DENOMINATION: PRESBYTERIAN

ATTENDANCE: 50

Meet First Presbyterian Church Ardmore

First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore's history dates back to 1890, when a meeting was held by Rev. William J. Moffatt, a missionary connected with the Chickasaw Presbytery, Synod of Indian Territory. The congregation moved into a Modernized Gothic style church building in 1917, where they continue to meet to this day.

Community at FPC Ardmore is friendly and familial. They focus their time and resources on missions and service for others. The church has come to be known for their benevolence. Guests can expect a warm welcome from FPC Ardmore.

What We Believe

Theology

Some of the principles articulated by John Calvin are still at the core of Presbyterian beliefs. Among these are the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, justification by grace through faith, and the priesthood of all believers. What these tenets mean is that God is the supreme authority throughout the universe. Our knowledge of God and God’s purpose for humanity comes from the Bible, particularly what is revealed in the New Testament through the life of Jesus Christ. Our salvation (justification) through Jesus is God’s generous gift to us and not the result of our own accomplishments. It is everyone’s job — ministers and lay people alike — to share this Good News with the whole world. That is also why the Presbyterian church is governed at all levels by a combination of clergy and laity, men and women alike.

Presbyterians confess their beliefs through statements that have been adopted over the years and are contained in The Book of Confessions. These statements reflect our understanding of God and what God expects of us at different times in history, but all are faithful to the fundamental beliefs described above. Even though we share these common beliefs, Presbyterians understand that God alone is Lord of the conscience, and it is up to each individual to understand what these principles mean in his or her life.

Social Issues

The General Assembly “affirms its conviction that neither the Church as the body of Christ, nor Christians as individuals, can be neutral or indifferent toward evil in the world; affirms its responsibility to speak on social and moral issues for the encouragement and instruction of the Church and its members, seeking earnestly both to know the mind of Christ and to speak always in humility and love; reminds the churches that their duty is not only to encourage and train their members in daily obedience to God’s will, but corporately to reveal God’s grace in places of suffering and need, to resist the forces that tyrannize, and to support the forces that restore the dignity of all men. 

About the Senior Pastor

The First Presbyterian Church of Ardmore, OK, is seeking a Senior Pastor to lead a congregation that values spiritual growth and all levels of mission work. We are a family called by God to expand Christ's kingdom through service, stewardship, and spiritual growth.

The Senior Pastor's responsibilities include: 

The Pastor leads the congregation in life and worship supervising a small staff and moderating the Session with a focus on:

• Worship and Spiritual Development | As a Senior Pastor, lead our church in worship by delivering thought provoking sermons which motivates our members.
• Pastoral Care | In collaboration with the Session and Ministry Teams, participate in compassionate and empathetic pastoral care to all members.
• Strategic Leadership | Lead the congregation in developing and implementing strategic and operational plans.
• Administration | Supervise, develop and nurture positive working relationships with staff.
• Governance | Work with the Session in the administration of the church's affairs as moderator of Session and maintaining relationships with the Indian Nations Presbytery.
• Finance | Work with the Trustees and the Session to manage the church resources in a fiscally responsible manner.
• Church Life | Actively participate in the life of the church while maintaining a healthy work life balance.
• Work collaboratively with Session Elders in their respective ministries and encourage and facilitate leadership training

What you bring

Education and experience

• Master's Level Seminary Degree Required
• Must be ordained or ordainable in one of the following denominations:  
• Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
• Reformed Church of America
• United Church of Christ
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• 5+ years of ministry experience

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Must be in good standing with their Presbytery or governing body of that denomination if not a PCUSA pastor
• Good communication skills
• Ability to offer comfort to the congregation
• The ability to positively relate to all ages (adults, youth, and children)
• Skilled in pastoral care and counseling

Personal characteristics and qualifications

• Passionate, Spirit-filled, gifted, and biblically/theologically grounded proclaimer of God's Word
• Administrative gifts to partner with and supervise program and office staff
• Empathetic and compassionate
• Responsible, reliable, and organized
• Energetic, outgoing, and friendly

What it's like to live in Ardmore, OK

Ardmore, Oklahoma is a town of about 30,000, if you include Lone Grove which shares a city border. The main population lives in Ardmore and Lone Grove. Conveniently located on I-35. Just 90 minutes to Dallas/Ft. Worth and 90 minutes to Oklahoma City. We have a rich history and a vibrant downtown. We are on the Amtrak line from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth. It began to grow in 1887 when the Santa Fe Railway came through. Ardmore is the county seat of Carter County.

When considering a move to any new city, it is important to keep the big things in mind. Especially for families. Access to medical services, transportation, entertainment, education, and outdoor activities are important for a well-rounded life. Ardmore has all of these.

Although Ardmore doesn't have a major sports team, we are exactly halfway between Dallas and Oklahoma City which host major sports teams. Frisco and Arlington are Dallas suburbs. Only 90 minutes from many professional sports events. Arlington has hosted March Madness and the Super Bowl.

This part of Oklahoma has a lot to offer for the folks that love the outdoors. There are several boating and fishing lakes in the area as well as state and national parks for camping and swimming