Position Profile

MISSION:

We help people take next steps to love God, love people, and change the world.

VISION:

• Willow Creek is a multi-generational, multi-ethnic multiplying movement of Christ followers.
• Passionate about worshiping Jesus, growing in faith, sharing our lives & faith with others, reaching people who don’t have a relationship with God, and blessing our communities and world through our transformed lives & radical generosity.
• Our God-sized vision can only be accomplished by prayerfully seeking God, partnering where He is already at work, learning, and innovating as we develop leaders, launch campuses, and plant churches throughout Chicagoland and the world.

VALUES:

• Following Jesus | Complete dependence on Him (John 12:26, Mark 8:34, Galatians 5:25)
• We rely on the Holy Spirit and seek God’s direction in all we do
• We engage in spiritual disciplines daily
• We pray regularly
• We reflect Christ in our interactions with one another

Loving People | Everyone matters to God (Luke 5:30–32, Luke 15)

• We help people find and follow Jesus
• We are known by what we are for, not what we are against
• We care for the hurting and broken
• We serve others even when it’s not convenient

Taking Next Steps | Becoming, not arriving (Col 2:6–7, II Peter 1:5–8, James 1:22–25)

• We believe everyone has a next step
• We take responsibility for our own growth and development
• We are always in a posture of learning
• We practice empathy, patience, and grace for each other’s journeys

Growing Younger | Elevating the next generation (Ps 145:4, Deut 6:6–9, I Tim 4:12)

• We believe no one is too young to lead, and no one is too old to learn
• We celebrate our investment in kids and students
• We are always seeking apprentices and looking to replace ourselves
• We program to serve a multi-generational congregation

Being Authentic | Bringing all of who we are (I Sam 16:7, Romans 8:1–2, Eph 2:10)

• We seek to continuously grow in self-awareness
• We don’t expect perfection, we welcome questions and doubts
• We value people over product
• We offer God our best, most creative work and leave the results to Him

• Willow’s staff culture is guided by five values:
  • Believe the Best
  • Commit to Candor
  • Embrace Challenge
  • Set the Tone, and Choose Unity
•  Leaders are expected to model trust, courageous conversations, resilience, joy, and collaboration across ministries and campuses.

Pastoral Leadership 

• Lead campus staff meetings and one-on-ones with your team. 
• Lead the South Barrington Directional Team made up of team leads from different ministries. 
• Lead and pastor the local campus team in collaboration with any co-supervisors at the Central Level. 
• Lead and pastor local campus attendees to take the next steps with God. 
• Oversee pastoral care and response to serve the local congregation with regular sacerdotal responsibilities. 
• Be active in the community surrounding your campus as a representative of Willow.

Willow-wide Collaborative Leadership 

• Meet regularly with Central Teams, Executive Pastors, Campus Pastors, and other key leaders to carry out the aligned strategies and plans of Willow Creek. 
• Participate in and lead the local staff team to participate fully in scheduled all-church staff meetings and training. 
• Work with the Central Ministry Pastors and teams to evaluate, execute, and improve every local ministry area. 
• Partner with Central teams and other Campus teams in new ideas and innovations through “piloting” as defined in the ministry playbook to serve the local campus and potentially scale to other campuses as relevant. 
• Lead your congregation by championing Willow’s value and strategy of being one church in multiple locations.

Communication 

• Carry and cast the unified vision of Willow on campus. 
• Serve as the primary host for weekend services at your campus. 
• Opportunities to teach at the local campus as directed by the Willow Teaching Team are dependent on Campus Pastor gifting. 
• Teach/Speak for campus-specific gatherings such as Discover Willow, volunteer trainings, Rooted, etc.

Financial Oversight 

• Work with Willow’s generosity team to develop relationships with donors as they take steps in their generosity journey. 
• South Barrington brings in a significant percentage of donations for Willow. The Campus Pastor is responsible for working with the generosity team to hit our goals and follow through on the centralized process. 
• Help cast vision for Willow-wide financial initiatives and campaigns as planned and directed centrally. 
• Approve campus expenses and ensure the campus operates within its budget.

Other: 

• Model extra-mile service in every situation to set the tone for your campus team and congregation to reach people for Jesus. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills/Competencies: 

• Organizational leadership 
• Pastoral leadership 
• Servant leadership 
• Collaborative leadership 
• Catalytic leadership 
• Team building leadership 
• Relational leadership 
• Solid Communicator – written and verbal

Personal Characteristics: 

• Exemplifies the fruit of the Spirit 
• Integrity 
• High character 
• Learner 
• Models their faith at home and in their personal life 
• Organized 
• Self-Aware
• Models Willow’s Staff Values

The Campus Pastor wins when… 

• Apprentice leaders (staff and congregation) have been identified and are being developed to multiply our vision. 
• Increasing numbers of people at your campus are:
  • Choosing to follow Jesus
  • Getting baptized
  • Engaged in a small group
  • Engaged on a regular volunteer team
  • Growing in their generosity
  • Reaching other people for Jesus

• The campus is in alignment with the vision, mission, and strategy of Willow Creek in partnership with the Central Teams, and the campus is helping people take their next steps in Sunday worship experiences, groups, and volunteering. 
• The campus is running the aligned strategic plays as defined by Willow’s Lead Team and in collaboration with the Central and Campus Teams.

Note: Each campus is led by a Campus Pastor, but he/she is not alone in achieving success at that campus. The Central Ministry Pastors/Directors, the Executive Team, and the entire staff of Willow will be working toward the success of each campus.