Job Description
Job Description
Full-Time Ministry Position
Gilford Community Church - Gilford, New Hampshire
Opening May 2027
Are you a thoughtful, community-rooted pastor called to shepherd a congregation that embraces faith as a living, questioning, and ever-deepening journey? Gilford Community Church, nestled on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire’s stunning Lakes Region — is seeking a gifted leader to guide our church family into its next chapter.
Our beloved pastor will retire in May 2027 after decades of faithful service. We are looking ahead with great hope, seeking someone who will honor what has been built while breathing fresh energy into our congregation’s future — especially as we seek to welcome and grow relationships with young families and new voices.
Who We Are
Gilford Community Church is a non-denominational, open, welcoming, and affirming congregation rooted in the conviction that faith grows best in an atmosphere of honest inquiry, mutual respect, and active service. We believe spiritual life is a journey — not a destination — and we hold space for questions as much as answers.
Our congregation is characterized by:
• A deep commitment to community service and local engagement — it is central to who we are
• A culture of open dialogue, intellectual curiosity, and theological exploration
• A vibrant and growing Youth Ministry Program
• A celebrated Music Program that enriches our worship life
• A strong volunteer culture with programming for all ages
• A financially stable, well-resourced, and ministry-focused organization
• Weekly in-person worship and an active online community
A Place Where Faith and Community Intersect
Gilford sits at the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region — a place of extraordinary natural beauty, tight-knit community spirit, and rich New England character. With easy access to Lake Winnipesaukee, mountain trails, and the New England coastline, this is a community where families plant roots, neighbors know each other by name, and faith, community and natural beauty intersect.
For a pastor with a heart for community, Gilford offers a rare and wonderful canvas.
The Leader We Are Seeking
We are looking for a pastor who is as comfortable in the community as they are in the pulpit — someone who sees ministry not only as preaching and pastoral care, but as showing up, listening, and building bridges.
Spiritual Leadership & Pastoral Care
• Demonstrates a deeply personal and authentic Christian faith
• Nurtures and deepens the spiritual journeys of current members with care, consistency, and creativity
• Provides compassionate pastoral support through life’s significant moments — celebrations, struggles, and losses
• Preaches and teaches in ways that are engaging, intellectually honest, and accessible to a wide range of seekers
Community Engagement & Growth
• Possesses a genuine passion for community service and is energized by working alongside members to serve others
• Has a heart for welcoming newcomers — especially young families — and a talent for making people feel at home
• Brings creative ideas for expanding our reach and relevance in the wider Gilford community
• Understands how to cultivate an environment that is truly inclusive, inviting to those who are exploring faith, and affirming of all people
Intellectual Openness & Dialogue
• Embraces and encourages theological questions, honest doubt, and open conversation as core to healthy faith
• Creates space for diverse perspectives and can hold complexity with grace and conviction
• Models intellectual humility while offering thoughtful, grounded spiritual direction
• Sees the congregation as partners in ongoing theological exploration, not simply recipients of answers
Leadership & Collaboration
• Thrives in a collaborative church environment and lifts up the gifts of lay leaders and staff
• Brings demonstrated experience in church leadership, organizational development, or ministry growth
• Communicates with clarity, warmth, and authenticity from the pulpit and in everyday conversations
• Is energized by working with volunteers and building team culture
What We Offer
• Full-time employment with compensation commensurate with experience
• A supportive, engaged, and enthusiastic church leadership team and congregation
• Financial stability and robust resources dedicated to ministry growth
• A community deeply committed to service — your partners in ministry are already at work
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact in a thriving, open, and intellectually vibrant church family
• A remarkable place to live, raise a family, and build a life
If this calling resonates with you, we would be honored to hear your story. We understand the need for complete confidentiality throughout this process and will honor it fully.
To submit a note of interest or to request additional information, please contact our Search Committee Chair at via our website. You can also learn more about our congregation at: gilfordcommunitychurch.org
We look forward to beginning this conversation.
\nCompany Description
A Community Church with no denominational constraints
Company Description
A Community Church with no denominational constraints