Announcement
Lead Pastor Opening
Nome Evangelical Covenant Church is seeking a Lead Pastor for our multi-generational, multi-cultural congregation of 100. Nome (pop. 3,700) is situated in remote, rural Alaska, a hub for smaller regional communities. Applicants should be interested in stepping out in faith and adapting to a new culture. As a congregation, we strive to engage with our neighbor so that we serve our community in practical ways so that we all can experience the transforming love of Jesus.
Offering 45000$-55000$ Plus Housing, Vehicle, and Benefits
Job Description
In addition to the duties contained in Article IV, Section 5 of the ByLaws, it is Nome
Evangelical Covenant Church’s (NECC) desire for the Lead Pastor to:
• “2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion,
but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering
over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:2-4 (ESV)
• “15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be
ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
• “9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another
with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal;
be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in tribulation; be constant in
prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those
who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with
those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with
the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to
do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live
peaceably with all. ... 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans
12:9-18, 21 (ESV)
Qualifications & Requirements:
1. Biblical Considerations: The NECC Lead Pastor must meet the spiritual, personal, and
character qualifications of an elder found in 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9 and exhibit the
fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians 5:22-23:
a) 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV) “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of
overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the
husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to
teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children
submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how
will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become
puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he
must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a
snare of the devil.”
b) Titus 1:6-9 (ESV) “...if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his
children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant
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or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a
lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to
the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound
doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
c) Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there
is no law.”
2. Vertical & Horizontal Considerations:
a) The Lead Pastor will seek to undertake these duties in the power of the Holy Spirit,
undergirded with prayer, guided by the Scriptures, and manifesting the character of
Christ for the glory of God.
b) The Lead Pastor must be a person of prayer and a person of the Word, sensitive to
what the Spirit is saying to NECC. The Lead Pastor will be devoted to daily prayer
and Bible reading to stir up the heart and mind to renewed passion for Christ and to
guard from sin.
c) The Lead Pastor will gladly participate in mutual care and accountability with other
believers.
d) Using God-given gifts the Lead Pastor will connect with the local community as led
by the Holy Spirit.
e) The Lead Pastor will be intentional to shape the culture of the church in a relevant
way as to support its mission.
Goals & Responsibilities:
The Leadership Team and the Lead Pastor will discuss annually the defined goals,
responsibilities, and incidentals of the Lead Pastor’s ministry and God-given callings.
NECC does not desire for the Lead Pastor to do it all or go it alone but to partner with God and
the church to mutually seek to build His Kingdom in our hearts and in this community.
NECC’s expectation of the Lead Pastor is not to have all the answers or be perfect in pastoring
and administration but, with the church, to follow the admonition of Micah 6:8 (ASV), “He hath
showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and
to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
Summary in Simple Terms:
In concert with the Holy Spirit and all together:
1. Listen to God (Prayerful)
2. Shape the Culture (Relevant)
3. Communicate Biblical Truth (Applicable)
4. Cast Clear Vision (Holy Spirit-Inspired)
5. Develop Leaders (Discipleship)
6. Connect with Community (Relational)
Nome Covenant Church is a
Rural Western Alaska, only accessible by air (jet service twice per day.) Population of Nome ~
3700. Multi-ethnic congregation. Strong Christian presence but, in many ways, like going to a
foreign mission field. Applicants should be interested in stepping out in faith and adapting to a
new culture. Hub for 15+ surrounding Alaska Native villages. For great aerial footage and
information about Nome, see the Nome Convention & Visitors Bureau website:
visitnomealaska.com. For further details on living in Nome see the City of Nome website:
nomealaska.org. For a map of Norton Sound and surrounding villages see:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norton_Sound.png
The Swedish Covenant Missionaries started work in our region in Unalakleet in 1887 and later
in Koyuk, Elim, Shaktoolik, and Golovin. The city of Nome began out of a gold rush in the late
1800s-early 1900s. Prior to that, Alaska Natives primarily utilized the area as fishing and
hunting grounds. The Nome Covenant Church started in 1943 as many of the area village
residents moved to Nome. The first church services were orally translated into the Inupiaq
language. In addition to the various dialects of Inupiaq, the indigenous languages used in our
region include Central Yup'ik and St. Lawrence Island Yup'ik (also known as Siberian Yup'ik.)
In the 1950s-1960s, there were many women's ministries and scouting programs operated by
the church. In 1960 the Easter service was aired on the Nome-based Covenant radio station
KICY. This was KICY's debut on AM-850, and KICY is still in operation today, broadcasting our
Sunday service to Western Alaska. (For further information about this radio ministry, see
kicy.org.)