MBC seeking a Pastoral Team Leader and Associate Pastor (Generations)

Mayfield Baptist Church, Newcastle, NSW

Seeking expressions of interest for the positions of:

• Pastoral Team Leader
• Associate Pastor

Full EOI and Role Descriptions documentation to be found at: https://www.mayfieldbaptist.com/positions-vacant.html

Mayfield Baptist Church is seeking the appointment of a Pastoral Team Leader as well as an Associate Pastor, to lead our vibrant community towards our 100-year anniversary and beyond. We believe that our best is ahead of us at MBC, as we seek to build on our foundations for His Kingdom’s cause. As one of the leading Baptist churches in the Hunter Region, MBC has always maintained a very active and visible space in the Christian community of Newcastle, as well as with the wider community.

Building on Colossian 1:28 (TPT), our vision intends to provide direction for the future, whilst instilling passion for today. We seek to awaken hearts, renew minds and strengthen faith in Christ, and this statement has been a valuable backdrop for all that we seek to be and do at MBC. We believe that the successful applicants will desire to further develop and embed this vision into the cultural distinctives of MBC, as we continue to centre our worship, lives and church on Jesus and His Kingdom.

Current Ministries at MBC…

Mayfield Baptist Church’s rich heritage and ministry DNA is defined by some powerful dynamics;

• Ministry to children and families has long been a part of MBC’s focus. It has included a home for children and a long history of ‘Sunday School’ ministries open to the local community. Now through ministries such as Hunter Christian School, MBC Youth and YouthSpace, Kids Church and a large group of families that call MBC home, this work continues.
• A pioneering heart, seeking and doing the Mission of God (supporting missionary activities locally and globally).
• A broad ministry to the local 2304 community and beyond.

The focus of our church-based activities are affectionately referred to as ‘On This Hill’. These ministries that directly serve the family and community of MBC include: Sunday Services, various Prayer initiatives, Worship teams, Connect Group Bible Studies and specific ministry activities tailored for men, women, children, youth, young adults and seniors.

Our missions focus is referred to as ‘From this Hill’, and through this we have been able to serve the local and global communities, including denominational mission initiatives. We support MBC Football teams (4 teams currently playing) in the local Christian Football Association. While our intentional missions’ focus has been in place for decades, across the last 5 years alone, we have been able to send out over $400,000 to support the work of various individuals and ministry organisations through an annual ‘From This Hill’ pledge program.

Mayfield Baptist Church

The Baptist Association of NSW/ACT has the core values of:

• Christ centered
• Mission shaped
• Relationally committed
• People empowering
• Partnership orientated

We feel this also describes the things important to MBC. We have members currently on various mission fields, hold monthly mission prayer meetings and participate in short term mission trips.  We are a church of many families with some spread across four generations with ages 0 to 90+ years.  We encourage people to step into responsibility and let them follow their passion/gifting. We seek to train, support and encourage those people as they step out.

Our Sunday gatherings are in a purpose-built space. This is an informal group time, with contemporary music, with children and youth currently enjoying their own concurrent ministry time. While MBC is clearly blessed to be a cross-generational church, families form a large part of church life, and they will clearly be an area of growth for the church for some years to come. Worship is a communal activity with singing, participation and prayer encouraged. We use a straight forward conversation style, that reflects our gathered community.

As earlier described, MBC now owns property bounded by Crebert, Highfield, Hanbury and Section Street on an elevated site. The phrases ‘On This Hill’ and ‘From this Hill’ have been coined at MBC to describe our vision for our various ministries that serve locally and globally. We have active partnerships with Hunter Christian School, YWAM Newcastle, The Hub (preschool on site), and BaptistCare (MayCare). We participate in local scripture teaching, CityServe, Christmas Carols and the Hunter Christian Football (Soccer) Association.

For MBC, our Vision and Mission Statements motivate us to be all that God has called us to be. We strive to fulfil the mandate represented by Colossians 1:28 as we CONNECT… GROW… and SERVE…

Current Leadership

Our Pastoral Team Leader of the last 5 years, Rev. Stephen Nosworthy retired formally as of July 2022. Since then, our Church Leadership Team (CLT) have taken responsibility for the direction, health and general administration of the church. The CLT comprises of Elders (2), Treasurer, Secretary and five other appointed leaders to help us navigate this season ahead. We sadly saw departures of two of our pastors in 2021, with Luke Elkhuizen (moving to a Chaplain role with the ADF) and Ben Whitehead (sensing a personal shift away from pastoral leadership) moving on from their roles. It was Stephens’ intention to stay as Pastoral Team Leader at Mayfield Baptist until retirement at the end of 2025; however, in light of plans for extended long service leave in 2023 and the departure of both Luke and Ben, Stephen graciously offered to finish earlier than originally intended to allow for a better transition of leadership.

