Job Board

Pastoral Residency Program (PRP)

Description & Goal
The PRP aims to systematically add to the experience of Masters of Divinity students or graduates in 8 Core Competencies. Education is the foundation on which the PRP will build through practical experience.

The 8 Core Competencies

• Self-Awareness: Knowing the uniqueness of personality and wiring. Personality/attribute assessment. Gifts and abilities. Challenges and Changes
• Operations: What does it take to run a church or ministry on a daily basis? Budgeting. Recruiting volunteers. Building strong accounting systems. Building maintenance. Staffing. Legal requirement. Boards.
• Pastoral Care: The daily work of a pastor that extends beyond the weekend. Hospital visitation etiquette and expectations. Home care. Pastoral counseling. Death and funerals. Weddings. Emergencies. Benevolence. Prayer.
• Preaching and Teaching: How to prepare a sermon, bible study or class. Sermon planning, writing, structure and delivery. Finding their “voice”. Liturgy.
• Theological Formation: Building confidence in articulating theological convictions in a winsome manner. Intellectually challenging reading. Robust conversations. Diversity in viewpoints. The importance of prayer/meditation. Fullness of the gospel (Kingdom & Cross). 
• Leadership Formation: Discovering leadership style and strengths. Reading and workshop training. Leadership personality testing. Leadership practice. Leadership realities. Dealing with people. Importance of humility. Casting vision.
• Soul-Care/Self-Care: The importance of having a healthy body, mind, soul, spirit. Caring for self without guilt. Healthy relationships. Rhythms of life. Sabbath. Spiritual formation. Financial health. Physical health. Mental health. 
• Multi-Site/Multi-Ministry/Multi-Ethnic Realities: Learning how a multi-site/multi-ministry/multi-ethnic church functions and gaining intimate knowledge of the various departments. Adequate exposure to all ministry departments and leaders. Challenges of multi-site church. Para-church (service) ministry within the church. Delimitations. 

Structure

• A two-year, full-time paid pastoral position at Crossroads Church (50k yearly)
• Two residents per 18-24 month period
• Residents will begin program in May and September
• Residents are supervised by and report to PRP Director
• Candidates will apply and be approved by Church Council
• Residents will follow a guided 8 module format with each module focusing on a Core Competency. Each module will run approximately 3 months in length. 
• Residents will do extensive reading, discussing, writing, application, and practice in close and regular contact with the Director
• Residents will be fully immersed into the life and movement of Crossroads Church
• Residents will join and/or lead a Life Group
• Residents will be fully functioning members of the church staff
• Residents are not necessarily considered candidates for employment at Crossroads Church after residency
• Crossroads will assist in post-residency ministry placement
• Residents will be evaluated in an ongoing fashion with formal evaluations happening after every two modules