Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ is a church with a diverse makeup of people with a variety of educational and religious backgrounds. The needs of our church stem from the fact that we are a small congregation and need to grow in order to ensure our long-term viability. Our new pastor needs to be able to help us with this by attracting new people and engaging existing members, also leading a well organized worship service and liking people.
Attracting new members means keeping them coming back on Sundays and providing them spiritual nourishment on a regular basis. This is most often done through sermon. Our congregation values a thought-provoking, scripture-based sermon that provides historical background of the bible text and delivers a clear message of how we can apply the lesson to our lives today. Strict adherence to the lectionary is not always necessary, but it should be used as a guide. The use of natural humor, supporting stories, and metaphors, also enhances the sermon. The people need to feel that they are getting answers, or seeing things in a new light, or leaving with something to ponder throughout the week.
We also need to keep existing members engaged. This means encouraging members to participate on boards and church sponsored activities, such as Bible study, prayer groups, book clubs, community service, and breakfasts. We seek someone who inspires the congregation to take an active role in leadership within the church and cultivates the spiritual growth of the members.
In addition, the settled minister is expected to lead a well-organized, integrated worship service in consultation with the church Music Director and Worship Committee. We trust this expertise will be recognized, valued, and supported. It would be helpful if the minister had knowledge of church financial administration and would be able to help lead an active Stewardship campaign.
The settled minister should like people. We are seeking a leader who, by example, encourages the congregation to practice their faith in daily living, maintains confidentiality, and visits/contacts inactive members, the infirm, and house-bound. The minister, in partnership with the congregation, will actively work to grow the church in its diversity: parents, children, youth, singles, elderly, LGBT, special needs, and ethnicity. The minister will also be expected to interact constructively with the leadership of the Spiritual Life Center and other organizations using Pioneer's facilities.
We are seeking a person who can satisfy all these criteria. Above all, we are looking for an authentic person who makes us feel glad we came to church, rejuvenates us, and readies us for the challenges of the week ahead.
Sacramento is the state capital of California and has a history dating to the Gold Rush. It is centrally located with San Francisco and Napa Valley to the southwest, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno, NV and Lake Tahoe to the northeast. It is also one of America's fastest growing urban areas in the nation. As of 2007, the population was stated to be 460,242. The population of the Sacramento Metropolitan area was stated as 2,136,206. Sacramento has a very diverse population. In 2002 Time Magazine and the Civil Rights Project of Harvard University identified Sacramento as the most racial/ethnically integrated city in America.
Focus Statement:
"Pioneer Congregational United Church of Christ, a diverse congregation, that shares God's love with all, honors faith journeys, and serves our community."