Job Title: Executive Pastor of Discipleship & Experience
Department: Ministries
Reports To: Lead Pastor
Direct Reports: Ministry Leaders, Ministry Staff, Volunteers
FLSA Status: Exempt
Prepared By: Human Resources
Prepared Date: May 4, 2026
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Eastern Star Church ministry is evangelism and discipleship. We are committed to the Great Commission instituted by Jesus Christ to nurture and save souls (Matthew 28:18–20). Everything we have done is to live out the vision God has given to our church family. From adding ministries to staffing, from building facilities to developing programs, from stewardship to membership, every effort has been centered on obedience to the commission of Christ.
YOUR ROLE IN OUR MISSION
The Executive Pastor of Discipleship & Experience provides executive leadership and pastoral oversight for discipleship, membership engagement, ministry alignment, stewardship, and the overall church experience of Eastern Star Church. This role partners closely with the Lead Pastor and executive leadership to ensure ministries, worship experiences, creative arts, and member engagement strategies align with the vision, mission, culture, and spiritual direction of the church.
This leader serves as both a spiritual shepherd and strategic ministry architect, helping individuals grow in faith, experience authentic community, and deepen their connection to the life and mission of Eastern Star Church. Through leadership development, discipleship strategies, stewardship engagement, and creative collaboration, this role helps cultivate transformational ministry experiences that strengthen spiritual growth, organizational alignment, and overall ministry impact.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Ministry Leadership & Oversight
- Provide executive leadership and pastoral oversight for all church ministries, ministry leaders, and ministry operations.
- Ensure ministries align with the vision, mission, values, and spiritual direction of Eastern Star Church.
- Develop ministry structures, systems, and leadership frameworks that promote effectiveness, alignment, accountability, and healthy ministry growth.
- Lead ministry planning, strategic goal setting, and implementation initiatives across all ministry areas.
- Evaluate ministry effectiveness and recommend strategic improvements to strengthen ministry impact, engagement, and spiritual growth outcomes.
- Collaborate with the Lead Pastor and executive leadership to execute the overall ministry vision and church experience strategy of Eastern Star Church.
Discipleship & Membership Experience
- Champion the church’s commitment to discipleship, spiritual formation, evangelism, and member engagement.
- Provide leadership for discipleship pathways, membership processes, and initiatives that strengthen spiritual growth and connection to the life of the church.
- Support ministries in creating environments that foster biblical teaching, authentic community, and transformational experiences.
- Develop strategies that enhance the overall member and guest experience across all campuses and ministry touchpoints.
- Collaborate with ministry and pastoral leadership to strengthen discipleship and engagement strategies throughout the church.
- Encourage ministry participation and engagement that helps individuals grow in faith, discover purpose, and deepen their relationship with Christ.
Creative Arts Leadership
- Provide executive leadership and pastoral oversight for the Creative Arts department and ministry teams.
- Ensure all worship experiences, creative initiatives, and artistic expressions align with the vision, culture, and spiritual direction of Eastern Star Church.
- Oversee the development and execution of creative strategies that enhance worship, engagement, storytelling, and the overall church experience across all campuses and platforms.
- Collaborate with ministry and executive leadership to create unified worship experiences and engagement strategies that support discipleship and membership growth.
- Foster collaboration between Creative Arts and ministry departments to strengthen organizational alignment and ministry impact.
- Recruit, develop, mentor, and support leaders, staff, contractors, and volunteers serving within Creative Arts ministries.
- Champion excellence, innovation, creativity, and spiritual authenticity across all Creative Arts environments and experiences.
Stewardship Leadership
- Provide leadership and oversight for stewardship initiatives, engagement strategies, and stewardship ministry efforts across Eastern Star Church.
- Support the development of a culture of biblical stewardship, generosity, and active engagement in giving.
- Collaborate with leadership to strengthen stewardship education, communication, and member engagement strategies.
- Ensure stewardship initiatives align with the mission, values, and long-term vision of Eastern Star Church.
