Senior Pastor

The Etna Church (Etna, New Hampshire): Pastor

The Etna Church is seeking a Christ-centered, Bible-grounded pastor who will joyfully shepherd a congregation experiencing renewed spiritual vitality. The pastor will guide us toward deeper discipleship, gospel-rooted community, and bold witness in the Upper Valley and beyond.

We are praying for a pastor who loves Jesus, loves Scripture, and loves people. We believe God is calling us to grow, not simply in number, but in spiritual hunger, biblical literacy, discipleship, and mission. We are praying for a pastor who shares that vision.

Church Context

The Etna Church is located in the small but vibrant village of Etna, New Hampshire, a historic farming community just minutes from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in the wider Upper Valley region. Founded in 1791, our church has a long history of gospel witness, community presence, and support for global mission.

Today, we are a somewhat non-denominational, multi-generational, and biblically grounded church family. Though our history includes Baptist roots, our congregation now includes believers raised in many Christian traditions. We maintain unity around the essential doctrines of the historic Christian faith, as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.

We gather for one worship service each Sunday at 10:00 a.m., with an average weekly attendance of 60–100 worshipers in person and online. We also offer two weekly Bible studies (one on Sunday morning and one on Wednesday morning), which serve as meaningful places for fellowship, prayer, and deeper study of Scripture.

We value worship that is reverent, joyful, and participatory; music that blends traditional hymns and contemporary worship; fellowship that is warm and encouraging; and preaching that is clear, Scripture-rooted, and Christ-exalting.

Desired Pastoral Profile

We are seeking a pastor who embodies the following qualities:

Biblical Conviction

• Christ-centered, confident in the gospel, and deeply rooted in Scripture as the authoritative Word of God.
• Demonstrates humility, spiritual maturity, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
• Models prayerful discernment and godly decision-making.

Character 

• Warm, approachable, and authentically engaged with others.
• Displays a positive, encouraging, and hopeful spirit.
• Humble

Discipleship

• Passionate about cultivating personal and corporate faith growth within the congregation.
• Encourages curiosity, deep learning, and practical application of biblical truth in daily life.

Pastoral Duties:

• Preaching and Teaching: Prepare and deliver biblically faithful, Christ-centered sermons and teaching that encourage spiritual growth and daily application of Scripture.
• Worship Leadership: Lead and shape worship services in partnership with the worship team so that our gathered worship remains centered on Christ, Scripture, prayer, and praise.
• Discipleship and Formation: Foster personal and communal spiritual growth through mentoring, small groups and teaching. 
• Pastoral Care: Provide compassionate presence, prayer, and counsel during times of need, sickness, grief, and life-change, along with the deacons.
• Administration: Offer guidance for church ministries and activities in partnership with leadership teams, including miscellaneous other duties as assigned.
• Special Services: Administer Baptisms and Communion and officiate weddings, funerals, infant dedications, and other services as appropriate.
• Mission Support: Encourage prayerful support and active participation in local and global missions alongside our very active Missions Committee.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $50,000 - $70,000 commensurate with experience and education
• Housing: Attractive and recently renovated 4-bedroom, 2-bath parsonage (with a 2-car garage), located across the street from the church. All utilities and repairs are paid by the church, including Internet service.
• Other Benefits Include: Partial reimbursement of social security and medicare taxes, medical insurance, contributions toward a retirement plan, continuing education reimbursement, paid vacation of 3-4 weeks, and relocation expenses paid.

Application Process

If you sense the Lord may be calling you to shepherd The Etna Church, please submit the following initial materials:

1. Your résumé
2. A brief personal faith testimony
3. A statement describing your philosophy of discipleship

After reviewing these initial materials, we will invite selected candidates to complete a formal application, which includes background information and additional questions.

Submissions and inquiries may be sent to: 

Skip Stanger

Chair of the Search Committee

ghsstow@aol.com