Lead Pastor

About this role

Riverside Church is hiring a Lead Pastor who can carry real ownership, build people, and keep the mission clear when the calendar gets full.

This role sits at the intersection of craft and care.

You will not only execute weekly work.

You will help shape culture, develop others, and leave the ministry or team healthier than you found it.

The ideal teammate is theologically grounded, emotionally mature, and energized by pastoral work in a real church or faith-aligned context.

You communicate clearly, follow through, and measure success by fruit in people, not only activity.

If you want a posting with vague vibes and no expectations, this is not it.

If you want a clear lane, strong collaborators, and work that matters on Sunday and Monday, keep reading.

Role highlights

• Work directly with leaders at Riverside Church
• Clear expectations and weekly priorities
• Room to build systems that outlast any one person
• A culture that values both excellence and people
• Meaningful work with eternal implications

Responsibilities

• Preach and teach in partnership with the pastoral team
• Shepherd people through counseling, visitation, and crisis care
• Lead staff rhythms that are clear, kind, and accountable
• Build leaders who can multiply ministry beyond your capacity
• Guide the church through vision, change, and healthy conflict
• Represent the church in the city with humility and courage
• Oversee ordinances, membership pathways, and pastoral care systems
• Collaborate with elders or governance with transparency
• Protect doctrinal clarity while staying approachable
• Model a sustainable pace of life for staff and volunteers

Requirements

• Ordained or clearly on an ordination pathway (as applicable)
• Proven pastoral care experience in a local church
• Strong teaching gift with preparation habits that honor the text
• Leadership experience with staff or high-capacity volunteers
• Healthy conflict skills and emotional self-awareness
• Alignment with the church’s doctrine and mission
• Ability to build trust with elders, staff, and the congregation
• A life that matches the character expectations of 1 Timothy 3

A day in the life

• Start with prayer, priorities, and a quick team sync
• Deep-work block on preparation, pastoral work, or product delivery
• Meetings with collaborators that end with owners and next steps
• Hands-on ministry, customer work, or weekend readiness tasks
• End-of-day note: what moved, what is blocked, who needs care

Benefits and support

• Competitive salary aligned to the posted range for Lead Pastor
• Medical, dental, and vision options for eligible full-time roles
• Paid time off plus major holidays
• Retirement contribution support (role-dependent)
• Professional development budget for conferences and coaching
• Staff rhythms that protect Sabbath and family time
• A team that prays together and tells the truth kindly

Compensation and logistics

Pay range

$95–130K USD per year

Location

Nashville, TN

Work style

Onsite

Employment type

Full-time

Hiring organization

Riverside Church

Category

Pastoral