STATUS: Full-time Call
BENEFITS: Full Family Health Insurance, Retirement Account –based on years of service, PTO/Vacation –based on years of service, Continuing Education Funds -budgeted
THE CANDIDATE
The incoming Pastor of Discipleship and Care will express a passionate and unwavering love of Jesus Christ.
This individual will be a relational person, who can easily communicate with people, regardless of age, with love, honor, respect, and welcome.
This individual will identify pastoral care and visitation as their primary calling, with identified spiritual gifts of shepherding, compassion, mercy and presence.
The individual will be organized, engaging, self-motivated and directed, with a deep love for the word of God and a desire for people to grow through scripture, study, community, and service. The outcome of these gifts will be the creation of ministries such as studies, events, training, and service opportunities.
This individual will share preaching responsibilities (as assigned by Lead Pastor) and preside over baptisms, weddings and funerals, as assigned or appropriate.
This role presumes an understanding of and adherence to the mission, vision, and direction that Hawley Lutheran Church has identified.
This role will provide a provide a critical partnership with the Lead Pastor in implementing the mission, vision, and direction across the life stages.
THE QUALIFICATIONS
Demonstrate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Genuine passion for the Gospel, with a heart oriented to mission and outreach.
Excellent bible-based preaching, teaching, and communication.
Theological Degree (or in process of) – preferably an M.Div. from an accredited Theological Seminary.
Ordination, or ability and desire to be ordained, within LCMC.
Appreciation and alignment with Lutheran Theology and doctrine.
Understands the importance of continuing to move HLC toward their identified ministry mission and vision.
Openness to trying new things, experimenting with new models and methods of ministry.
Awareness of spiritual gifts, strengths and weaknesses.
Experience in innovation, trial and error, success and failure.
Humble, teachable and desire to continue learning.
HLC is open to individuals new to ministry or in the process of discerning a call to ministry, who demonstrate an eagerness to learn, and values the heritage and present ministry, mission and vision of HLC. We are also open to individuals from other theological traditions. If you love Jesus, let's talk.
KEY AREAS OF MINISTRY
Worship and Music:
Hawley Lutheran offers two worship services. As of Fall 2025, average worship attendance is 400.
Our Sunday Traditions worship is rooted in our Lutheran background and meaningful traditions, filled with hymns, liturgy, call and response. During the school year, we have an adult choir and bell choir that shares music each month. Communion is celebrated on the first and third weekend of the month.
Our Wednesday Modern service gathers at 6:00 p.m. weekly September – May. This service is led by a Worship Team. It is laid back and attended by many kids, youth and families. Communion is celebrated the second and fourth week of the month. Our Worship Teem strives to create opportunities throughout the year to bring services together though special services, events and more.
Treasure Kids Ministry:
Hawley Lutheran Treasure Kids is our ministry to children PreK – 6th Grade. Treasure Kids is offered both Sunday and Wednesday, September – May, with average weekly attendance of 150 kids. In addition, we host a yearly VBS that is well-known and attended, drawing over 100 kids and 50 volunteers each year. Treasure Kids hosts quarterly family events to build community: Trunk or Treat, Live Nativity + Christmas Program, and Easter Egg Hunt. This ministry is experiencing rapid growth, has tremendous volunteer support, and is led by a staff member and Christian Education Team. Treasure Kids uses Orange Curriculum in all areas. We are proud to be an Orange church. Our pastor(s) and volunteers attend the annual conference in Atlanta, GA.
Confirmation/Teen Ministry:
Hawley Lutheran Confirmation and Teen Ministry is in the process of rebuilding but is seeing the fruit of faithfully pointing to Jesus. We have made significant strides in our confirmation program (grades 7 – 10), ministering to 110 teens each week. Confirmation is serving as our foundation, as we build community and disciple our teens. In 2024, 55 teens and 11 adults participated in two mission trips. Our goal is to grow our teen ministry in the years to come. Confirmation also uses Orange Curriculum, with lessons on Catechism.
Outreach Team Ministry:
The Outreach Team at Hawley Lutheran Church is committed to sharing the love of God in our community through various projects and initiatives designed to invite all members of Hawley Lutheran to care for and serve the community. The team is vital to the ongoing outreach of our community, leading the way for our congregation to serve our community, region and beyond.
Staff Development:
HLC has identified that healthy staff and teams are vital to healthy churches. Hawley Lutheran Church longs for a Staff that “plays” – creative ideas are shared, community is built, and all team members are encouraged to share the burden and joy of ministry. We are fostering a culture of trust, excitement, vision, bouncing ideas, trying new things, and running the ball as a team. We seek to identify the gifts of each member of our Staff and celebrate all wins for the glory of God. When one has success in ministry, the Church is blessed. We are working toward a culture of health for all staff. This includes: weekly Sabbath and regular vacations, so all staff are emotionally, spiritually, relationally healthy leaders. (Soul Care, Self Care, Spouse/Family Care).
