Senior Pastor Application

Saginaw, United States | Posted on 03/01/2026

Our church was founded in downtown Saginaw in 1937 as the Fundamentalist Baptist Churchof Saginaw. The name emphasized our belief in the literal interpretation of the Bible and theinerrancy of Scripture, as opposed to other churches in the area that were adapting theirfaith to modern cultural norms. The core ministries of our congregation were personal evangelism, discipleship and overseas missions. Click here to download and read more.

Job Description

Immanuel Bible Church in Saginaw, MI has an opening for a full-time SeniorPastor . The Senior Pastor serves with the Elders to shepherd the church of God, modeling Christlike character, conduct, humility, and servant‑leadership. He is devoted to praying for and walking alongside the congregation, encouraging and equipping believers to grow in their relationship with Christ. With a heart for the church and the lost, the Senior Pastor fosters a culture of discipleship that calls the church to actively participate in Bible study, prayer, service, hospitality, discipleship, evangelism, and mobilizes the church to live out the mission of the gospel together.

Responsibilities:

Preaching &Teaching

• Serve as the primary preaching/teaching pastor
• Preach expository sermons in two services each Sunday
• Provide biblical teaching in other ministry contexts as needed
• Spend sufficient time in prayer and the study of God’s Word to faithfully fulfill pastoral responsibilities
• Administer the ordinances of baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper
• Officiate funerals and weddings
• Provide wise, biblical counsel to individuals, couples, and families, in spiritual matters
• Participate in the loving, caring “one another” life of the church

Leadership &Vision

• Serve as the primary leader among the Elders by facilitating meetings, guiding discussion, and helping the Elders move toward clear, unified decisions
• Provide operational leadership and accountability for the Pastoral and church staff, offering guidance, evaluation, and support to promote effective ministry and alignment with the church’s mission, vision, values, and priorities
• Lead the church from a long‑term, big‑picture perspective by identifying ministry needs and opportunities, working with the Elders to develop ministry plans, and overseeing their implementation
• Work closely with church leadership on calendar planning, strategic planning, and financial planning
• Work closely with church leadership to develop, communicate, and promote a clear vision for the church's mission and ministry
• Facilitate quarterly and annual Congregational business meetings

Elder Collaboration & Church Oversight

• Plan for the preaching of God’s Word
• Protect the church from false teaching and guard against influences that could lead the congregation astray
• Engage in conflict resolution and church discipline when necessary
• Identify, disciple, and develop future ministry leaders within the church, including future Elders

Requirements

Have a clear calling of God, knowing Christ as his personal savior, and be living an exemplary life in accordance with scriptural guidelines for church leaders (1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9). Be sound in faith and doctrine and qualified to preach and teach the Word of God as led by the Holy Spirit.

Prefer a minimum of a theologically related bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with a strong preference for an advanced theological or seminary degree.

Must have at least five years of pastoral ministry experience, with preference given to Senior/Lead pastoral or previous preaching experience. Additionally, experience working with a pastoral team is strongly preferred.

Must be a U.S. citizen, green card holder, refugee or Asylee.

The base salary for this position will be determined upon hire, considering related education and experience. Annual compensation reviews and adjustments are made by an independent Personnel Committee that regularly reviews relevant data from similar churches and ministry organizations to establish a competitive and equitable compensation package. The Senior Pastor is responsible for securing housing and health insurance from their compensation package.

Retirement contributions/403b:

The Immanuel Bible Church matching contribution toward retirement will be 4% of the annual base salary.

Professional Expenses:

The anticipated professional expenses (meals, mileage, books, education, ministry related expenses, etc.) will be designated from the compensation package.

Time Off:

3 weeks of compensated vacation will be given for the first year, prorated to your start date. An additional week will be added to the compensation the following calendar year.

Professional Development:

Four weeks of paid professional development (i.e. conference, education, study leave) are given for each calendar year. The registration fees for one Elder‑approved conference will be compensated annually.

A minimum 13‑week paid sabbatical will be earned every seven years of employment to be taken within or near the year awarded.

Click here to download a printable copy of the job description.