Leadership Development
- Recruit, train, mentor, and develop ministry leaders, staff, and volunteers.
- Foster a culture of servant leadership, collaboration, excellence, and spiritual maturity.
- Develop leadership pathways that identify, equip, and empower emerging ministry leaders.
- Provide ongoing coaching, encouragement, accountability, and support to ministry teams and leaders.
- Support succession planning and long-term leadership development across ministries.
Ministry Operations & Administration
- Provide oversight for ministry planning, coordination, communication, and execution across all ministry areas.
- Partner with ministry leaders to ensure responsible stewardship of ministry budgets, resources, and staffing needs.
- Ensure ministries operate in alignment with church policies, procedures, and operational standards.
- Maintain effective communication and collaboration between ministry leaders, staff, and executive leadership.
- Provide regular updates and reports regarding ministry health, engagement, goals, and strategic initiatives.
Congregational Care & Engagement
- Promote member engagement and participation in ministry opportunities and church life.
- Support ministries that foster fellowship, pastoral care, spiritual growth, and community connection.
- Strengthen alignment and collaboration between ministries to cultivate a unified church culture.
- Assist in responding to congregational and ministry needs through strategic ministry coordination and support.
Spiritual Leadership
- Model a Christ-centered lifestyle and biblical leadership principles consistent with the values of Eastern Star Church.
- Provide spiritual leadership, prayer, encouragement, pastoral care, and shepherding to ministry leaders, staff, volunteers, and congregation members.
- Participate actively in worship services, leadership meetings, church events, and ministry initiatives.
- Uphold the doctrine, culture, and leadership vision of Eastern Star Church.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- Theology degree preferred.
- Equivalent ministry and pastoral leadership experience may be considered in place of formal educational requirements.
- Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive pastoral and ministry leadership experience, including demonstrated experience shepherding leaders, staff, volunteers, and congregants within a multi-ministry or multi-campus environment preferred.
- Proven experience leading ministry teams, developing leaders, and executing organizational vision.
- Demonstrated ability to oversee multiple ministries, organizational initiatives, and cross-functional teams simultaneously.
- Experience working closely with executive leadership and senior pastoral leadership preferred.
Discipleship Expectations
- Membership: Be an active member of Eastern Star Church (or become one within 90 days of hire).
- Worship Attendance: Attend one Sunday service each week (in person or virtually at Fishers, Cooper, or Main Campus).
- Ministry Involvement: Participate in a ministry (service or discipleship-focused), either in person or virtually.
- Spiritual Growth: Attend a teaching ministry (e.g., Women of Virtue, Men of Valor, Sunday School, or Bible Class) at least twice per month.
- FFI 101: Complete or be enrolled in FFI 101.
- Tithing: Executives/Leaders are required to tithe a minimum of 10%.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Strong understanding of biblical leadership, discipleship, pastoral care, stewardship, and ministry development principles.
- Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to develop leaders, build healthy teams, and cultivate strong ministry culture.
- Strong strategic thinking, planning, and organizational leadership abilities.
- Effective problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to lead through change, growth, and organizational alignment initiatives.
- Ability to work collaboratively with pastors, staff, volunteers, and congregation members.
- Demonstrated ability to balance spiritual leadership with operational effectiveness.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Spiritual Maturity
- Visionary Leadership
- Pastoral Leadership & Shepherding
- Ministry Development
- Leadership Development
- Team Building & Collaboration
- Evangelism & Discipleship
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Organizational Leadership
- Communication Excellence
- Stewardship & Accountability
- Integrity & Emotional Intelligence
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to perform the essential functions of this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This role requires regular participation in worship services, ministry events, leadership meetings, conferences, and church activities.
- Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by ministry needs and church events.
- Work is performed in a combination of office, ministry, worship, and event environments.
- Must be able to stand, walk, sit, speak publicly, and engage effectively with large and diverse groups of people.
- Must be able to move throughout multiple campus locations and ministry environments as needed.
- Must be able to lift and transport ministry materials or event supplies up to 25 pounds as needed.
- Requires the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, ministry-centered environment.