From Immanuel Baptist Church :
About Immanuel Baptist Church
Immanuel Baptist Church (IBC) is a small urban congregation founded in 1923, rooted in worship, learning, healing, and service. While modest in size, IBC is known for a strong spirit of love and compassion where all are embraced and celebrated, and each person is encouraged to use their God-given gifts in ministry. The church has a longstanding commitment to music in worship and in the wider community (including hosting benefit concerts), and it shares its building with community partners, including a Buddhist society, self-help groups, and a joint Tuesday noonday ecumenical mass with a progressive Catholic congregation. IBC also supports a food pantry, and is exploring expanded outreach through its recently upgraded, commercial-standard kitchen in response to food scarcity and homelessness.
Who are we seeking?
IBC is seeking a part-time pastor who will provide spiritual leadership through preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, and community engagement, while collaborating with a congregation that values compassion, inclusion, ecumenical cooperation, and social justice. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful interpreter of the Christian faith, a clear communicator, and a steady presence who will support a small congregation to thrive in ministry and mission.
Position Overview
Position type: Part-time
Reports to: The IBC Board of Ministry
Start date: TBD
Key Responsibilities
• Worship leadership: Plan, prepare, and lead worship; collaborate with music leadership and participants to support meaningful, inclusive worship.
• Preaching and teaching: Prepare and deliver sermons at least twice a month that interpret the faith with depth, relevance, and hope; support learning and spiritual formation for adults as appropriate to the congregation’s life.
• Pastoral care: Provide compassionate care to congregants in times of joy, challenge, illness, grief, and transition; support hospital and home visits as appropriate.
• Community and ecumenical engagement: Support IBC’s relationships with community partners in the building and with neighboring faith communities, and participate in ecumenical worship partnerships, including the Tuesday ecumenical mass.
• Social action enablement: Encourage and equip the congregation’s commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and service, including the food pantry ministry and emerging outreach opportunities related to hunger and homelessness.
• Administration and communication: Attend to essential pastoral administration, timely communication, and coordination with church leaders, staff and volunteers, and ministry teams.
• Technology and computer skills: Use common office and communication tools to support planning, coordination, and outreach (training and support can be provided as needed).
• Congregational vitality: Help cultivate a welcoming, spiritually grounded community, and support participation in initiatives that strengthen congregational life, including American Baptist Churches Rochester Genesee Region initiatives.
Qualifications & Requirements
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) required (or equivalent theological degree/ formation as appropriate to ordination/credentialing context).
• Demonstrated gifts in preaching and leading worship.
• Strength and experience in pastoral care.
• Strong communication skills and collaborative leadership style suited to a smaller congregation.
• Multicultural sensitivity and a demonstrated commitment to welcoming and inclusion.
• Comfort and experience working ecumenically and alongside community partners using a shared space.
• Administrative capability, including basic computer/technology skills.
Time Commitment / Hourly Expectations This is a part-time position.
Anticipated workload: 25 hours/week, including worship leadership and preparation, pastoral care, meetings, and community engagement. Some evening/weekend availability is expected.
Compensation Salary range: $35,000 to $45,000 per annum, all inclusive of benefits, commensurate with experience and aligned with church and denominational guidelines.
How to Apply
Please submit the following materials:
• Cover letter
• Resume
• ABPS (American Baptist Profile System) profile, if available
• Three references (name, relationship, phone, and email)
• Please ensure links to recorded sermons or other materials available online are included in one of the above items.
Send application materials to: Rev. Dr. Sandra Hasenauer, Executive Minister, ABCRGR Email: sandyh@abcrgr.org