Associate Pastor Job Description
We’re Spiritus Christi Church
Spiritus Christi is a faith community striving to be the continuing presence of Jesus in the 21st century. Rooted in Jesus’ words, “No one who comes to me will I ever reject,” we seek to live out his inclusive and transformative message.
We welcome all people—regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or faith background—to fully participate in every aspect of our worship and ministry. As an inclusive and mission-driven church, we are dedicated to confronting racism and transforming the world through compassionate service: supporting the poor, welcoming immigrants, accompanying people in recovery, walking with those leaving prison, and fostering global solidarity in Haiti and Mexico.
Embracing the universal meaning of “Catholic,” we celebrate diversity and unity beyond denominational boundaries. Our community values lifelong spiritual growth, active youth engagement, and liturgies rich in Homilies, Hospitality, and Hymns. Through inclusive sacraments and a shared Eucharist, Spiritus Christi equips people to live out Jesus’ radical message of love and justice in everyday life.
Associate Pastor Role
The Associate Pastor role is a full-time non-exempt position, reporting to the Lead Pastor, that shares responsibility for leading the spiritual life of Spiritus Christi Church. The role will include day-to-day pastoral, liturgical, and administrative responsibilities within the parish.
Working closely with staff and parishioners, the Associate Pastor helps nurture faith formation, inspires service to the poor, and upholds Spiritus Christi’s mission and vision as an inclusive and justice-driven community.
Candidates should be deeply rooted in the Catholic tradition and liturgy from a progressive perspective and possess education and experience in theology, pastoral leadership, church management, and racial justice. Highly qualified lay ministers will also be considered if they are willing to pursue Catholic ordination.
Key Responsibilities
Liturgical Responsibilities
- Preaching and Worship Leadership – Attend weekday and weekend Masses and share preaching responsibilities on a regular rotation with the Lead Pastor and other assigned preachers.
- Sacramental Preparation and Celebration – Assist the Lead Pastor with sacramental liturgies for children and adults, including Reconciliation Services, First Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage Preparation programs.
Pastoral Responsibilities
- Pastoral Care – Provide hospital and home visits for the sick and offer pastoral counseling and spiritual support to parishioners in need. Share on-call responsibilities with Lead Pastor.
- Parish Community Engagement – Attend Parish Community Forums and support ongoing parish dialogue and engagement.
- Parish Communications – Alternate with the Lead Pastor in writing the weekly Pastor’s Letter for the parish bulletin. Assist with other parish communications projects and needs as directed by Lead Pastor.
- Community Relations – Support Spiritus Christi’s broader community outreach, racial justice initiatives, and other public relations/advocacy efforts.
- In-reach Support – Provide guidance and support to in-reach committees and groups as assigned, which may include sacristans, decorators, Eucharistic ministers, and lectors. Act as a ministry liaison for various ministries within the church as directed.
- Retreat Planning and Delivery – Partner with leadership in planning and leading parish and staff retreats
- Special Projects – Collaborate with staff and parishioners on a variety of projects and events as designated by the Lead Pastor.
Governance, Oversight, and Administrative Responsibilities
- Collaborative Leadership – Participate in weekly Pastor’s Meetings and Administrative Team meetings to discuss parishioner care, parish operations, and ministry assignments.
- Staff Supervision – Supervise assigned outreach directors and, when applicable, in-reach staff, in collaboration with the Lead Pastor. Provide support for their ministries, events, and fundraising efforts.
- Governance and Ministry Oversight – Serve on the Corporate Board of Directors. Act as staff liaison to designated in-reach ministry groups or committees (e.g., Personnel Committee, Stewardship Committee), as assigned by the Lead Pastor. Attend Visioning Board meetings as scheduled.
- Liturgical Supplies – Coordinate with the back office to ensure adequate ordering and management of supplies for sacristans and special liturgies.
Who You Are
The role of Associate Pastor at Spiritus Christi Church requires a self-starter who is highly motivated, dependable, and proactive. The selected candidate will:
- Actively support our ongoing commitment to being an anti-racist, open, and affirming church with an understanding of how existing cultural structures perpetuate racism.
- Uphold our commitment to the full inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Value and embrace diversity, equity, and belonging; welcome, respect, and include people from all backgrounds, cultures, and marginalized communities.
- Develop homilies that are timely and meaningful, connecting scripture to real life and current events.
- Be a person of deep faith and action who is willing to share life and ministry with parishioners and staff as an active, engaged, and approachable member of the Spiritus Christi community and the broader community. Demonstrate supervisory experience, strong organizational ability, and excellent communication and self-management skills.
- Make sound decisions, work collaboratively with staff and parishioners, give and receive feedback, and foster open and honest communication.
- Exhibit emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the capacity to address and resolve conflict with grace and compassion.
- Be able to multitask and view challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Enjoy learning new things and demonstrate confidence in implementing new ideas.
- Be flexible with work hours, including weekend Masses and some Saturday and evening responsibilities.
Self-Care and Spirituality Expectations
To sustain a healthy spiritual life and effective ministry, Spiritus Christi expects our pastoral and leadership team to incorporate the following:
- Daily Spiritual Practice – Engage in daily spiritual practice as part of ongoing faith development.
Sabbath Rest – Take one regular day off each week for personal rest and rejuvenation. - Annual Personal Retreat – Take one five-day personal retreat each year for rest, renewal, and spiritual reflection.
- Staff Retreat – Participate in the parish’s annual three-day staff retreat.
The Finer Details
Education
Required
Ordination in the Catholic tradition or willingness to pursue ordination is required.
Preferred
Completion of a Master of Theology or Master of Divinity is preferred. Comparable education or ministerial experience, along with a demonstrated openness to ongoing theological and pastoral learning, will also be considered.
Experience
The successful candidate will have extensive experience in theology, pastoral leadership, church management, coordinating parish programs, and managing staff and volunteers.
Preferred Technical Skills
Experience with social media tools, Church Community Builder, and Microsoft Office is preferred.
Hours
As with any pastoral position, this role requires non-traditional hours. Though we work as a team to create boundaries, in times of emergency, you may be required to work outside of normally scheduled hours.
Salary
This is a full-time non-exempt position. The salary range is $60,000-$65,000, and a wide range of employee benefits are also available.
Not-so-fun fact: Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria, women and other marginalized folks tend to only apply when they check every box. Think you have what it takes, but not sure if you check every box? Reach out to us anyway. We’d love to talk and determine together whether you could be a great fit!
Spiritus Christi Church is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diverse voices, backgrounds, and perspectives on our team. We don’t discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.