Minister of Missions

Overview 

Park Street Church (“PSC”), founded in 1809, is a historic, evangelical, congregational church in downtown Boston with a rich history of global mission. We are a diverse community of people whose mission is to make disciples of Jesus who become like him together. We believe and are united by the good news that Jesus is Lord. Our common life together is fueled by the joy that God has been so good to sinful and broken people like us, bringing us forgiveness, healing, and salvation—new life! Our response to God’s gift is to follow Jesus on the way of the cross, the way of love. This means that our life together— embodied in seven regions—consists of growing in loving God, loving one another, and loving our neighbors. Regions meet for Sunday School on Sunday mornings to feed upon the word of God and to deepen relationships. We are committed to life-giving biblical proclamation, to transformative relationships with one another across the diverse generations and ethnicities that are found in our community, and to faithful worship of the triune God. Our mission and life are shaped by our location in the heart of the city of Boston and by a longtime passion for mission across the world. 

Our staff are committed to serving one another as we serve Christ and to growing to greater maturity and health in Jesus. We meet weekly for staff chapel, a time of prayer and engagement in the Scripture. In our teammates we value godliness, collaboration, excellence, courage, and a commitment to healthy relationships. 

The Minister of Missions will stabilize and support our current missionaries and missions program and help us transition the program into the next era of missions at Park Street Church. This will include renewing missions policies and developing strategic vision and priorities for the missions program in partnership with the Senior Minister. It also entails strengthening the base of support for missions in the congregation and keeping our hearts focused on the opportunities for missional engagement locally and in places of need around the world. 

This position will report directly to the Senior Minister and will serve as our staff liaison to the Missions Committee. 

General Pastoral Ministry^[1]

The Minister of Missions serves alongside our Senior Minister and other ministers in carrying out the full range of pastoral responsibilities in the life of our community, seeking to equip the people of our congregation for work of ministry (Ephesians 4.12) and to “spend and be spent” for their souls (2 Corinthians 12.15). Every minister’s primary aim is to labor to “present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1.28) and to do this through a faithful, stable, loving, Christ-like presence and ministry in our community. As ministers, we are generalists before we are specialists. 

General Pastoral Duties: 

-       Participate in various elements of corporate worship on Sundays. 

-       Share in the development of vision and ministry direction as a member of the Ministry Leadership Team. 

-       Be regularly present on Sundays and throughout the week to welcome newcomers, including participation in and leadership of Newcomers’ Lunches and regular meetings with newcomers. 

-       Be assigned to 1-2 regions for the purpose of shepherding. 

-       Teach in New Members’ classes and Sunday School classes. 

-       Serve on rotation as the minister on call. 

-       Offer pastoral counseling and do visitations, weddings, funerals, and other ministerial tasks as needed. 

-       Assist in other ways as needed in the overall shepherding of the church. 

[1] Note, we are open to considering candidates with substantial experience in missions who do not have ministerial training or pastoral experience. In this case, the candidate would be considered as a Director of Missions and the general pastoral duties would not apply. 

Specific Responsibilities 

1.     Equip the members of Park Street to engage wholeheartedly in the mission of God. 

2.     Operate and execute the missions program, including both our global missions and City Engagement (local missions) programs. This includes overseeing the budget and encouraging generous giving to missions. 

3.     Lead the process of updating our mission’s policies for the next era of missions at PSC. This includes evaluating our full-support missionary policy and categories for partner missionaries, mid-term missionaries, short-term missions, and mission partnerships. 

4.     Serve as the staff liaison to the Missions Committee and work closely with the Chair of the Missions Committee to ensure the committee operates in healthy and effective manner. 

5.     Serve missionaries who are in the field, ensuring that they are shepherded well and have a strong connection with PSC. This includes being PSC’s primary contact with the sending organizations of our missionaries.

6.     Identify and work with members of the congregation who are contemplating missionary service and those who have been accepted as candidates

7.     Recruit, encourage, equip and support other missions staff. 

8.     Lead the planning and facilitation of our annual global mission conference. 

9.     Be a spokesperson for PSC missions at various local, state, regional, national, and international mission related events for the purpose of keeping PSC current with what God is doing in the world and to become aware of mission opportunities. 

Requirements 

It is a requirement for this position that the Minister of Missions will signify agreement with Park Street Church’s Covenant of Faith and Confession of Faith. The Minister of Missions must agree with and affirm all doctrinal policies of Park Street Church approved by the Board of Elders and become a member of the church as soon as possible within the first year of service.

Qualifications 

Faith: 

•       The Minister of Missions requires a person with a strong faith which is recognized as consistent with the Statement of Faith of Park Street Church. The Minister of Missions must be comfortable with Reformed theology, which is the historic perspective of the church and the predominant perspective of our staff, but also irenic toward other responsible Evangelical viewpoints. 

Education: 

•       The Minister of Missions must have at least a Master of Divinity degree from a well-regarded seminary (or equivalent). Additional education, such as a DMin, ThM, ThD, or PhD is desirable but not required. Candidates must have excellent fluency in English. Fluency in one other modern language is preferred but not required. 

Personal: 

•       The Minister of Missions must have a warm and infectious devotion to Christ that is exemplified by obedience to the Word of God and a life of prayer. The candidate should be someone who models a loving, Christ-centered family and the pursuit of personal holiness. This position also requires someone who is blessed with strong pastoral and interpersonal skills and who is capable administratively. An approachable and humble spirit must be evident in the candidate as well. 

•       The position requires a person who can sustain with enthusiasm Park Street Church's missions program and someone who will be able to encourage and elicit the prayer, engagement, counsel, and labor of many volunteers. 

•       The Minister of Missions, as a member of a team of Ministers at Park Street Church must exhibit a team spirit with a readiness and desire to help in any ministry of the Church if called upon. 

•       Given the international composition of our church and because of the benefit of having a Minister of Missions who is able to address from personal experience the concerns of receiving nations, candidates from outside the United States are especially welcome to apply. 

Experience: 

•       The position requires at least five years of experience as a foreign missionary or at least five years experiences working extensively in overseas missions at a church or missions agency. A demonstrated passion for both local and global missions must be evident. 

•       The Minister of Missions must have a strong history in missions and understand the life and needs of a missionary, the history of missions, the present challenges in missions globally, and the needs for adaptation for a church like PSC. 

•       The Minister of Missions must be well informed in world affairs, especially related to delicate political situations around the world, and be prepared to work closely with the Park Street Church Missions department in safeguarding our missionaries when explosive political situations develop. 

•       Evidence of strong pastoral gifts will be required. The position of Minister of Missions is the first point of contact for Park Street Church’s missionaries. The unique circumstances and different cultures in which they minister require sensitivity and wisdom in dealing with their personal and professional needs. 

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Debbie Gallagher at dgallagher@parkstreet.org.