Associate Pastor for Discipleship, Training and Equipping

Westlake Church Lausanne is seeking an experienced pastor/teacher who has a warm demeanour and excellent teaching abilities as well as strong organisational skills and a diligent character.

The primary mission of this new role is to support the senior pastor and congregation of Westlake Lausanne in the pursuit of becoming a church that nurtures disciples while equipping and training our community in gospel-centred ministry.

The position will entail:

Training, Teaching, and Mentoring:

Discipling the congregation in growing in Christ-like character.
Equipping the congregation to lead current ministries, Bible studies, and, where appropriate, up-front teaching.
Overseeing the content and quality of teaching/training in our adult Sunday school ministry as well as taking an active part in leading class.
Preaching occasionally on Sunday mornings with a demonstrably high level of Biblical knowledge and a willingness to engage the difficult issues of Christian life with truthful courage.
Developing New Ministries:
Creating and overseeing a training program in church-based, Gospel-centred ministry (including interns).
Facilitating the development of pastoral care and biblical counselling within the church.
We do not expect the successful candidate to be an expert, or even to have extensive experience in this field, but to put in place training - by others if necessary - to grow our skills in caring for ne another.
Developing a program of events with the senior pastor that applies the gospel to pressing contemporary issues.

The successful candidate will:

Be able to wholeheartedly affirm our Statement of Faith and be aligned doctrinally with the elders.
Fulfil the biblical requirements listed in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-11.
Have at least 5 years of experience in pastoral or theological teaching ministry
Preferably including ministry experience to university students.
Hold a theological degree or its equivalent
Preferably a Master’s degree or higher.
Have a humble, prudent, and energetic character:
Be encouraging and supportive with a willingness to delegate appropriately.
Possess an evangelical heart with a passion for discipling, mentoring, and equipping the Body of Christ to share the Gospel and transform lives.
Have a clear understanding of and vision for:
How the gospel of Christ is to be applied to every facet of life.
The opportunities and challenges that an international community like Lausanne provides for the spread of the Gospel.
Demonstrate a track record of discipling relationships in individual and/or group settings.
Have excellent oral and written proficiency in English.
Be willing to pursue a minimum B1 level in French, if not already a French speaker.
Possess Swiss or EU citizenship or be eligible and capable of obtaining a Swiss work permit.

Typical Workload:
While it is difficult to predict pastoral workload, we expect the associate pastor to work 40 hours per week, with the Sunday morning class and service, attendance at home group/prayer meetings and social contact in addition to this.

Mentoring Relationships:
The associate pastor will be mentored by the senior pastor and/or other members of the elder team.

Reporting Relationships:
The associate pastor will report directly to the senior pastor with additional oversight by the elders.

Duration and Renewal:
As with all pastoral positions, this position will be subject to renewal by congregational vote every 4 years.