AREAS OF GROWTH
Pastoral Care:
Due to the size of the congregation, potential for growth and the spiritual gifts of our Lead Pastor, Pastoral Care for all people is a current area need. Specifically, HLC has identified the need for an individual called to provide visitation for members/friends who are home-bound and for residents of care facilities, to provide leadership of our Senior Adult Ministry (Xtra Years of Zest), to facilitate and grow the Befrienders Ministry, while sharing ministry and accountability with our Lead Pastor. HLC recognizes that Pastoral Care is needed and important at all life stages, to include baptism and related instruction, weddings, and premarital counseling (as requested), funerals, and keeping abreast of life changes, including births, illnesses, hospitalizations, etc.
Discipleship:
Due to the size of the congregation, potential for growth and the spiritual gifts of our Lead Pastor, Discipleship of children and families is a current area of need. Specifically, HLC has identified the need for an individual to champion the discipleship of women, men, couples, family units and volunteers. Working with our Christian Education Team, we long to see bible studies created and fostered, robust opportunities for volunteer development and support, and opportunities such as retreats, adult studies, and meaningful faith connections across the church community.
Staff Development:
While leadership and direction of staff is not be within the scope of this call, a commitment to the ongoing development of healthy staff culture is vital. A team player who will positively contribute to a culture of trust, excitement, vision, bouncing ideas, trying new things, and running the ball as a team. is key. We seek to identify the gifts of each member of our Staff and celebrate all wins for the glory of God. When one has success in ministry, the Church is blessed.
CURRENT STAFFING
Lead Pastor
Kids Ministry Director – ½ Time
Office Manager – ¾ Time
Ministry Assistant – ¼ Time
Custodian – ½ Time
Modern Worship Director, Organist, Choir Director, Ministry Intern, Financial Secretary – hourly
GOALS:
Increase Kids Ministry to Full Time (1 – 2 years)
Hire Teen Ministry Director (3 – 5 years)
Potential Call of Third Pastor (5 – 7 years)
ABOUT HAWLEY LUTHERAN
Affiliation: LCMC | Attendance: 400
Hawley Lutheran Church (HLC) in Hawley, MN is a church with a mission to Know, Grow and Go, as we pursue our vision of welcoming all people to lifelong faith in Jesus Christ.
HLC celebrated 125 years of ministry in 2023. However, this congregation doesn’t act its age – it is young and vibrant, while also benefiting from elders who are excited for the future. The facility sits on a city block, directly adjacent to Hawley High School, with additional Hawley Public Schools facilities and field a short distance away. HLC is beautifully maintained, with an office and gathering hall built in 1997. The sanctuary and several classrooms were built in 1969, and an older addition (Hauge Wing) was completed in 1954. All areas are set to get a refresh during our building projects that is soon to begin.
While rooted in our Lutheran heritage, HLC sees itself as a church that welcomes all people to lifelong faith in Jesus Christ, regardless of church background or denominational affiliation. HLC welcomes people from a variety of backgrounds (Baptist, Catholic, Assembly of God, Foursquare, Presbyterian, non-denominational, etc.) We believe our present and future as a church has positioned HLC to orient our ministries and mission to draw all people, with an intentional focus on young adults and young families, as well as the un-churched, de-churched and seeking.
The past four years have been focused on intentional leadership development in all areas of the church, equipping and encouraging our Vision Council, Staff, Ministry Teams and Volunteers to experiment, create, introduce and implement new initiatives that align with this mission and vision. We have recently completed an intentional strategic needs assessment for our congregation and facility. Our goal of this process was to create a church that serves both HLC’s mission and vision, while also opening our doors to other groups and organizations in our community.
A capital campaign is in full swing, with fundraising ongoing. In Summer 2024, roof projects were completed and our building plan was finalized. A vote will be held at the annual meeting in January 2025, with demolition/rebuilding set to begin May-June 2025.
ABOUT HAWLEY:
Hawley is a community of 2,500 located approximately 25 miles from the Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN Metro Area and 25 minutes from Detroit Lakes, MN and Minnesota lakes country. It is a quick and easy commute and many members of our community and church work in FM or Detroit Lakes. As a result, our community is growing and is expected to continue to do so. Our school district is well known for their dedicated staff, quality of education and community support. A school referendum was passed in 2022, with High School construction completed summer 2024, Elementary School construction ongoing Summer - Fall of 2024. A new Middle School is in progress and is set to open in Fall 2026.
