planning all weekly worship services and sermons. They lead the administration of sacraments and conduct weddings, funerals, and baptisms to anyone looking for these services. They provide counseling to the congregation and others in general. Senior pastors must stay informed of all church activities, in order to properly serve the church and its members. The senior pastor position often requires great flexibility when it comes to work hours. They often must work evenings, weekends, and holidays, and they are expected to be frequently found in their office in order to be accessible to the congregation and have a good amount of communication with church staff.

Even though the role of a senior pastor is solely based on the church, they must have a solid educational foundation in order to earn this role. Typically, senior pastors hold various degrees. The career path starts with a bachelor’s degree. After completing the bachelor’s degree, one typically moves toward working on their master’s degree at a seminary or school of divinity. (Copyright 2019 PayScale.com)

• Serve as the spiritual leader of the Church and foster leadership within the congregation.
• Build relationships within the Church and the general community.
• Provide a strong Church pastoral presence through teaching, pastoral guidance, and ministerial duties.
• Develop areas for strategic growth and to strengthen key ministry areas.

Senior Pastor Job Listings