Rivertree Church is seeking a Lead Pastor who is spiritually mature, relationally gifted, and committed to building a healthy, disciple-making church. Rivertree is a welcoming, community-focused church in Jackson, Michigan, created to help people - especially those who may feel far from church - discover Jesus in a comfortable, authentic environment. Guided by the mission to “Love Recklessly, Live Passionately, and Serve Selflessly,” Rivertree is committed to making disciples, serving the surrounding community, and creating a place where lives are transformed by the hope of Jesus Christ.

Our Lead Pastor will provide visionary leadership, biblical teaching, and pastoral care while equipping leaders and engaging the surrounding community.

Learn more about Rivertree in our Rivertree Church Profile.

Ministry Responsibilities

• Brings a salvation mindset with a drive and desire to bring people to Christ

• Provides consistent, biblically grounded teaching that demonstrates clarity, depth, and real-life application 

• Cultivates and leads a disciple-making culture, with a proven pattern of developing disciples who reproduce themselves 

• Builds and sustains healthy relationships within the church and in the broader community 

• Actively engages those outside the church and demonstrate a personal commitment to evangelism 

• Equips, develops, and deploys leaders for ministry across the church 

• Fosters a culture of growth—spiritually, relationally, and numerically 

• Has a heart for supporting our existing special needs adult ministry

Leadership Responsibilities

• Leads staff and volunteers effectively to accomplish shared ministry goals 

• Sets and executes short-term, mid-range, and long-term vision and strategy 

• Demonstrates emotional maturity, including the ability to receive feedback and criticism in a healthy manner 

• Shows a heart for the local community with a track record of building meaningful connections and partnerships 

• Initiates and lead new ministry efforts from concept through completion 

• Provides oversight and stewardship of church finances with integrity and accountability 

• Works intentionally and closely with the Board of Elders to cast vision and uphold the mission of the church

Personal Qualifications

• Demonstrates consistent spiritual disciplines, including engagement with Scripture, prayer, worship, and other practices that support personal spiritual growth 

• Maintains healthy boundaries between ministry responsibilities and family life 

• If married, exhibits a strong, stable marriage and healthy home environment 

• Demonstrates stability and perseverance, with a history of faithfulness through challenges rather than frequent transitions 

• Lives a life of Biblical integrity both privately and publicly, and willing to be transparent with Board of Elders through personal or spiritual struggles

• Exhibits the fruits of the Spirit

Doctrinal Alignment

• Fully aligned with the beliefs, values, and Articles of Religion of The Wesleyan Church 

• Affirms and encourages the appropriate use of spiritual gifts within the church 

• Committed to developing leaders and equipping believers to actively use their spiritual gifts in ministry 

Education & Credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in Christian Ministry, Biblical Studies, or a related field required 

  • Equivalent training through recognized non-traditional or ordination pathways will be considered 

• Master’s degree (MA or M.Div) preferred but not required 

• Currently licensed or ordained within The Wesleyan Church, or within a similar denomination with willingness to transfer credentials 

Summary

The ideal candidate is a relational and driven leader who combines strong biblical teaching with a passion for discipleship, leadership development, and community engagement. This individual will help Rivertree Church continue to grow as a healthy, outward-focused, and spiritually vibrant body.

Apply

To apply, please email your resume to searchteam@rivertree.church