Article X: The Pastor/Teacher

Section 1. Election.

The Pastor/Teacher must be unanimously approved by the Elders after the same careful examination of any other Elder candidate, except for the trial period. Before the final decision of the Elders is made, the candidate must be available to preach and interact with the members, and the members must be given an opportunity to express their views to the Elders.

Section 2. Qualifications.

As an Elder, the Pastor/Teacher must meet the qualifications set forth in Article VIII, Sections 5 and 6, and must clearly possess a “pastor’s heart” (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Section 3. Pastor/Teacher Pastoral Priorities.

(a)  A right perspective toward God; “Serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews” (Acts 20:19).

(b)  A right perspective toward the Church; “How I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house” (Acts 20:20).

(c)  A right perspective toward the lost; “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

(d)  A right perspective toward himself; “And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there” (Acts 20:22).

Section 4. Accountability.

The Pastor/Teacher, being an Elder, will be accountable in every respect as any other Elder.

Section 5. Duties.

The Pastor/Teacher shall be an ex officio member of all committees and he shall be directly responsible to the Elders. The Pastor/Teacher shall arrange for and conduct all public and regular services of Grace Church and shall be responsible for general oversight of the spiritual welfare of the Church. In general, his responsibilities include, in part, the following:

(a)    He is to administer the ordinances (Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

(b)   He is to be a man of prayer (1 Timothy 2:1).

(c)    He is to warn his flock (1 Timothy 4:1, 6).

(d)   He is to study the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).

(e)    He is to preach the Word (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 6:2-4).

(f)    He is to exhort and rebuke (2 Timothy 4:1-2; Titus 2:15).

(g)    He is to watch over souls:

a)      His own (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 4:16, 6:11; 1 Peter 5:1-3).

b)     Those of others (Acts 20:28-31; Hebrews 13:17).

(h)   He is to feed and lead his flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2).

(i)     He is to be an example to all (1 Corinthians 11:1; 4:16; Philippians 3:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:3).

(j)     He is to fulfill any other duties as from time to time will be required of him by the Elders.

Section 6. Resignation or Dismissal.

The Pastor/Teacher shall remain in office for an indefinite period of time subject to the following reservations: The Elders, other than the Pastor/Teacher, have the right to dismiss the Pastor/Teacher upon giving him one month’s written notice of its intention to dismiss (see Article VIII, Section 7). The Pastor/Teacher must give three month’s notice if he intends to resign. The time limit of a Pastor/Teacher’s resignation or dismissal is subject to a lesser time if both the Pastor/Teacher and the Elders by mutual agreement provide otherwise. Also, unless otherwise authorized by the Elders, the Pastor/Teacher will discontinue his pulpit ministry at the time his resignation or dismissal is acted upon by the Elders.