North Avenue Presbyterian Church

Senior Pastor

Atlanta,

Georgia

The Senior Pastor of North Avenue Presbyterian Church will serve as a visionary, collaborative, and Christ-centered leader who equips the congregation to follow Jesus in the city and the world. Rooted in Scripture and led by the Spirit, the Senior Pastor will preach the gospel with clarity and depth, nurture spiritual formation, and embody pastoral care in life’s joys and struggles. This role provides spiritual and strategic leadership to a diverse and multigenerational congregation that values radical hospitality, embraces complexity, and seeks to be a faithful presence in Midtown Atlanta. The Senior Pastor will guide the church in discerning and pursuing God’s call to justice, healing, and reconciliation both locally and globally.

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Why I Love This Opportunity

North Avenue Presbyterian Church is a unique church with diversity spanning age, socioeconomic status, race, and theological perspectives – creating a rich diversity of faith expression in one community. They are strategically positioned in the heart of the city, poised to make an impact in an evolving neighborhood while maintaining its long-standing commitment to both local and global missions. The congregation’s emphasis on spiritual formation which creates a great foundation for growth, supported by committed members who create a welcoming atmosphere for all.

North Avenue is positioned with a lot of potential for their the next Senior Pastor, who will inherit a strong foundation with the challenge of continuing to build and grow this vibrant faith community.

Mike Goldsworthy

Executive Consultant

A great match for this position would be:

Lead Communicator: They must deliver intellectually rigorous, text-based, and story-driven preaching that resonates with listeners while calling them toward personal growth. They should also establish meaningful connections with both the specific church community and the broader community at large, ensuring their communication flows from an authentic relationship with the congregation they serve.
Ability to Embrace and Utilize the History and Structures of North Ave: A wise and discerning church leader demonstrates curiosity about and sensitivity toward organizational structures, recognizing them as valuable tools for advancing the church’s vision rather than viewing them as obstacles. This leader’s discernment allows them to navigate existing systems with respect while harnessing their potential to move the community forward.
Collaborative and Delegating Leader: An effective pastoral leader who excels at managing staff while developing strong lay leadership, demonstrating an ability to depend meaningfully on others rather than attempting to function as a “lone ranger.” This collaborative approach is marked by thoughtful adaptability that empowers team members and distributes leadership responsibilities across the church.
Leads with Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrate pastoral care and leadership through maintaining focused presence during conversations through attentive listening, appropriate eye contact, and empathetic responses that validate others’ experiences. Expressing curiosity with the ability to truly hear concerns without interruption while conveying genuine interest and understanding of the emotional dimensions underlying what is being shared.
Demonstrated Active and Growing Faith: A personal faith demonstrated through genuine humility and compassion, while simultaneously investing in the congregation’s spiritual development through thoughtful delegation and support of formation ministries. Personal leadership that is anchored in your own ongoing spiritual journey and deepening connection to Christ, modeling the authentic spiritual growth they seek to nurture in others.

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About This Organization

North Avenue Presbyterian Church is a Christ-centered community of disciples located in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, committed to worship, spiritual formation, and radical hospitality. With over 125 years of ministry, the congregation embraces complexity and holds space for diverse perspectives, seeking to be a faithful presence in the city. NAPC engages in international collegiate ministry while also reflecting a congregation diverse in education, socioeconomic background, and race. The church is investing in children, youth, and young adults while valuing the rich legacy of older generations. As a mid-sized urban congregation, North Avenue is prayerfully discerning how God is leading them to deepen relationships, extend hospitality, and participate more fully in God’s work of justice, healing, and restoration in Atlanta and beyond.

Location

“When we relocated to Atlanta, we chose to live in the city…We found a city that is made up of neighborhoods, often with their own personality, a place where we knew our neighbors and built a community of love and support. The rich diversity, of all types, that surrounds us daily has provided learning opportunities for the entire family. Atlanta has been a wonderful place for us to grow as a couple and for us to raise our daughter.”

Quote from: Judy Knighten, Clerk of the Session

Position Profile

History and Current Status of North Ave

Mission, Vision, and Core Values

Theological Distinctives

Leadership and Staff

North Avenue’s Unique Location

Challenges and Opportunities