Senior Pastor Profile
A pastor-theologian, shepherd, and servant leader for NorthCross Church
Who We Are and the Calling Before Us
NorthCross is a Christ-centered congregation in the Presbyterian Church in America. By God’s kindness, He has formed a community rooted in our shared life in Christ. Our members encourage one another, carry one another’s burdens, pray together, practice hospitality, and walk alongside each other through the joys and hardships of life. We summarize our mission as Loved by God, Equipped to serve and love others, and Sent to live faithfully and share the Gospel (John 13:34–35; Galatians 6:2).
This love extends beyond our church through the faithfulness of individual members. We desire to grow in expressing that love together through worship, service, and mission. We long for NorthCross to serve Lake Norman so faithfully that our neighbors would feel the loss of our presence if our doors ever closed…not because the name of NorthCross is great, but because the love and name of Christ have been made visible through His people.
We seek a pastor-theologian and servant leader who will love us well and equip us to grow in biblical fluency, intentional discipleship, shared ministry, and outward mission. His ministry should flow from communion with Christ, his life should support his preaching, and his leadership should reflect conviction, grace and humility.
Christ-Centered Character and Humble Strength
We desire a pastor who knows deeply that ministry cannot be sustained by his gifts, experience, or effort. Instead, he comes to Christ as one who needs grace each day, and his leadership flows from a life of prayer, repentance, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit. His confidence rests in the Lord, whose power is made perfect in weakness (John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 12:9–10).
His relationship with Christ is nourished through prayer, Scripture, worship, and rest, providing the foundation for both his life and ministry (1 Timothy 4:16).
The Gospel frees him to repent, receive correction humbly, and offer it graciously when needed, always relying upon Christ (Mark 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:15).
He remains teachable and accountable through relationships with other Christian leaders, seeking through his life and ministry to make much of Christ: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
A Faithful Preacher and Theological Teacher
Preaches Christ-centered, exegetical, and expository sermons that proclaim the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 4:1–2).
Connects doctrine to the heart and daily life, bringing the Gospel to bear upon the opportunities and pressures of life in Lake Norman.
Preaches toward worship and transformation, joining instruction with spiritual formation and leading his hearers to worship God.
Strengthens biblical fluency across generations and helps shape worship rooted in the ordinary means of grace: the Word, sacraments, and prayer (Acts 2:42; 2 Timothy 3:16–17).
A Relational Shepherd Who Knows the Flock
Knows, loves, and prays for the congregation, pursuing relationships across ages, life stages, and circumstances while sharing in life’s joys and sorrows (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2–3).
Moves toward people in suffering, conflict, grief, and doubt with compassion, patience, and wisdom.
Listens and welcomes different perspectives, communicates openly, and cultivates unity grounded in Scripture and grace.
Deepens our culture of shared care by equipping ruling elders, deacons, the Women’s Care Team, staff, and ministry leaders to shepherd and serve together.
A Collaborative Leader and Ministry Builder
Provides biblical direction and organizational leadership in partnership with the Session, helping translate our mission into ministry priorities (Ephesians 4:11–16).
Takes time to understand NorthCross’s story, character, and strengths, and allows that understanding to inform his leadership.
Builds trust, leads change with patience and transparency, develops consensus, and brings the Session, staff, ministry leaders and congregation together around a shared vision.
A Missional Equipper Who Leads Us to Serve Together
Helps NorthCross build upon the outward faithfulness of individual members by growing our congregational witness throughout Lake Norman.
Equips members to see homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, friendships, and community institutions as places to share the Gospel with grace and discernment.
Creates opportunities for the congregation to serve together through evangelism, hospitality, mercy, missions, community partnerships, and church planting.
Helps worship and service reinforce one another so that we grow closer to Christ and each other while making His grace visible to our neighbors (Matthew 5:16; Ephesians 4:15–16).
Seeks Kingdom impact that magnifies Christ’s name while trusting God alone to give the growth (Matthew 28:18–20; 1 Corinthians 3:6–7).
Qualifications
The candidate must meet the biblical qualifications for an elder (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; 1 Peter 5:1–4); be ordained, or eligible for ordination, as a Teaching Elder in the PCA; joyfully embrace Reformed theology, the Westminster Standards, and PCA polity; and demonstrate experience in expository preaching, shepherding, Session partnership, staff development, organizational leadership, intentional discipleship, and equipping others for ministry.
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We believe the Lord has already prepared the man He is calling to NorthCross. Our responsibility is to seek Him with humility, patience, unity, and prayer until He makes that calling clear.
Loved. Equipped. Sent.
Questions or applications: psc@northcrosschurch.com and ed@mcgowanglobal.com