Church/Organization Number

20873

Church/Organization Name

Black Mountain

Mailing Address

PO Box 39, 117 Montreat Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711

Phone

(828) 669-2725

Fax

(828) 669-2727

E-Mail

bmpc@bellsouth.net

WWW Address

www.bmpcnc.org

Church/Organization Size

401 - 650 members

Ethnic Composition

African American 1%
Caucasian 98%
Other Asian 1%

Average Worship Attendance

306

Church School Attendance

175

Curriculum

Preschool: Bible Quest; Elementary: Covenant People (PCUSA); Youth: Old & New Testament Surveys, No

Certified as eligible for participation in the Seminary Debt Assistance Program   False

Yoked Church

False

Presbytery

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PRESBYTERY

Synod

SYNOD OF MID-ATLANTIC

Community Type

Town

Ten-year trend statistics of this church/organization * (   Show Statistics )

Position:   Pastor (Head of Staff)

Specific Title:  

Employment Status:    Full-time

Language Requirements:    English

Brief Church Mission Statement:
Our Church’s Mission:
From the New Testament, we believe that as a church we are called by God to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ (Kerygma), to teach the truth of our faith (Didache), to nurture Christian community (Koinonia), to be Christ’s servant people (Diakonia). Adopted by the Session April 1989

Black Mountain Presbyterian Church strives to be an inclusive place of spiritual growth for all who earnestly desire to follow Christ. Participation in the life, worship and fellowship of this community of faith is based foremost on a humble and seeking relationship with God and neighbor, not upon age, ethnicity, sex, economics, education or any other defining status.

Brief description of the church/organization's programs or accomplishments:
Black Mountain Presbyterian Church is a healthy and dynamic church located in Black Mountain, N.C. For over 100 years, this congregation has been passionate in serving others within the church, in the local community, and world-wide. We continue to strive to put our faith in action.

Worship is a priority for our community of faith. An average of 306 worshippers gather each Sunday with joy and energy to worship in one of two services, a traditional 11:00 AM service and the 8:30 AM contemporary “First Light” service. Both services provide excellent music under the direction of a full time Music Director and we are led by a choir at 11:00 and a praise team at 8:30.

Educational programs are a priority at Black Mountain Presbyterian. Our Christian Educator coordinates a variety of well attended adult and children’s Sunday School classes and Sunday youth programs. During the week there is LOGOS on Wednesdays for children K-8 and an excellent Weekday School serving over 70 preschool children.

We are a serving congregation, volunteering locally at Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry, Habitat For Humanity, the local women’s prison, school tutoring, the Presbyterian Home for Children, Montreat Conference Center, and Room In the Inn, and Highland Farms Retirement Community. Our church also actively supports world missions. In addition, a number of our members serve our presbytery and synod on various committees.

Gifts, Skills and Experiences the congregation possesses to fulfill its mission:
To strengthen our faith through education, service and stewardship, a large group of retired ministers, missionaries and church professionals bring us leadership and training in the area of Bible teaching by teaching many of our Sunday School classes or helping with worship. Retirees who choose our mountainous setting are very active and bring varied talents and expertise in the areas of finance, music, publishing, and art. In addition, numerous members are leaders and volunteers in the community and share local mission concerns.

Our church has a strong sense of history, having completed our 100th anniversary celebration in 2008. We were able to focus on our past and how it relates to our future. The membership now shares a vision and an expectancy of where God is leading us in the future.

We provide congregational care through Deacons, Stephen Ministry, Bereavement/Compassion Committee, and Presbyterian Women Circles. We are servant people of Christ in our Christian outreach of care to the community.

The invitation of our church is for all people to join us in the love and grace of Jesus Christ and the challenge to serve Him. We strive to go into the world as His agents of change. Our goal is to listen and discern where the Holy Spirit will lead us in 2009 and beyond.

Key theological issues of the church and society that are reflected in the ministry of the congregation/organization:
Black Mountain Presbyterian Church has a congregation that is willing to wrestle with the hard issues of society and how they relate to our faith.

Some of the questions that we contemplate and attempt to respond to are as follows: – - How can a local congregation respond faithfully to God’s grace and mercy? – - What is our relationship to the natural world? – - How may people live in a loving, faithful relationship to each other? – - How do we respond to a God who is concerned for the poor and disadvantaged? – - If God desires us to live in peace, how do we respond to violence and war? – - In light of Christ’s great commandment, how are we to respond in mission within our community and in the world at large? – - How do we achieve unity-in-diversity? – - How do we create new worship experiences and programs that can reach a new generation of young families and their children?

We expect to consider these and other issues in our worship services, church school classes, service projects, and in our daily living.

References:

Position Description

A. Major Responsibilities:

The Senior Minister will have many areas of responsibility in conjunction with our Session, Deacons, congregation, and staff. This full-time position is being filled after our congregation has participated in a self-examination survey which has focused attention on our needs and desires as well as our foibles and areas which need improvement. It is important that this person be a team player who enjoys working closely with others in a collegial atmosphere but who can also challenge us as needed.

The primary responsibilities of our Senior Minister will be to:
Plan and lead intellectually challenging worship sensitive to the needs of the congregation
Celebrate and officiate at weddings and funerals
Administer sacraments
Moderate session and congregational meetings
Encourage Christian response to social, political and economic issues
Lead staff as Chief Administrator
Participate in stewardship as needed
Grow spiritual needs of the congregation
Provide staff and Elder support on Session committees
Enable the congregation to discover their own gifts and use them
Support Christian Education
Help members deepen their personal and spiritual relationship with the Trinity
Enable spiritually moving Bible studies
Participate in and encourage Christian outreach
Visit the sick, shut-ins and bereaved with help from the Deacons
Provide pastoral care along with Deacons and Stephen Ministers
Learn and grow with us as we worship and follow God

B.  Characteristics and qualifications needed

Black Mountain Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) provides a unique opportunity for leadership. Its proximity to the Montreat Conference Center, its relationship with the Montreat Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and its strategic location in the Swannanoa Valley church community create this possibility. Thus we seek a person with vision and transformative leadership skills that can help the church create a model for ministry that will extend beyond the local church.

Preaching that both inspires and addresses issues that affect the daily lives of the congregation is a priority, along with the ability to minister to young and old alike and to motivate laity and staff to reach their highest potential. We also seek a pastor who is spiritually grounded, whose own spiritual journey is of primary importance, and who will support and assist in the spiritual development of others.

We want our pastor to exhibit compassion, warmth, humor, honesty, and courage. We seek a pastor who will challenge us to grow; to study; to be good stewards of our time, talents, and finances; and to be a people of prayer.

Compensation and Housing: (Cost of Living Calculator)
Minimum Effective Salary:$62,000
Housing Type:Housing Allowance: $0

Geographic Choices:    Unlimited

Has the presbytery's Committee on Ministry thus counseled with the Pastor Nominating Committee regarding Equal Employment Opportunity?
Yes

Has the Pastor Nominating Committee affirmed to the Presbytery Committee on Ministry its intention to follow the Form Of Government in this regard?
Yes