Groups and Care Pastor (DAL)

Job Summary:

The Groups and Care Pastor leads Groups and Care at one campus. They own how both ministries run locally — their plans inside the campus operating plan, their budget, their Team, and the Serve Team who deliver them — while holding to the church-wide standards for Groups and for Care. Because care happens first in groups, this seat carries what runs past what a healthy groups team can hold: crisis, grief, benevolence, hospital need, and sustained support.

Principal Job Responsibilities:

Leads Groups and Care at one campus, owning both ministries' plans within the campus operating plan

Delivers the church-wide standards for Groups and for Care locally, adapting the expression without changing the standard

Recruits, hires, leads, trains, develops, and provides accountability for the Groups and Care Team

Builds and stewards the Serve Team for both ministries: recruiting, training, retention, and appreciation

Owns the combined ministry budget for Groups and Care and spends within the approved threshold

Pastors the people the ministries reach, through care, prayer, and presence

Participates in the cross-campus meetings for Groups and for Care, each led by its Area Leader Pastor, and raises local realities into them

Reviews the measures for both ministries and acts on what they show

Owns the campus's groups strategy: launches, terms, and the mix of group offerings

Recruits, trains, and launches new group leaders, and grows the campus's group count

Develops and sustains a co-leader and coach structure for cultivating new group leaders

Leads leadership orientation and ongoing development for group leaders

Develops a culture of belonging at the campus

Partners with the Campus Pastor on local outreach opportunities expressed through groups

Owns the campus's care ministry, including crisis response, hospital visitation, grief support, and benevolence

Ensures ordinary care happens in groups, stepping in personally for needs that run past what a healthy groups team can hold

Performs one-on-one pastoral care and counseling, referring to licensed professionals when a need falls outside the scope of pastoral care

Builds and leads Care Serve Teams, including prayer, visitation, and support group teams

Oversees the campus's support group and recovery offerings

Coordinates funerals and memorial services at the campus

Maintains confidential care records and follows Gateway's care, confidentiality, and reporting policies

Holds a ministerial license to minister, preach the gospel, and fulfill the work of serving God's kingdom, valid for the duration of pastoral ministry at Gateway Church, and carries spiritual authority within the church

Serves the congregation by officiating weddings, funerals, baby dedications, communion, and other ministry services

Is present and serving at weekend services and churchwide events as the ministry calendar requires, and is available to the congregation for pastoral care as needs arise

Teaches through precept, biblical principles, and by lifestyle example

Performs other duties as assigned.

As a member of the Gateway Church team, this position is expected to support, recruit, and develop Serve Team members, and to serve alongside the broader team as ministry and organizational needs arise.

General Skills & Qualifications:

A clear passion for Jesus and a strong biblical foundation

Clear and effective communicator with both large and small groups

Demonstrated ability to gather, develop, and deploy Team members and Serve Team members

Strong critical thinking, and the ability to manage ambiguity and lead others through change

Able to recruit and develop volunteer leaders at volume, not just one at a time

Strong pastoral care instincts, with sound judgment about when to refer to a licensed professional

Understands how care is carried inside community, and when a need must be escalated

Able to hold confidentiality and to follow reporting obligations without exception

Steady and non-anxious in crisis, grief, and high-emotion situations

Comfortable holding others accountable with clarity and care

Demonstrated emotional and relational intelligence

Willingness and ability to engage in courageous conversations

Strong time-management skills and the ability to hold several priorities at once

Proficient in Microsoft Office and able to learn and function within new software and systems

Education/Certification(s):

Four or more years of ministry experience, including groups and/or pastoral care or counseling experience — required

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience — required

Licensed as a minister, or eligible to be licensed upon employment — required

Prior experience in a multisite church environment — preferred

Formal training in biblical counseling, crisis response, or a related field — preferred

General Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to:

Sit or stand for extended periods of time

Occasionally kneel or crouch

Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.

Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.

*This description is not all inclusive, and other duties may be assigned as necessary.

Gateway Church does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law as it applies to churches. However, Gateway Church does discriminate on the basis of religion.

Employment Requirement: Must be a member or become a member of Gateway Church upon employment.