Position: Full Time Pastor

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Florence, Alabama, United States

Full Time Pastor

• Address: 2001 Cloyd Blvd, Florence, Alabama 35630
• Affiliation: LCMC
• Contact: Matt R. Wall
• Phone: 541.359.7805
• Email: mwall@calpoly.edu
• Website: Click Here
• Category: Pastoral Ministry
• Sub-Category: Senior Pastor
• Position Title: Full Time Pastor
• Position Type: Full Time
• Description:

  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

  CHURCH PROFILE

  History

  Chartered in 1968, our first building was dedicated in 1970. The current expansion was dedicated in 1999.  We joined LCMC in 2006. Membership has ranged from 120± to 20±, currently 35±.  Typical attendance is in the high teens to low twenties.   Pastors since 1999:  Mike Fish,  Michael Bonham,  Nedra Merriman,  Perry Toso,  Carl Gebhardt (interim),  Brandon Scroggins,  Lanier Nail (current interim).

  Facility

  Located at an arterial intersection in an established middle-class neighborhood and insured for $1.4M, the 10,500 s.f. structure can seat 160 in the 3,000 s.f. sanctuary with connectable cushioned chair seating (currently arranged for 112). It has an 1800 s.f. octagonal fellowship hall, a kitchen, 2 offices, 4 classrooms, 4 restrooms, nursery with cry room, choir room (all handicapped accessible), and a 1500 s.f. second floor multi-purpose room. There’s paved striped parking for 88 vehicles. No parsonage.

  Financial

  2018:   Budget $  96,000   Actual Income $  96,862   Actual Expenses $  87,492.

  2019:   Budget $  97,000   Actual Income $106,397   Actual Expenses $111,534*.

  2020:   Budget $100,000   Actual Income $132,237   Actual Expenses $105,050.

  2021:   Budget $114,000   We are on track to exceed budget. Last year we donated over $8,000 in “outside of budget” cash and items to several local charities. This year we expect our benevolence to surpass ten percent.

  * Includes $6,300 unbudgeted audio-visual items purchased from departing tenant.

  Good Shepherd has a history of share-leasing to theologically like-minded, start-up congregations of other denominations. Of four previous tenants, three went on to their own facilities. We currently lease to three smaller congregations.

  We’ve never had a pledge drive in over two decades. Some attendees refuse to make pledges. What we have done is determine necessary cash-out expenses and develop a budget that will generate that amount of income, and so far we’ve been successful.

  Organization

  Nine-member council: treasurer is elected by the congregation at its annual meeting; other officers are elected by the council. Pastor is an ex-officio non-voting council member as well as being welcome to attend all committee meetings.

  Worship

  Traditional Lutheran liturgy, hymns, weekly communion. Live-streamed service. We worshipped every Sunday during the Coronavirus shutdown, in our parking lot.

  Community

  The east-west Tennessee River separates Florence (41,000) north of it, from: Muscle Shoals (15,000), Sheffield (9,000), Tuscumbia (8,500), collectively known as “The Shoals.” The greater Shoals Area population approaches 150,000. In topography and land use, this area is more akin to Tennessee than to the rest of Alabama. Because of numerous small hamlets outside city limits, county population within 20 minutes’ drive of Good Shepherd exceeds 70,000.

  Florence has the University of North Alabama (~7,500 students). Northwest Shoals Community College (~3,500 students) is in Muscle Shoals. There are outstanding private K-12 schools in the Florence area. Florence public schools are rated the highest in Alabama, as are several in surrounding communities.

  Medical facilities are excellent, the largest being the North Alabama Medical Center (Florence) and Helen Keller Hospital (Sheffield). Medical facilities in Birmingham and Nashville are world class.

  There are ~80 churches in Florence, of numerous denominations, mostly Baptist and Church of Christ, some non-denominational. Most major denominations have at least one church in Florence. The two other Shoals Lutheran churches are both LCMS. The two other Alabama LCMC churches are in the Birmingham area and near the Gulf.

  The metro area is mostly conservative, mixed political views, as is the congregation. Per 2019 census estimates, Florence is 78% Caucasian, 19% African-American.

  The Shoals 88.1 cost of living index is among the lowest of all U.S. MSAs and also in Alabama. Shoals Area sales taxes range from 7.5% to 9.5%. All defined benefit retirement plans (Social Security and pensions) are exempt from state income tax.

  The area is known for its golfing opportunities, excellent lake and river fishing, and hunting. The Gulf is a 5-hour drive south, mostly on interstate and divided highways. Per the Shoals Economic Development Authority, Distances and driving times:     Huntsville:  63 miles,  1 hour.     Birmingham:  117 miles,  2 hours.     Nashville:  120 miles,  2 hours.    Memphis:  150 miles,  21/2 hours.    Atlanta:  250 miles,  4 hours.

  Other

  Pastor Brandon Scroggins returned to Arizona due to family considerations. After ten years without a full-time pastor, he healed our congregation and refocused us from a survival mode to a healthy outreach and service approach. During the process he grew as a preacher and progressed in his MDiv. education.

  Despite our grieving at losing him, we fully support his decision, and we trust the Holy Spirit will send us a new pastor, to organize and lead this congregation in serving the Lord as instruments of His will.

  Desired Pastor Profile

  In addition to typical pastor characteristics, a theologically conservative pastor comfortable with Law and Gospel, having a high energy level, organizational ability, and internet/electronics savvy will be looked on favorably.

  We aren’t looking for the perfect Pastor.

  Instead, we’re praying that the Holy Spirit will send us the Pastor he decides is perfect to lead us in the direction the Lord has in mind for Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and that we recognize each other.