If you’re feeling a calling to serve a new congregation, you can’t expect your new church to take your credentials on faith alone. You may be asked to create a pastor resume that demonstrates your ability to lead and your dedication to spreading the Word of God. Here’s how to write a resume that shows you can inspire congregants to grow in their walk with Christ.
Your career summary is one of the first things churches will see before delving further into your background. They’re interested in your dedication to the Gospel, so be sure to express your passion for leading, uplifting, and helping others both inside and outside of the Church. Then, when listing previous congregations you’ve worked for, provide details on programs you’ve developed or led, such as youth activities, community outreach, and Bible studies, and add numbers to quantify how you increased membership and participation rates.
Now that you know what goes into a pastor resume, take a look at Monster’s template below to learn how to piece it together.
Pastor Resume
Malcolm Maverick
MalcolmMaverick@Email.com | 555.555.5555 | San Antonio, TX | linkedin.com/malcolm.maverick
PASTOR
Thought leader and strategic visionary, able to take a strong, growing pastoral team to the next level and create a best-in-class ministry that resonates with the world in which we live. Proven dedication to the Gospel of Christ, with over ten years’ success in the leadership of thriving programs and congregations at multi-campus churches. Lead by example, embracing a high personal standard reflective of the values of Christ and inspiring others to spread His Word throughout the globe.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Discipleship & Ministry Preaching & Public Speaking Pastoral Services
Strategic Planning & Execution Team Leadership & Development Community Partnerships
Organizational Development Nonprofit Management Global Missions
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lead Pastor | Church One | San Antonio, TX | 20XX to Present
Drive the growth, unity, and impact of the largest church in the region, with 30K+ members and 250+ employees across multiple locations. Provide strategic guidance to the leadership team, driving the success of a robust array of ministries, including global missions, community outreach, biblical studies, youth programming, and education. Shepherd the flock, guiding, protecting, and encouraging the congregation to bring light to the world by walking in the path of Christ.
- Spearheaded the creation of the church’s first academic school, increasing main campus enrollment 127% YOY for three consecutive years. Expanded offerings to include afterschool programming at all locations, reaching 1.5K additional youth.
- Initiated multiple capital improvement initiatives, raising tens of millions in donations to expand church presence from inherited dual locations to current standing with five satellite campuses and two outreach centers.
- Expanded reach worldwide, launching livestream video ministry to bring weekly services to online worshippers.
Pastor | Church Two | San Antonio, TX | 20XX to 20XX
Partnered with Lead Pastor to drive the growth and unity of the multi-campus adult discipleship ministry at one of the largest congregations in the nation. Recruited, trained, and engaged 25 full and part-time team members along with a 1K-strong volunteer corps, building passionate, Christlike disciples ready to inspire positive change and serve the needs of those around them.
- Expanded global mission efforts, mobilizing 200+ volunteers to reach 12 countries across Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia in three years. Developed localized Bible translation program to increase access to the Word of God.
- Engaged the local community, spearheading $5M capital improvement plan to create the Fellowship Center – a state-of-the-art facility providing job training, resources, and a safe gathering space for persons experiencing homelessness.
- Brought renewed focus on biblical dependency and gospel-centrality by revitalizing the church’s Bible study program, doubling participation in six months, and contributing to 23% overall growth in church population.
Youth Pastor | Church Three | San Antonio, TX | 20XX to 20XX
Built a strong faith community by planning and executing programs, events, and Bible studies designed to deepen and grow the faith of students grades 7-12. Reported directly to Senior Pastor with accountability for managing budget, coordinating volunteers, and developing a ministry aligned with the strategic vision of the church.
- Reinvigorated youth programming, tripling participation in first year with 63% growth in youth new to the congregation by building a culture of discipleship among existing members and launching weekly fellowship events.
- Partnered with Development Chairperson to raise $1M to fund the refurbishment and relaunch of the Teen Center.
EDUCATION
MA in Theology | Organization One | San Antonio, TX
BA in Biblical Studies, Greek Minor | Organization Two | San Antonio, TX
If you’re ready to start writing your resume, you can download this sample pastor resume template here.
The median pay for pastors is $59,021 per year, according to Monster’s salary data. But your location, the church you work at, and the number of years you’ve been a pastor will influence how much you’re paid. Monster’s Salary Tool can give you a more accurate picture of how much pastors make in your area. Just enter “pastor” and your location into the search bar to see for yourself.
When you’re ready to search for churches that need a pastor, these five cities offer plenty of opportunities:
That’s not all. When you search on Monster, you can find tons of pastor jobs across the U.S.
Put Some Spirit Into Your Pastor Resume
Now that you’ve learned how to create a pastor resume, get a second opinion before showing your credentials to a new church. The Monster resume writing team will put a little spirit into your resume. We’ll make sure your final version is free of errors and encapsulates your ability to lead, provide community support, and preach the gospel, with the numbers and achievements to back it up.
