Grace Mennonite Church - Pastor

FTE: .5 (20 hours/week)
Location: Regina, Saskatchewan
Reports to: Executive members of GMC Council

Background

Grace Mennonite Church (GMC) in Regina, Saskatchewan, is a small congregation with
a rich history and large membership. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the
congregation meeting at 2935 Pasqua Street. We are a member congregation of
Mennonite Church Saskatchewan and Mennonite Church Canada. We meet regularly
on Sunday mornings and our building is regularly rented by a Filipino congregation
belonging to Member Church of God International.
GMC has between 40 and 50 regularly attending members who are a diverse
group of people. Some members are Mennonites of European heritage who have been
attending the church for decades. Some are Laotian and were sponsored years ago by
the church to come to Canada. Others are recent newcomers to Canada from South
Sudan via Kenya. We have several families with young children who participate in
Sunday school during worship services, which are at 10 a.m. each Sunday and last
approximately one hour.
Music and worship have always been important to GMC. Our choir sings once a
month and we regularly sing hymns from Voices Together, while sometimes branching
out to play contemporary worship songs.
GMC has a capable and committed church council, which is made up of
executive council members (chair, vice-chair, chair of stewardship and finance and the
secretary) and the chairs from each of its ministries. These include Deacons, Peace and
Service, Trustees, Creation Care, Women and Ministry, Hosting, Education and
Worship. Council meets monthly and the pastor attends these meetings, but is not a
voting member of council.
The GMC executive council members form the personnel committee and act as
the liaison between the pastor and the congregation when concerns are brought forward
by either party. Executive council members meet monthly with GMC staff to keep
communication open, assess needs and provide appropriate support. Executive asks
staff to complete an annual review to maintain accountability to the congregation.
GMC recently completed a discernment process with the help of MC Sask in the
fall of 2024. The overall hopes our congregation has for the future are that we will
connect more with each other as members of the Body of Christ, that we will nurture our
young people and that we will grow as an active part of our community.

Job Description

GMC is looking for a half-time (.5 FTE) pastor who is an excellent communicator, who
wants to connect with our diverse members and to support them as they carry out the
ministries of the church. We are specifically looking for a pastor who is available for
pastoral and crisis care, can preach twice a month and helps plan our worship services.
Because this is a half-time position, GMC expects the pastor to lean on GMC
members in different areas but to still provide strong leadership. Our attending members
are active, supportive and ready to help but we are looking for someone who knows the
big picture and is willing to encourage our congregation to lean into our faith in
courageous ways.

Expectations

Pastoral Care

● The pastor ministers to all members of Grace Mennonite Church, whether new or
old, newcomer or settled, making an effort to connect with everyone and make
them feel welcome.
● The pastor, with help from the Deacons, regularly visits GMC members,
especially those unable to attend Sunday services.
● The pastor, with help from the Deacons, visit members in hospital and other
convalescent settings in moments of crisis, as needs arise.
● The pastor is available for life’s transitions, such as dedications, funerals and
weddings.

Preaching

- The pastor gives sermons twice a month, between 10 to 15 minutes.
- The pastor’s sermons are rooted in biblical study and the Anabaptist tradition.

Worship

● The pastor, with the help of the worship committee, plans worship services at
GMC. This means planning series, themes and guest speakers and coordinating
communication with the volunteers scheduled for each service (musicians,
worship leaders, ushers, audio and tech, etc.) with the help of the church
administrator.
● The pastor administers communion, leads community prayer and baptisms.

Teaching

● The pastor conducts membership and baptism classes as needed
● The pastor encourages and promotes small group Bible studies.

Collaboration with other ministries

- The pastor provides guidance and support to various ministries of the church
where suitable
- The pastor works with deacons to coordinate pastoral care and spiritual nurture
- The pastor supports Council in developing policies and goals for church ministry.

- The pastor is actively part of the MC Sask pastor peer group and open to
fostering connection with the broader churches of MC Sask and MC Canada.

Education and credentials

● Ideally the pastor is an accredited minister with MC Canada
● The pastor has a theological degree, preferably from an Anabaptist institution
● The pastor demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional education
through opportunities provided by Mennonite Church Saskatchewan and
Mennonite Church Canada.

Salary

Range: Approximately $30,000 to $43,000 annually plus benefits
The pastor’s salary is based on education and experience and follows MC Canada
guidelines as described here.
This job description is reviewed by executive members of GMC Council, together with
the pastor, on an annual basis. GMC considers the pastor’s “initial term of service” to be
the first two years and is open to adjusting expectations as long as the goals and vision
of the congregation continue to be supported.
It is GMC’s hope to offer more FTE to our pastor if finances allow us to do so in the
future.