Seeking Pastor for the International Baptist Church of Zurich
The International Baptist Church of Zürich (IBCZ), an English-speaking Christian fellowship located in Rüschlikon, Switzerland is seeking a man of God as a full-time pastor.
We are a family-oriented elder-led church with a congregation drawn from numerous countries, cultures, and denominational backgrounds. We have a weekly attendance between 80 and 100 that come from all over the Canton of Zürich and the surrounding regions. At IBCZ, the applicant must be prepared to servant-lead, work, and walk alongside a plurality of lay elders as a fellow elder. The elders work together and are supported by the diaconate and various ministry leaders.
Required skills and experience:
- Baptist-ordained pastor
- Holds a Masters of Divinity degree (or equivalent) from an accredited seminary
- A minimum of 10 years of ministry experience
- Pastoral experience in at least two churches, including one senior/solo pastor position
- At least one pastoral position in an international church
- Experienced and gifted in preaching and teaching the Word of God
- Fluent in spoken and written English with excellent communication skills
- German language level A1 (written) and B1 (oral) prior to the start of the position. For more details on the CEFR levels please refer to https://tinyurl.com/mmm8v8a5. IBCZ can provide support in obtaining these qualifications
Personal characteristics:
- Called by God and Spirit-led
- Holds evangelical/conservative beliefs
- Pastor, counsellor, and shepherd who is approachable and hospitable
- Establishes and nurtures relationships with families and individuals within the church and community
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Has a heart for his church and a passion to preach
- As a solo pastor, is self-motivated and energetic
- Regularly nurtures his relationship with God through prayer, scripture study and devotional reading
- Possess the qualifications and qualities described in 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1 5:9, and 1 Peter 5:1-3
Additional attributes:
- Strong organisational skills
- Ability to lead and develop leaders
- A team player that collaborates well with others
- Passionate and invested in leading the congregation in spiritual growth
- Married with children or strong experience in relating to families and children
Responsibilities include:
- Preaches on Sundays
- Leads Communion
- Leads prayer meetings
- Coordinates with the various ministries to plan the worship services
- Teaches in various settings, e.g. Bible studies, membership classes, baptism classes, and pre-marital classes
- Conducts weddings, baptisms, and funerals
- Visits the elderly and the sick
- Performs certain administrative tasks with the support of the elders, deacons, and ministry leaders
What we offer:
- A loving, lively, committed church family
- Compensation according to local terms and conditions
- A furnished 3-bedroom (4-rooms incl living room) apartment 5 KM or 10 minutes by car from the church (rent not included in salary)
- Visa sponsorship for non-Swiss/EU applicants
- Allowance for training and leadership development
- Pastoral ministry expenses
- Contribution towards the Swiss pension system (50% IBCZ, 50% employee)
- Annual home leave travel expenses
- Church car, fuel, and related expenses
- Public Transport Fee-reduction card (Halbtax)
- 25 days of vacation (plus federal holidays)
- Please note, the church is not able to provide school tuition expenses. Homeschooling is also not allowed in Canton Zurich
We anticipate a starting date during the summer of 2023.
Application process for this position will close on 31 March 2023. To apply, please submit
- A cover letter
- CV
- Completed questionnaire: Questionnaire Download Link
To the following email address:
Email: PSC@ibcz.ch