Ministrylist
Overview
The Lead Pastor has a calling to equip the saints for ministry. He supports the mission of Conejo Church overseeing staff and volunteer leaders, preaching the Word, and pastoral guidance. He is empowered for visionary leadership and comfortable directing and ordering the church. This role ensures overall stewardship of church body while also providing day to day support to the ministries of the church.
Church Profile
Conejo Church is here to give hope to our community through relationship with Jesus Christ and each another. We are a church seeking to look like Acts 2 devoted to the Apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
We worship together on a beautiful shared property in Thousand Oaks CA amidst old oaks next to hiking trails and botanic garden. The neighborhood is mostly single family homes, across from apartments, and down the road from a 3,000 student liberal arts college.
Our church fellowship is family and we love being together. The words our Council uses for Conejo Church are: hope, relationship, love, purpose, and authenticity. We thank God for thriving weekly Life and Youth groups. The Lord has blessed the work of our hands to be a part in caring for foster and vulnerable kids in Ventura County via strong partnerships. As our small church faces societal shifts and consumer culture we are resolute believing God is doing something special here. We are eager to welcome our new pastor together rooted in Jesus and expectant for good fruit in our body that extends out to our community and beyond.
Scope of Work
Leads Sunday Mornings & Teaching Ministries (50%)
Prepares regular sermons and steers preaching team, collaborates weekly with Worship Pastor to direct overall flow of services, supervises curricula for small groups, kids & youth.
Leads Vision & Church Development (20%)
Identifies church vision and persistently casts the message, devotes work time to prayer, invests in ministry leaders to grow in their spiritual gifts, holds regular staff and council meetings with implementation of vision and follow up in mind.
Leads Church Organization (10%)
Ensures smooth operation of necessary church business, directs volunteer admins, connects to mission-aligned ministry partners.
Leads Pastoral Ministry (10%)
Intentional pastoral care, support, general counseling, and when needed church discipline.
Leads Missional Action (10%)
Catalyst for evangelical and mission-supporting events and initiatives, redevelops framework for local and foreign mission.
Holds space for Sabbath rest (24 hrs.)
Key Requirements
On Board with God’s Purposes for the Church & Ready to Lead
Gospel-centered, evangelical, visionary, disciple-maker, passionate about teaching the Bible, confidently and lovingly handles conflict, capable communicator, courageously stands in spiritual leadership, and shepherd’s heart.
Gets Conejo Church & Desires to Be Here
Excited about our mission, aligned with our values, true charity on tertiary issues, able to be vetted and ordained by Vinia (MCUSA), empowers men and women in leadership gifting.
Character of a Godly Man
Solid family and home, led by the Holy Spirit, well versed in scripture, discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality, and humble
Further Ideal & Helpful Characteristics.
Family-oriented, vibrant, energetic, people-person, wife is an enthusiastic and supportive partner in ministry and member of church.
Qualifications
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Excellent organizational leadership gifting.
Ability to step into multifaceted work scope and demands of full time ministry.
Experience with vocational pastoral ministry.
Educational background in Christian Education., Theology, Biblical Studies or related.
Meets requirements of an elder (1 Tim. & Titus).
Work Schedule
Expected: 40-50 hours/week
Leaves margin for check-ins, meetings, and life of the church as discerned or required
Flexible weekly schedule, may work from home (no current office space)
Reporting Structure
Reports directly to: Leadership Council
Oversees: Youth Pastor, Worship Pastor, Kids Director, and volunteer ministry leaders
Compensation
Salary and housing allowance in line with lead pastor role for a small church on the central California coast, medical benefits, some contribution to retirement, and flexible vacation. Specific package presented to final candidates.
How To Apply
Conejo Church is looking for our next Lead Pastor. The past few months the Leadership Council has been diligently working on discerning who we are as a church and what we need in our next pastor. Our church family is patiently (and eagerly!) praying about who God is preparing to come alongside us to live out His mission in Thousand Oaks. I want this letter to communicate the basics of who we are, the process, and how to follow up to apply. Check us out on our website: conejochurch.com . We are a multigenerational evangelical community currently gathering 70-80 people on a Sunday. About 70 people are rooted here with another 30 who would call Conejo home. I often describe our church as being united, but not uniform. The Leadership Council advises and works hard to support the vision of the lead pastor. The Council, currently five, includes two part time pastors, John Barbour (Worship) and Lucas Johnston (Youth). Also serving in key part-time staff roles are Kids and Communications Directors and a volunteer admin team. Conejo has been a Lead Pastor-driven church so this summer our team has stepped up to organize and serve in new ways during the transitional period. In August our leadership core spent time away for a “StratOp” where we heard the Lord’s direction and solidified our mission. The past few months God has given us clarity on what He is doing here and a sense of the pastor we need to accomplish those purposes here. In September from within our church we selected Dorman Followwill as the Interim Teaching Pastor. Conejo is blessed to have a seasoned and gifted bible teacher already a part of our community. Dorman has demonstrated he is humble and here to serve. We envision our new Lead Pastor would value Dorman as a partner in the Gospel in the years ahead. Below my letter is the Lead Pastor job description. Take a look and see if it looks like a good fit for your ministry. If the Holy Spirit is stirring in you to apply, you may send your resume to my attention at
info@conejochurch.com
. Do send along any links to sermons or any content that helps us get to know you better. The pastoral search committee is the Leadership Council. We expect to review all potential candidates on December 13, 2025 to determine next steps. We understand some potential candidates may want to keep their interest in the job private so we will keep correspondence confidential. Search Committee Chair, Conejo Church Leadership Council
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Conejo Church is looking for our next Lead Pastor. The past few months the Leadership Council has been diligently working on discerning who we are as a church and what we need in our next pastor. Our church family is patiently (and eagerly!) praying about who God is preparing to come alongside us to live out His mission in Thousand Oaks. I want this letter to communicate the basics of who we are, the process, and how to follow up to apply. Check us out on our website: conejochurch.com . We are a multigenerational evangelical community currently gathering 70-80 people on a Sunday. About 70 people are rooted here with another 30 who would call Conejo home. I often describe our church as being united, but not uniform. The Leadership Council advises and works hard to support the vision of the lead pastor. The Council, currently five, includes two part time pastors, John Barbour (Worship) and Lucas Johnston (Youth). Also serving in key part-time staff roles are Kids and Communications Directors and a volunteer admin team. Conejo has been a Lead Pastor-driven church so this summer our team has stepped up to organize and serve in new ways during the transitional period. In August our leadership core spent time away for a “StratOp” where we heard the Lord’s direction and solidified our mission. The past few months God has given us clarity on what He is doing here and a sense of the pastor we need to accomplish those purposes here. In September from within our church we selected Dorman Followwill as the Interim Teaching Pastor. Conejo is blessed to have a seasoned and gifted bible teacher already a part of our community. Dorman has demonstrated he is humble and here to serve. We envision our new Lead Pastor would value Dorman as a partner in the Gospel in the years ahead. Below my letter is the Lead Pastor job description. Take a look and see if it looks like a good fit for your ministry. If the Holy Spirit is stirring in you to apply, you may send your resume to my attention at
info@conejochurch.com
. Do send along any links to sermons or any content that helps us get to know you better. The pastoral search committee is the Leadership Council. We expect to review all potential candidates on December 13, 2025 to determine next steps. We understand some potential candidates may want to keep their interest in the job private so we will keep correspondence confidential. Search Committee Chair, Conejo Church Leadership Council
#J-18808-Ljbffr