Our diverse and faithful community is prayerfully seeking an interim pastor to guide us during a time of transition and new beginnings following the retirement of our long-time pastor. We are inviting an interim pastor to preach on Sundays as well as to provide one other ministry, until we secure a permanent pastor. Our long-term ministry priorities are preaching, teaching/bible study, pastoral care, leadership development, and community engagement, including young adult and family-focused ministries.

(The successful interim pastor candidate would be able to apply for the permanent pastor position should they so choose in due course). 

holding many perspectives, to worship one Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our members span every generational demographic, from youth to seasoned saints, married and single, ‘stable’ and transient wounded, though most regular and committed attendees trend towards middle- and elderly-adults. Our members have a diverse mix of ethnicities and cultural backgrounds – seen in both the pews and in leadership – which we take care to foster and cultivate as members of God’s diverse kingdom. We have 70+ members with weekly service attendance averaging around 30-40 members, which swells on events and occasions.

Thanks to God, we are small but mighty. Scriptural-based preaching and music form the bedrock of our services, as means of worship and encouragement, and connection and outreach. Our team includes an organist, choir director, custodian, church administrator, church Council, and church trustees.

With the retirement of our long-time pastor, we are in a time of transition; and though change certainly brings uncertainties, through God’s faithfulness and mercy we as laypersons are pulling together and are looking to the future with hope and expectation, and with openness. We are eager to enter into a new season of ministry and although we do not yet know what that will bring, we know that God has plans for both us and for the community.

Fourth Avenue Baptist Church is located in Ottawa’s Glebe neigbourhood at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Bank Street, where God has been working through us for over 127 years. And though we are seeking to update and extend, our community involvement includes and has included participation in the Centre Town Churches Social Action Committee (CCSAC) and the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale, being the home to Encore Fashions, selling consignment quality items for men and women. More recently, we are working with the Glebe Business Improvement Area to beautify and steward our church courtyard for public access use, including with respect to hosting music concerts with local artists. Our church building is also intentionally used as a space to help others, including by being home to two other church congregations and other tenants such as a local choir and music lessons teacher.

In short, our congregation make-up and downtown location is ripe with opportunity for a pastor-leader with a heart for growth and fresh beginnings, while respecting continuity.

As people of Faith, we seek to center our lives on Jesus Christ. We seek to present Him to all people in a creative and caring way by our music, our words, and our deeds.

We seek to create a loving environment where everyone is accepted and can grow to his or her full potential in Jesus Christ, through service, worship, outreach, fellowship, and discipleship.

• MDiv (preferred) or equivalent theological training and ministry experience
• Ordained and capable of giving communion preferred
• A general college or University degree
• Accreditation in good standing with CBOQ required. Candidates not currently accredited must be eligible and willing to pursue accreditation, and maintain good standing as a condition of continued employment

The primary focus will be to preach and teach God’s word by leading service on Sundays, and to provide one other ministry, until we secure a permanent pastor. Our long-term ministry priorities are preaching, teaching/bible study, pastoral care, leadership development, and community engagement, including young adult and family-focused ministries.

Ideally, a candidate would also be able to perform baptisms, communion, weddings, funerals, and youth education, if and when required. The candidate will work with the church Council, administrator, trustees, choir director, and members, including by attending monthly leadership meetings.

• Lover of God and growing with God
• Mature Christian faith lived out with integrity and sincerity
• Faithful to biblical scriptures and respectful of basic Baptist principles, including individual soul liberty
• Pastor-leadership skills, including motivated to implement a shared vision, being a servant leader, good communicator, respectful of differences and other perspectives, being adept at time management/administration, and having a sense of fun and humour.

CV and cover letter/statement of interest may be submitted by email to Pastoral Search Team Chair, Mark Faassen, and Co-Chair Fonda Beals, to markfaassen@gmail.com and sfparsonsbeals@icloud.com.