Senior Pastor Position Profile

Church Overview

Morning Star Baptist Church (MSBC) was founded on June 14, 1965. Morning Star has a rich legacy marked by steady growth, ministry expansion, and impactful community leadership.

In 1981, Reverend John M. Borders, III was officially installed as Pastor, becoming the youngest pastor to serve the church. Under his leadership, Morning Star experienced significant spiritual and numerical growth and strengthened its multigenerational ministry model.

Morning Star Baptist Church has successfully bridged generational divides—attracting younger members while faithfully ministering to senior congregants. The church remains deeply committed to enhancing both the spiritual and economic well-being of its members and the surrounding urban community.

Mission Statement

At Morning Star Baptist Church, it is our mission to help every person believe in God and every Christian grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Our Guiding principles

1. SALVATION
Salvation is accepting Jesus’ atonement by faith, experiencing regeneration, resulting in works of righteousness and holiness.  1 Thessalonians 5:9
2. DISCIPLESHIP
All members are taught to observe Christ’s commands and realize the purpose of God in a dynamic way.  2 Peter 1:2-4
3. LOVE
Every believer must love one another.  Love is the central characteristic of Faith.  Love is voluntarily and unconditionally received and given. 1 Samuel 18:1-4; John 13:34
4. PRAYER
All members will develop Intimacy with God through prayer as the key to life change.  Exodus 33:11
5. STEWARDSHIP
Every member is encouraged to be a tither and steward.
Tithing is the first step in trusting God.  Stewardship is making all you have available to the Lord.  2 Corinthians 8:2-5
6. MINISTRY
Ministry means Discerning the needs of people and offering Christ’s love without condemnation or prejudice.  Every member is called to a ministry.  2 Corinthians 5:16
7. MISSIONS
Our mission is to Extend beyond the local church, offering Christ’s love around the world through ministry and resources. Matthew 10:7-8
8. LEADERSHIP
Every Leader will be supported and new leaders cultivated throughout the fellowship.  Responsibility for the whole vision is shared by the whole body.  1 Thessalonians 5:12
9. FAMILY
The Christian family, as presented in the Bible, is the central unit of society and God’s instrument of salvation and transformation.  Ephesians 5:22-6:4
10. WORSHIP
We will worship God decently and in order and yield to the Holy Spirit. True worship is not fixed, but flamed.  Open expressions of love for Christ are encouraged and shared.     Psalms 143:8   Worship Gathering Every 100 Days
11. SPIRITUALITY
We believe The Holy Spirit continues to work supernaturally through signs and wonders.  There is no disconnection between the biblical past and the present.  John 20:30-31

Worship & Congregational Life

Weekly Services
  • Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM (In-Person and Live Stream)
  • Wednesday Night Live: 7 PM (In-Person and Live Stream)
The church is supported by multiple boards, auxiliaries, and ministries under the leadership of:
  • 6 Department Heads
  • 10 Ordained Reverends
  • 14 Associate Ministers
  • 13 Deacons
  • 12 Deaconesses
Morning Star Baptist Church is a vibrant, engaged, faith-forward presence within a diverse urban community. 

Position Summary

The Senior Pastor serves as the spiritual shepherd and primary visionary leader of Morning Star Baptist Church. This individual will provide biblically grounded preaching and teaching, pastoral oversight, and executive leadership for the church’s overall ministry and operations. This is a full-time position.
The ideal candidate will exemplify:
  • Faithful adherence to Scripture
  • A mastery of preaching
  • A deep love for God’s people
  • Strong organizational and leadership capacity

Biblical Qualifications

The candidate must embody the biblical standards for pastoral leadership as outlined in:
  • 1 Timothy 3:1–7
  • Titus 1:5–9
  • 1 Peter 5:2–4
The Senior Pastor must demonstrate integrity, humility, doctrinal soundness, courage rooted in godliness, and a deep commitment to shepherding the flock of God.

Education Requirements

  • Licensed and ordained with an understanding of Baptist polity and governance.
  • Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in Religion, Biblical Studies, or a related field from an accredited institution, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
  • Preferred: Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from an accredited seminary or theological institution
  • Demonstrated commitment to lifelong theological and leadership development

Experience Requirements

  • Minimum three (3) years of consistent ministry experience as a Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, or Executive Pastor.
  • Experience in a church with demographics comparable to Morning Star Baptist Church
  • Demonstrated success in:

    • Team building and staff leadership
    • Spiritual formation and discipleship systems
    • Mentorship development
    • Congregational vision implementation

Core Responsibilities

Preaching & Teaching

  • Preach most Sunday morning services with Spirit-led, biblically sound expository preaching
  • Preach major services including Christmas, Easter, Watch Night, and other significant occasions
  • Ensure doctrinal integrity in all teaching ministries

Pastoral Care

  • Provide pastoral counseling, prayer, and spiritual guidance
  • Conduct weddings and funerals
  • Oversee and preside over church ordinances (Baptism and Communion) or delegate appropriately
  • Respond promptly to congregational crises in collaboration with church leadership
  • Make appropriate professional referrals when necessary

Leadership & Administration

  • Provide strategic leadership for the church’s mission and vision
  • Collaborate with Department Heads, Ministerial Staff, and the Deacon and Deaconess Boards
  • Lead long-term planning and ministry alignment
  • Foster unity across generations, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Strengthen community engagement and outreach

Personal Characteristics

  • A regenerated follower of Jesus Christ with a clear pastoral calling
  • Spiritually and emotionally mature
  • Humble, discerning, and grounded in Christian character
  • Relationally gifted and an effective communicator
  • Organized, strategic, and administratively capable
  • Able to manage conflict and crisis constructively
  • Skilled in cross-generational and cross-cultural engagement

Candidate Profile Summary

  • A faithful expositor of Scripture
  • A visionary yet collaborative leader
  • A shepherd who loves people deeply
  • A bridge-builder in a diverse urban context
  • A pastor equipped for both spiritual leadership and organizational oversight
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