We’re Hiring

First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck Pastoral Resident 2025-2028

The First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, located in West Windsor, NJ, is seeking a Pastoral Resident to join its pastoral staff for a three-year journey with us as you explore possibilities and experiences toward your future calling in ministry. Our goal is twofold: to nurture your calling while also empowering you to flex your creative and inventive ministry ideas. This pastoral residency is structured around three main areas: Community Ministry, Children’s Christian Education, and your Pastoral Formation.

This is a full-time salaried position with a minimum salary of $67,930 as well as benefits, including pension, death and disability, and medical coverage. For a full job description please read below. For more information or to apply, reach out to us at resident-search@dutchneckpresbyterian.com

Job Description.

The First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck (DNPC), located in West Windsor, NJ, believes that God is doing a new thing. Embracing this spirit of renewal, along with a well-established commitment to community, our congregation seeks a Pastoral Resident to join its pastoral staff for a three-year journey with DNPC as you explore possibilities and experiences toward your future calling in ministry. The pastoral resident will be a qualified candidate who will walk with us, and perhaps even ahead of us, as our congregation explores new and creative ways to implement our vision to be a “dynamic, interactive, innovative church inspired to reach out to one another, to our community, and to the world.” Our goal is twofold: to nurture your calling while also empowering you to flex your creative and inventive ministry ideas.

This full-time pastoral residency is structured around three main areas: Community Ministry, Children’s Christian Education, and your Pastoral Formation. Our expectation is that time allocated to each of these areas will vary not only within a given year of the residency, but also over the arc of the three-year residency. The pastoral resident will work closely with the head of staff in discerning areas of focus, growth, and learning; and consult with relevant session committees (e.g., Mission and Community Outreach, Hospitality and Communications, Christian and Spiritual Formation) and the DNPC 2030 Visioning Team. The Head of Staff will serve as both a mentor and a partner in ministry.

At the outset, the pastoral resident can anticipate dividing their time equally among the three focus areas.

Community Ministry

Expanding the church’s reach into and connection with the community and neighborhood of Dutch Neck by developing existing and new partnerships, ministries, and activities.

The Pastoral Resident will:

● Become familiar with the demographics of the area surrounding Dutch Neck and with the area's diversity of faith traditions and practices;

● Identify DNPC’s unique value within the broader landscape of faith-based and secular organizations, showcasing the congregation’s ministerial strengths;

● Extend the range and efficacy of our community mission work by partnering with those organizations;

● Bring Dutch Neck congregants into partnership with individuals and organizations so that we can do more and better ministry in the community;

● Report to session at least once a semester.

Children’s Christian Education

Facilitating the spiritual growth of children and their families by coordinating our Sunday School and Young Church program.

The Pastoral Resident will:

● Coordinate Nursery Care;

● Hold an annual Vacation Bible Camp;

● Recruit and train volunteer teachers;

● Review and select appropriate Reformed-based curriculum;

● Work with the Christian and Spiritual Formation Committee to create intergenerational worship and educational opportunities;

● Occasionally lead “Learning Time for All Ages” in the regular worship service;

● Report to session at least once a semester.

Pastoral Formation

Developing your pastoral skills in preaching, teaching, preparing, and shepherding in conversation with and under the supervision of the Head of Staff.

The Pastoral Resident will:

● Meet regularly with the two regular pastoral staff members to discuss career trajectory inministry;

● Preach on an occasional basis as determined by the Pastor/Head of Staff and Worship Team

● Attend session meetings, and the Annual and Special meetings of the Congregation;

● Be a regular presence in the Sunday worship service;

● Participate in the planning and execution of special worship services, e.g., Ash Wednesday, All-Saints Sunday, Christmas worship, etc.

Qualities and Qualifications

The pastoral resident will be someone who desires to explore their call to ministerial leadership in the context of congregational ministry. The candidate must have completed a postgraduate seminary/divinity program, preferably one in the Reformed Tradition, and be someone seeking to be ordained, or in the process of being ordained, in the PC(USA), or someone already or recently ordained.

We seek a candidate who is a self-starter, able to take on responsibilities with creativity and energy, yet comfortable receiving substantial support and feedback and being a member of a staff. The person in this position should be outgoing, happy to engage with all people, and committed to connectional ministry. The ideal candidate should be a skilled and consistent communicator, dedicated to fostering deeper connections within and beyond Dutch Neck, strengthening networks of association and ministry.

Compensation

While this is not an installed pastoral position, Dutch Neck is prepared to offer an effective salary that meets the minimum for the Presbytery of the Coastlands (currently $67,930 for full-time work). We will offer the Congregational Pastor’s Package, which includes pension, death and disability, and medical coverage.

Timeline for Hiring

Our goal is for the Pastoral Resident to begin their work no later than the first week after LaborDay, 2025.