Union Ridge Church
Senior Pastor (Burlington, NC)
The Big Picture
Union Ridge Church in Burlington, North Carolina is seeking a Senior Pastor. The church is a well-established and welcoming congregation with more than 210 years of faithful ministry, located in a peaceful rural setting about 10 miles from Burlington and 30 miles from Greensboro.
The church’s previous pastor retired in April 2026 after 18 years of service, and the congregation is prayerfully seeking the next spiritual leader to guide Union Ridge into its next chapter of ministry and growth. Union Ridge is a non-denominational congregation of approximately 300 members with an average weekly attendance of about 140. It welcomes all who seek God’s guidance and desire to grow in the Christian faith, and it recognizes both infant and believer’s baptism. The church has women serving on its Deacon Board.
The ideal candidate is a compassionate and inspiring spiritual leader who is deeply committed to biblical teaching, pastoral care, and the ongoing growth of the church. He will be welcoming and supportive of families and individuals from diverse backgrounds and will lead with humility, faith, vision, and an unwavering love for the Lord.
The church is hoping to find a candidate within roughly 300 miles of Burlington, preferably in NC, SC, VA, WV, GA, TN, or possibly KY.
Job Profile
Full-time, salaried position. The Senior Pastor reports to the Deacon Board and is responsible for the spiritual well-being of the church and its members, team-leading the church as part of the Deacon and Official Boards.
Preaching and Worship
- Serve as the theological and spiritual head of the church.
- Prepare and deliver meaningful, biblically based sermons for weekly worship services.
- Work with the Music Director so music is appropriate and thematic to the sermon, and support a worship environment that honors both traditional and contemporary music styles.
- Prepare visual aids (slides/videos) for worship and coordinate them with the sound/audio technician.
- Administer the sacraments, including Holy Communion.
- Ensure the pulpit is filled by a guest speaker in case of absence.
Pastoral Care and Counseling
- Officiate weddings, funerals, baby dedications, and baptisms for church members as requested.
- Provide pastoral counseling by appointment, in the office and at private residences or other agreed locations, and lead grief counseling sessions.
- Visit those who are hospitalized, home-bound, ill, or elderly, administering Communion as the pastor deems necessary.
- Be available for scriptural interpretation and discussion with church members.
Leadership and Church Life
- Serve on both the Deacon Board and the Official Board, attending meetings and participating in discussions and decisions.
- Submit a quarterly report to both boards (marriages, deaths, baptisms, and changes in membership).
- Serve as an ex officio member and resource for every committee, offering guidance and encouragement without doing the committees’ work for them.
- Teach or facilitate classes using his gifts and knowledge (Bible studies, book studies, etc.) and be actively engaged in children’s programs and the faith development of all generations.
- Develop program ministries based on personal gifts.
- Be visible in the community for evangelistic and outreach opportunities.
Accountability
- After 90 days, the Deacon Board Chairperson and Senior Pastor have a feedback discussion on performance and mutual expectations.
- Performance reviews are held at least once a year during the first quarter.
Qualifications
- An undergraduate degree, preferably in a religion-related field. A master’s degree in theology or divinity studies is preferred (or willingness to work toward one); seminary graduation is highly preferred.
- A minimum of three years of experience as a Senior Pastor or in a comparable religious leadership role.
- Strong ability to teach the Word of God in a clear, relatable, and engaging manner.
- A heart for ministry, service, and building meaningful relationships within the church and community.
- The ability to multi-task and to lead with strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills.
- A life that portrays the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: $80,000 to $90,000.
The Process
LancasterSearch does the searching for the church and passes along only candidates who have completed the pre-screening. Each candidate is asked to provide:
1. Why do you believe you might be a good fit as the Senior Pastor at Union Ridge Church?
2. A brief summary of your theology and your philosophy of ministry.
3. A link to a recent sermon or message (YouTube, SermonAudio, audio file, etc.).