Church/Organization ID

01276

Church/Organization Name

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Mailing Address

1159 E 3RD AVE
DURANGO, CO 81301

Telephone Number

(970) 247-3175

Fax Number

(970) 247-3175

E-Mail

fpcd@frontier.net

WWW Address

fpcdurango.org

Church/Organization Size

251 - 400 members

Average Worship Attendance

195

Church School Attendance

83

Curriculum

Children-Group, Middle School-Bible Based, Senior High-Bible and NOOMA CD's

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

Ethnicity

Percentage

Caucasian

98%

Other

2%

Presbytery

WESTERN COLORADO PRESBYTERY

Synod

SYNOD OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

Community Type

Small City

Name:

Tom Williamson

Full Address:

1027 Los Ranchitos Dr. Durango, CO 81301

Daytime Phone:

(970) 375-2526

E-Mail:

gingertom@mac.com

Church/Organization ID:

01276

Church/Organization Name:

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

City & State:

DURANGO, CO

Position to be Filled:   Pastor (Head of Staff)

Experience Required/Desired:    Desired

Employment Status:    Full-time

Experience Level:    4 years or more

Language Requirements:    English

Brief Church Mission Statement:

MISSION STATEMENT
JESUS SAYS, “I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES” John 15:5

OUR MISSION

Is to be robust branches
Nurtured by the Holy Spirit
Growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ
Producing fruit of love, joy and peace
Testifying that any who seek life’s answers
Will be provided welcoming shelter
At 12th Street and 3rd Avenue
To find, be grafted into, worship and serve
The One True Vine
JESUS CHRIST

Brief description of the church/organization's programs or accomplishments:

     We are a strong family of seeking and questioning believers. Many of us are supported in our faith journeys through our Christian education programs that have participants of all ages. We recently completed a $1.5 million renovation of our facilities that enhances our ministry.
     We have vibrant worship that blends traditional and contemporary styles. Our music programs include a choir, handbell choir, and a praise team led by talented staff and laity.
     We value mission, giving 21% of our operating budget to national, international, and local missions. Our local mission recipients include Manna Soup Kitchen, the Durango Food Bank, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, and individuals in emergency situations. We support our community by providing meeting space to outside organizations. Deacons tend to the needs within the community and congregation.
     We value intergenerational relationships in activities such as our all-church retreat, an 8-year tradition; mentoring programs; and Lenten soup suppers. These all build community and strengthen spiritual growth.
     We have diverse programming to meet the needs of special interests within the congregation.
     We have supported 4 pastoral interns in recent years and helped them discern God’s call in their lives. Three have been ordained. One is a commissioned lay pastor.
     We are diverse in interests and beliefs, but we still share God’s love for each other.
Read our Complete Mission Study at:  Mission Study Report

Gifts, Skills and Experiences the congregation possesses to fulfill its mission:

     Our congregation is diverse in spiritual and professional background, age, and brings with it energy and a variety of talents and viewpoints. From our worship together comes a strong sense of fellowship and responsibility that we live out through our active committees and outreach mission projects. We are a family of believers who seek God’s direction and help through our prayers. Our weekly “Prayers of the People” during worship services and prayer chain are two very important components of our faith in action. Our church family continues to develop strong personal fellowship relationships through worship, small groups, Sunday school classes, committees, potlucks, and outdoor activities.
     We are blessed with talented and inspiring teachers, musical directors, biblical scholars, artists, techies, and craftsmen who share their gifts and expertise. Our church volunteers are involved in outreach, worship, clerical work, meal preparation, visitation, food bank, soup kitchen, etc.
     To demonstrate our tradition and stability, four years ago our congregation made the decision to remain in our historical building and hold a capital campaign to renovate the facility. Our staff and lay leadership were instrumental in overseeing the success and completion of this project.
     Our life experiences have molded us into well prepared, educated, fit, national and world travelers who support local and world concerns through educational travel to the Holy Land and mission trips.

