20206

North Oaks Church

Lead Pastor

Clarkston,

Michigan

The Lead Pastor serves as the sole called Teaching Elder and carries primary responsibility for preaching, administering the sacraments, pastoral care, leadership, and oversight of the church’s spiritual and administrative life. The pastor reports to and serves with the Session and remains accountable to the Midwest Presbytery of the EPC.

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Why We Love This Opportunity

North Oaks is a congregation that knows who it is theologically. Scripture, Reformed doctrine, the Westminster Standards, and Christ-centered expository preaching are central to its identity.
The church has demonstrated unusual stability. In nearly four decades, North Oaks has been served by only three pastors, including a recent pastorate of twenty-six years.
The church owns a well-positioned facility and celebrated paying off its mortgage in 2025, creating greater freedom to invest in ministry and mission.
There is a meaningful foundation of committed members, capable volunteers, vibrant worship, strong fellowship, and growing ministry among children and young families.
The next pastor will have the opportunity to love people deeply while helping the congregation develop a clearer outward focus, stronger discipleship pathways, and a more visible presence in the community.

A great match for this position would be:

A faithful expositor who can preach Christ from the whole counsel of God and communicate the gospel clearly to believers and nonbelievers.
A relational shepherd who learns people’s names, shares life with the congregation, recognizes needs, visits faithfully, and provides wise biblical counsel.
A collaborative Presbyterian leader who respects the authority of the Session, understands shared leadership, and participates meaningfully in presbytery and General Assembly.
An equipping leader who develops elders, deacons, ministry leaders, and volunteers rather than creating dependence on the pastor.
A patient change leader who can honor the church’s history while clarifying vision, setting goals, and helping diverse groups align around God’s purposes.
An outward-facing pastor who can model hospitality, build community relationships, and develop a culture of evangelism and local mission.
A flexible generalist who is comfortable wearing multiple hats in a smaller church with limited paid staff and a strong volunteer culture.
A mature disciple whose personal life, family life, integrity, emotional health, and ministry practices demonstrate humility and spiritual depth.

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About This Organization

North Oaks Church began in 1986 as a church plant of Oakland Avenue Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The congregation first gathered in a school and a local church annex before completing its current facility in 2006. The mortgage on that building was fully paid in 2025, marking an important milestone in the church’s story.

North Oaks is a loyal and relational congregation. Regular potlucks, men’s and women’s gatherings, family-hosted events, and churchwide celebrations reflect a community that values being together. Sunday worship is marked by an effective worship team, a blended traditional approach, and a strong commitment to sound, expository preaching.

The congregation recognizes both its strengths and its next challenges. Most members are over age fifty, but the church is seeing encouraging growth among young families and in its children’s ministry. North Oaks desires a pastor who will honor its theological and relational heritage while equipping the church to grow in grace, engage its neighbors, and share the gospel beyond the walls of the building.

Location

North Oaks is located on the edge of Clarkston in southeastern Michigan, between the small downtown communities of Clarkston and Ortonville. The area blends suburban neighborhoods with rural space and offers local restaurants, shops, lakes, parks, community festivals, concerts, art walks, libraries, recreation programs, and seasonal outdoor activities.

Downtown Detroit is approximately forty-five minutes away, providing access to professional sports, concerts, museums, and major cultural events. Michigan State University, Oakland University, the University of Michigan, and several community colleges are within roughly an hour. The region includes many professionals working in engineering, information technology, human resources, health care, and related fields. Typical home prices are approximately $375,000 to $450,000.

Position Profile

Mission, Vision, and Values

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