It is always hoped that a person who has just finished formal theological education will be able to put that knowledge into practice in the context of ministering to one’s first congregation, creating a positive, transformative experience for both the new pastor and the congregation. However, it is sometimes an unspoken and unintentional journey that doesn’t formally celebrate and support such a growth process. In addition, a gifted seminary graduate often finds that his or her practical ministry experiences do not match the needs of churches seeking to fill pastoral staff vacancies.
First Baptist Greenville’s Pastoral Residency Program is designed to address both of these challenges in a two-year Residency Program for recent seminary and divinity school graduates. The Residency will provide an intentional supervised ministry experience. Over the course of two years the pastoral resident will engage in various responsibilities and educational opportunities that will expand the resident’s knowledge and skills, as well as deepen their sense of pastoral identity and authority.
Our first pastoral resident—Dylan Rigg—has been called to become the Associate Pastor of 19th Avenue Baptist Church in San Francisco, California. Having had an extremely positive experience with our first residency, we are excitedly preparing for our next resident.
The Ministry Education and Formation Committee is seeking a recent seminary graduate to serve as pastoral resident. The pastoral residency program offers an exciting opportunity for the resident to gain invaluable pastoral experience in collaboration with our innovative pastoral staff and a “teaching congregation.” We anticipate the resident beginning in June 2020. The position is salaried and with benefits.
Potential candidates should go to http://firstbaptistgreenville.com/pastoral-residency-program/ for more information and an application.