Key theological issues of the church and society that are reflected in the ministry of the congregation/organization:

     Relationships are very important in our church and it is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that we can accomplish the plans God has for us.
     Knowledge of the Bible is crucial to us and is strengthened by emphasis from the pulpit, small groups, and several Bible study opportunities.
     Our involvement with missions is of high priority and is demonstrated by our support
of local, national and worldwide mission groups. In addition, our church has conducted
intergenerational mission trips, youth and middle school mission trips as well as our annual Mission Dinner and Auction and donations to disaster relief funds.
     Preparation of the next generation is of great importance, and we are expanding our
ministries for the youth and children. We currently have a full time Youth Director, a part time Volunteer Director of Children’s Ministries, a College Intern and an Interim Director of Christian education on our paid staff. The youth and children of the church are integrated into the worship services as well as other activities of the church.
     A high expectation of the working of the Holy Spirit is present in the members and the leaders of the church.
     Our congregation is theologically diverse, but these differences have not been a divisive issue in the growth and operation of the church.

Name

Address

Phone Numbers

Relation

Email

Alan TeBrink

160 Pine Ridge Loop DW II Durango, CO 81301

(970) 247-9706

Past Lay Pastoral Intern, Commissioned Lay Pastor

Bob Galbraith

188 Ciervo Dr. Durango, CO 81301

(970) 375-1548

Church Elder, Moderator of the Presbytery

Helen Bledsoe

857 Grand Vista Way Grand Junction CO, 81506-8687

(970) 243-7874

Former Member, Elder, and Deacon

A. Major Responsibilities:
PREACHING- Emphasizing and relating the Biblical text to contemporary situations. Applying it to the life and work of individual members and congregation as a whole
WORSHIP- Plan and lead worship services and special worship events with the Worship Committee which are intellectually stimulating, spiritually enriching and emotionally uplifting.
Administer Sacraments of Lord’s Supper and Baptism
PASTORAL CARE- Provide support to members and constituents as they wrestle with the events of their lives. Conduct weddings and funerals. Enable the staff and laity to provide pastoral care
ADMINISTRATION- Supervise both the full-time and part-time Church staff and oversee the administration of the programs of the Church. Moderate Session and congregational meetings, leading and inspiring the Session and Deacons in governing the Church’s current programs and responsibilities. Lead, recruit, train and motivate lay leadership. Develop and monitor communication needs
EVANGELISM- Promote an evangelical spirit in worship services and welcome seekers into the church
EDUCATION- Involvement in church officer training and new member classes. Conduct other classes as needed in coordination with church staff, Elders and Deacons
CONTINUING EDUCATION & PERSONAL CARE- It is important for our pastor to develop his/her own spiritual life as well as that of the congregation. Use annual study leave for professional and personal study and spiritual renewal

B.  Characteristics and qualifications needed

LEADERSHIP
•Compelling, inspirational preacher of God’s word
•Empowers, motivates and encourages lay leadership
•Able to bring together people of diverse viewpoints
•Welcomes new ideas, and stimulates decision making by staff and lay leaders
•Thought provoking, challenging worship leader
•Passionate about intergenerational worship and ministry
•Emphatic, energetic commitment to families
•Knows his/her own strengths and who in the future is willing to work with an associate pastor who will share the pastoral load and compliment the strengths of the pastor we call
•Train congregation to identify, develop, and use their spiritual gifts

COMPASSION
•Approachable, compassionate listener who connects with and relates to people
•Will not compromise confidentiality
•Supportive, empathetic and comfortable with individuals in crisis and/or involved in a healing process.

TEACHING
•Scholar in Biblical and theological knowledge
•Passion and ability to relate biblical principles to today’s world

Minimum Effective Salary: $50,000

Housing Type: Housing Allowance:

Unlimited

For Clergy Positions

Every Presbytery Committee on Ministry is to inform each Pastor Nominating Committee of its constitutional obligations and how it might assure fairness in the calling process.

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

Each Pastor Nominating Committee is expected to undertake its search for a minister in a manner consistent with the good news that in the Church "...as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

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