Senior Pastor

If you are looking for a faith community to call home, Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, located at the corner of Chestnut Drive and Westchester Drive in High Point, North Carolina, is a wonderful place to start. With roots tracing back to a small, passionate group of believers in the 19th century, Wesley Memorial has grown into a vibrant, multi-generational church family dedicated to making and sustaining spiritually healthy followers of Jesus Christ. For your first visit, the church hosts Sunday morning worship services at 8:30 AM (traditional), 9:30 AM (contemporary), and 11:00 AM (traditional, which are also livestreamed), offering a warm and structured environment where newcomers are always welcomed with open arms. Beyond Sunday mornings, Wesley Memorial is deeply woven into the fabric of the local community and offers countless ways for individuals and families to plug in and build lasting connections. The church features robust ministries for all stages of life, including a highly regarded preschool, dynamic children’s programs, adult small groups, and the “Just Older Youth” (J.O.Y.) group for seniors. True to its heritage, Wesley Memorial is a deeply mission-oriented congregation. Whether you are interested in getting involved locally through area food pantries and clothing closets or looking to grow spiritually through weekly Bible studies, this church provides a welcoming, active environment to help you put down roots in your new hometown. About the Senior Pastor Wesley Memorial Methodist Church in High Point, North Carolina, is seeking a theologically conservative, visionary Senior Pastor to lead our vibrant, multi-generational congregation. We are a recently disaffiliated church with deep Methodist (or John Wesley) roots. The candidate will need the capacity to connect and communicate well in a modern worship setting where they will preach occasionally while having the primary preaching responsibility for our two traditional worship services. The Senior Pastor will be responsible for guiding spiritual formation, shepherding our extensive programmatic staff, and partnering collaboratively with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and Board of Directors. We are looking for a highly relational leader who can honor our rich history while actively engaging younger demographic groups and expanding community outreach. We desire a humble, accessible leader capable of delivering deep biblical teaching through a blend of both topical and expository preaching styles. Above all, the next Senior Pastor must be equipped to challenge, care for, and inspire our 2,000+ member church as we fulfill our core mission: to make and sustain spiritually healthy followers of Jesus Christ who live in ways that transform the world. The Senior Pastor’s responsibilities include: Preaching & Teaching: The candidate will need the capacity to connect and communicate well in a modern worship setting where they will preach occasionally while having the primary preaching responsibility for our two traditional worship services. Visionary Leadership: Provide visionary leadership to help take the church to the next level of spiritual depth, community outreach, and overall growth. Staff Development: Shepherd, lead, and support our extensive multi-pastor and programmatic staff to ensure a collaborative, positive, and safe work culture. Governance Partnership: Work collaboratively with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) and our Board of Directors. Community Engagement: Champion community outreach and intentionally engage missing demographic groups, specifically young adults and families (ages 18 to 45). Culture Building: Lead the charge to cultivate a more diverse, accessible, and welcoming community for all income levels. Pastoral Care: Support and resource robust lay-led pastoral care initiatives, such as Stephen Ministry. What you bring The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Pastor: Education and Experience The ideal candidate will have 10 to 15 years of proven pastoral ministry experience. Candidates are expected to have 5 to 7 years of experience specifically serving as a Senior Pastor or in a senior leadership role, demonstrating an effective and fruitful track record. An accredited Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is required for the role. A Doctorate (such as a D.Min.) is strongly preferred. The candidate should ideally come from a church with an attendance of 500 to 1,500 people with a history of growth under the candidate’s leadership. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preaching & Teaching: Be a dynamic, gifted communicator capable of delivering sermons that blend topical and expository, book-by-book teaching styles. Worship Versatility: Ability to execute weekly preaching across three distinct Sunday services, effectively engaging both “high‑church” traditional environments (involving robes and liturgy) and contemporary settings. Staff Development: Skilled at team‑building and shepherding an extensive multi‑pastor and programmatic staff to ensure a healthy, supportive work culture and high retention. Community Outreach: A strong ability to champion community outreach, specifically to intentionally engage demographic groups such as young adults and families between the ages of 18 and 45. Administration: An affinity for church administration and the ability to partner collaboratively with the Board of Directors and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC). Personal Characteristics and Qualifications Humble & Teachable: The candidate must be humble, grounded, and willing to learn. Highly Relational: Needs to be an accessible, highly relational leader who prioritizes making pastoral connections with the congregation. Visionary: A visionary leader capable of taking the church’s spiritual depth and community impact to the next level. Culture Builder: Must have the personality and drive to cultivate a more welcoming and diverse community. What it’s like to live in High Point, NC High Point, North Carolina, famously known as the “Home Furnishings Capital of the World,” offers a unique blend of global industry and charming, small‑town Southern living. Every spring and fall, the city transforms into an international hub during the High Point Market, a massive event that draws over 70,000 furniture designers, buyers, and exhibitors from across the globe. This distinctive heritage infuses the city with a vibrant creative energy, visible in its historic showroom architecture, local design studios, and the iconic “World’s Largest Chest of Drawers” landmark. For residents, this means living in a city that feels deeply connected to the global stage while maintaining a relaxed, tight‑knit community atmosphere. Strategically positioned in the Piedmont Triad region alongside Greensboro and Winston‑Salem, High Point provides its residents with exceptional accessibility and economic stability. The presence of High Point University adds a dynamic, energetic collegiate atmosphere to the town, bringing stunning campus architecture, cultural events, and athletic games that the whole community enjoys. The local economy has successfully diversified well beyond furniture manufacturing, thriving with robust sectors in healthcare, logistics, and higher education. This growth has fueled the revitalization of the downtown area, highlighted by Truist Point Stadium, where locals gather for baseball games, soccer matches, and community festivals. Life in High Point is deeply defined by its family‑friendly neighborhoods, affordable cost of living, and abundant outdoor recreation. The city boasts beautiful green spaces like Oak Hollow Lake, where residents can spend weekends boating, fishing, golfing, or enjoying lakeside picnics. Neighborhoods range from historic, tree‑lined streets with classic southern architecture to modern, growing suburban developments, making it easy for newcomers to find a place that feels like home. With its combination of economic opportunity, rich cultural history, and central location that places both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast just a few hours’ drive away, High Point stands out as a balanced and welcoming place to live. Organization: Wesley Memorial Methodist Church #J-18808-Ljbffr United Methodist Church