Bethany Fellows Opens Search for New Director/Pastor

Bethany Fellows Director/Pastor

The Bethany Fellowships, Inc.

The Bethany Fellowships is a nonprofit ministry serving congregations by helping young, newly ordained pastors transition from seminary to sustained ministry with well-being and strength of spirit. Rooted in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and serving pastors and congregations ecumenically, Bethany Fellows is a thriving spiritual community of support, inspiration, and renewal for pastors and congregations. Since 1999, Bethany Fellows has gathered cohorts of young adult clergy in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for retreats twice per year, including year-round small group connections; mentoring relationships with wise, experienced leaders; exploration of ministry-enriching wise practices; and deepening contemplative prayer practices. With a heart and call to expand the Bethany Fellows ministry to include pastors of any Christian denomination, the Bethany Ecumenical Fellows group began in 2014. Our newest ministry, Bethany Congregations, launched in 2021 and serves pastor & lay-leader teams together in a shared cohort. The Bethany Fellowships ministry nurtures growth, well-being, and resilience among pastors and congregational leadership teams through the Bethany Disciple Fellows, Bethany Ecumenical Fellows, and Bethany Congregations ministry branches.

The Bethany Fellowships ministry is led in a collaborative and relational way by three staff members (a Lead Director/Pastor and two additional Director/Pastors), a board of directors, and wise, experienced leadership teams. Values of the Bethany Fellows ministry include a dedication to contemplative practices and prayer, openhearted communication, vulnerability, accountability, creativity, nimbleness, appreciation, and systemic trust. The staff team seeks to live into these values and guide the ministry accordingly, along with the guiding wisdom and collaborative discernment of the board of directors and leadership teams.

Staff Leadership Model

Bethany Fellows Staff Responsibilities

This Director/Pastor will provide leadership for the Bethany Disciple Fellows and Bethany Ecumenical Fellows groups, with a particular focus on recruiting and onboarding new participants, retreat planning, and leadership team and small group development. This position includes a strong emphasis on building ecumenical relationships and sharing the story of The Bethany Fellowships in a widening way (through the website, social media, and other methods).

Specific responsibilities include:

Programming

Retreat leadership in partnership with the Lead Director/Pastor, including primary leadership of the Bethany Disciples and Bethany Ecumenical Retreats, with secondary leadership for Bethany Congregations Retreat as needed and discerned in collaboration with the staff team.
Recruitment and pastoral accompaniment of new Fellows.
Attention and care to the formation and development of leadership teams and small groups as part of Bethany Disciple Fellows and Bethany Ecumenical Fellows ministries.

Communication

Maintaining Bethany Fellows’ website and performing other website development and maintenance as necessary;
Developing and overseeing online communications, e.g., social media.
Occasional congregational visits, including preaching, presenting, and/or development gatherings.

Administration

Receiving interest and initiating conversation with potential new Bethany Fellows.
Coordination of retreat arrangements and details.
Coordination of travel arrangements for Bethany Fellows leaders.
Assisting the Lead Pastor/Director with the preparation of reports and official documents, including those required by law, reports requested by grant-making organizations, and/or reports for the Bethany Board.

General

Relationship building with denominational and ecumenical partners, including seminaries and denominational groups.
Planning and leadership for convention booths and other gatherings.

Qualifications

  • A Master of Divinity degree from an accredited seminary.
  • Ordination and standing in a Christian denomination or faith tradition.
  • Five to ten years of relevant experience working in or with congregations or faith communities strongly preferred.
  • Interest in the mission of Bethany Fellows.
  • Commitment to the values and practices of Bethany Fellows.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • Applicants who have ecumenical experience are highly encouraged to apply.
  • Applicants who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are highly encouraged to apply.

Gifts/Skills

  • Ability to work with individuals of diverse interests and backgrounds.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with various teams within and outside of Bethany Fellows.
  • Pastoral awareness with leadership teams, prospective fellows and current fellows.
  • Interest in contemplative models and open to individual and group spiritual practices.
  • Growing sense of self (spiritually, emotionally, physically, socially and mentally).
  • Familiarity with storytelling and marketing tools including website, blog, social media and event planning.
  • Organized and self-motivated.

Work Environment

  • This is a full-time position with an expectation of 35-40 hours per week with some ebb and flow.
  • Bethany Fellows staff work remotely. Regular work hours and days will be flexible.
  • Travel includes weekends, evenings, and may be for up to 6 days at a time. Travel includes at least 6 weeks of retreats per year (4Bethany Fellows/Congregations retreats, 1 Leadership retreat and 1 Board retreat) with additional travel days likely.

Salary Range Expectations

$70,000 – $80,000 per year, full-time (which includes base compensation, housing, and pension contributions).

How to Apply

Submit a cover letter and updated resume/vitae to apply@bethanyfellows.org

Click here to view original position post.

Please submit materials by March 31, 2024.