At time of writing, we are 10 weeks into this season of not having a formal Pastoral Team Leader, which whilst somewhat daunting at first, has been a remarkable season where there has been a great deal of spiritual awakening, excitement for the future and a range of new church connections and attendees either new in faith, returning to more regular church commitment or sensing that MBC may be their new home. We believe that we are in a unique season of renewed spiritual health where we are being required to faithfully open our hearts and lives to His leading personally, and as a church. Many people have described that whilst they cannot describe exactly what it is that is exciting them, they are feeling very positive about where MBC is at and where we are going.

Since Ps. Stephen’s retirement in July, the CLT, in consultation with our community, has also sensed that there is an opportunity to dream and vision a collective ‘Heart for this Hill’. We are seeking God’s leading for MBC and what it could look like as we prepare to launch with spiritual vigour and health into our ‘second hundred’ season of ministry. We seek to continue to develop and clearly embed our defined church vision and goals for the short and long term. The current leadership team believe that our current partnerships and ministries all strongly indicate the things we value and what gives us energy. This has helped shape clear parameters that we believe will define the roles of the incoming pastors. These characteristics would broadly be God centered, down to earth, Bible based preaching, spirit filled, family friendly, excellent leadership and partnership skills. We have a long and rich history, but are excited to let God shape our future. We seek to be a church that is a ‘light on the hill’ for our local community and a secular culture that more than ever needs healthy and welcoming churches that are Kingdom focused and missional at heart.

We anticipate that our new Pastoral Team Leader and Associate Pastor will develop a strong working relationship to lead us into our next season of growth. We also currently employ a part-time Discipleship Director (2 days per week), Children’s Worker, and Worship Team Worker as well as a paid Administrative Support Worker (3 days per week). This team meets weekly as a team to support one another and strategise future plans.

Ministry Overview for Pastoral Team Leader

The successful applicant for Pastoral Team Leader will:

• Provide pastoral and visionary leadership to MBC, as well as the staff team
• Hasten to steer the subsequent appointment of a Senior Associate Pastor if this position is still vacant
• Lead the Church Leadership Team (currently 6 people including pastors, elders, secretary and treasurer)
• Oversee the leadership of and bring support to the various ministry teams that serve the church

Ministry Overview for Associate Pastor

The successful applicant for Associate Pastor will:

• Lead, develop and evaluate ministry to children, youth, young adults and young families
• Work in close consultation with the Pastoral Team Leader in bringing action, direction and vision to the church and its ministries

NB: More comprehensive Role Descriptions are available on the MBC website

https://www.mayfieldbaptist.com/positions-vacant.html

Both roles will preferably be full time, and will include but not necessarily be limited to:

1. Upward – Relationship with God

• Bible centred, degree level theological study
• Faithful, evangelical
• Prayerful and Spirit-led

2. Relationship with family and others

• Provide an example of stable and loving family and personal relationships
• Integrity and openness about self

3. Inward – Church experience

• 10 years ordained minister (Pastoral Team Leader)
• Strong Bible based preaching
• Team ministry leadership
• A broad exposure and experience in church ministries
• Congregational governance
• Relational and Pastoral at heart

4. Outward – Towards the community

• Identification with the unique characteristics of the Mayfield suburb
• Passion for mission, both local and global
• Experienced in partnerships i.e. able to sustain and continue to strengthen our current partnerships as well as engaging with ecumenical opportunities in the Hunter region

5. Administrative

• Experience in financial and project management (Pastoral Team Leader)
• Experience in growing teams and effective delegation
• Experience in general administration

Salary and Conditions:

Both positions are full-time. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Remuneration recommendations based on experience and credentials. The contract can be structured in accordance with recommendations for eligible exempt fringe benefits. Remuneration Recommendations (Stipends) can be found here:

https://nswactbaptists.org.au/project/remuneration-recommendations/

Expressions of Interest:

​ Expressions of Interest should include a CV providing 4 referees (consisting of 2 personal and 2 ministry), the NSW/ACT Baptist Association Pastoral Application form and a covering page highlighting why you believe God may be calling you to pastor at Mayfield Baptist Church. You will be notified after Expressions of Interest are due, to inform you if you have been successful in proceeding to the next stage of the process. At this stage, starting dates are somewhat flexible, though it is preferred for the successful applicants to be able to commence at the start of 2023.

For further information, please contact either:

• Andrew Ponsen (Executive Secretary) 0416 110 315 ponsen@spcc.nsw.edu.au
• Andrew Pratt (Elder) 0425 389 448 akpratt@westnet.com.au

Expressions of Interest and Applications can be sent to:

The Pastoral Selection Panel, Mayfield Baptist Church

• Email: mbc@mayfieldbaptist.com
• Post: PO Box 300, Mayfield, NSW 2304

Deliver: 121 Hanbury Street, Mayfield, NSW 2304