Discipleship Pastor

First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs is seeking a catalytic leader who will help people on a journey towards Christ-likeness. The First Pres Discipleship Pastor is not a theologian-in-residence but is an activator. We are looking for someone who will be on the move, connecting people, equipping leaders, and building the structures that tie the discipleship ministries of the church together into a coherent, life-giving whole.
 

The Discipleship Pastor will join a church in a season of renewed health, clarity of mission, and momentum, and will lead the charge in shaping how First Pres will form the next generation of disciples.

FIRST PRES, COLORADO SPRINGS

First Presbyterian Church has faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the heart of Colorado Springs since 1872. Faithful to the wisdom of the past and devoted to the mission of today, First Pres endeavors to be Light and Life for the City.

First Pres exists to see lives transformed in the power of Christ, shaping believers into Christian disciples who proclaim the Light of the Gospel and demonstrate the Life of Jesus to our City, bringing many to saving faith in Christ and the whole world to glorify God.
 

First Pres is a member of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, and is firmly committed to ECO's Essential Theological Tenets, polity, and core competencies. Candidates should be comfortable operating within an Evangelical, Reformed, and Egalitarian theological framework.

THE ROLE

The Discipleship Pastor oversees the full scope of adult discipleship ministry at First Pres, reporting to the Executive Pastor/Head of Staff. This person supervises a Discipleship Ministries Manager, Women's Ministries Coordinator, and Teaching Pastor, while working in close collaboration with lay leaders, Life Group leaders, and ministry volunteers across the congregation. 

This role calls for someone who:

• Demonstrates a personal and mature commitment to Jesus Christ.

• Models humility and is committed to collaboration and emphasis on teamwork. 
• Is a connector; quick to draw people together, make strategic connections, and support Life Group leaders in doing their best work.
• Gets the right resources into the right people's hands without delay.
• Is entrepreneurial and self-motivated; creating structure where it's needed, building bridges between ministries, and finding new ways to move people into deeper faith.
• Has a proven ability to earn trust and acquire influence with seasoned ministry leaders; not by position, but by competence, character, and genuine relational investment.
• Operates from a non-anxious posture, navigating conflict wisely and redemptively, keeping relationships intact and the mission moving forward.
• Operates with high initiative, high energy, and a bias toward action. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the discipleship vision — develop and execute a comprehensive, cohesive strategy for church-wide discipleship, in close alignment with the Executive Pastor and the mission of First Pres.
• Activate lay leadership — identify, equip, and unleash lay leaders across Life Groups, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Alpha, New Members, Sunday Communities, and other discipleship initiatives. Raise up leaders to own these areas with health and confidence.
• Resource and connect — get the right curricula, tools, and training into the hands of leaders. Curate and deploy discipleship resources that are practical, theologically sound, and accessible to a broad adult population.
• Build integrating structures — develop systems that tie discipleship ministries together, so that the right hand knows what the left hand is doing and no one falls through the cracks of a fragmented program landscape.
• Partner cross-departmentally — work closely with First Pres staff and ministry teams to ensure alignment across the discipleship pathway, from first-time guests to long-tenured members.
• Ensure theological consistency — oversee the selection and implementation of curricula across age and demographic groups, maintaining consistency with our theological convictions.
• Train and develop — ensure Life Group leaders, teachers, and ministry volunteers are equipped in group leadership skills, pastoral care basics, risk management, and church protocol.
• Carry out pastoral duties — Preach and lead worship as assigned by the Executive Pastor, participate in hospital visitation, counseling, funerals, weddings, and other pastoral responsibilities as needed.
• Maintain ECO covenant relationships — cultivate connection with peer ECO pastors and stay actively involved in the Presbytery of the West.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from an accredited seminary required.
• Ordination in ECO or willingness to pursue ECO ordination required.
• Fully committed to ECO's Essential Tenets, polity, and Core Competencies.
• Minimum of five years in ministry, including three years in ordained ministry.
• A demonstrated track record of activating, equipping, and retaining volunteer and lay ministry leaders.
• Experience building or reforming discipleship structures in a congregation.
• Expertise in discipleship strategy and ministry integration across multiple program areas.

COLORADO SPRINGS

Colorado Springs sits at the base of America’s Mountain: Pikes Peak. First Pres is in the heart of the city, just steps from vibrant neighborhoods, arts venues, and the storied history of one of the great cities of the American West.

The city is home to multiple military installations (including the U.S. Air Force Academy), a thriving high-tech sector, and the headquarters of some of the nation's most influential Christian ministries (The Navigators, Focus on the Family, Compassion International, Young Life, etc.). Residents enjoy nearly 250 days of sunshine, with hiking, biking, skiing, and world-class parks within easy reach.

TO APPLY
Please visit firstprescos.org/employment.
Contact Greg Hartnett ([email protected]) with any questions.