Associate Pastor (with potential for future succession to Senior Pastor)
Summary
Godfirst Church, Cheltenham, England, is a vibrant, gospel-centred, Spirit-empowered church in the heart of Cheltenham.
We’re seeking a gifted and godly Associate Pastor to help lead the church into its next chapter of growth, mission, and multiplication—with the potential to step into the Senior Pastor role within the next three years.
This full-time role is ideal for someone with gifting in leadership and preaching, and a passion for discipleship, team development, and local mission.
Full-time | Salary Range £35,000 - £45,000 | Generous benefits & development support
To find out more or apply, contact howard@godfirst.org.uk
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis—early interest encouraged.
Who We Are
Godfirst Church is a vibrant, contemporary, Bible-rooted community in the heart of Cheltenham. We are committed to building an authentic community of Jesus followers. Our name reflects our desire to put God first—in our worship, our message, and our everyday lives.
Our core values are to be Gospel-Centred, Disciple-Making, Spirit-Empowered, and Mission-Focused. At Godfirst, we believe that our values are not just abstract ideals but the lived expression of our theology—shaping the culture, mission, and shared life of our church (see our Values Paper attached).
Why We’re Hiring – Now
Godfirst is at an exciting and strategic moment. Founded 15 years ago as a church plant, we have grown into a thriving, medium-sized church of around 150 adults and 40 children. We are an elder governed church with a commitment to empowering leadership - both staff and volunteers.
In January 2025, our previous Associate Pastor relocated to plant a new church in Brussels after seven fruitful years with us. We are now seeking a gifted and godly Associate Pastor to work alongside our Senior Pastor and elders, helping the church deepen its discipleship, broaden its outreach and grow beyond 200 adults.
Why We’re Hiring - The Future
This role is also a key part of our leadership succession planning. We hope the person who steps into this role will have the potential to become our next Senior Pastor within three years. Our desire is that the timing of any succession will be an open-handed collaborative process.
Our Current Context
Our staff team currently includes a Senior Pastor, an Operations & Finance Manager, a part time Youth Leader, a part time Administration Assistant and an Intern. We also partner with the Be a Good Neighbour charity to run our compassion ministries.
In June 2023, we acquired The Chapel—a centrally located building purchased through a faith-filled journey for £650,000. Seating around 100, The Chapel is now a vibrant hub for midweek ministry and mission in the heart of Cheltenham.
On Sundays, we gather at the prestigious Parabola Arts Centre at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, giving us visibility and access at the heart of the town. The Chapel also hosts our flourishing Ukrainian congregation, led by an experienced volunteer Ukrainian pastor.
Godfirst is part of the Advance network of churches (within the Newfrontiers family). We are theologically evangelical and charismatic and affirm the Evangelical Alliance's Basis of Faith.
We’re Looking for Someone Who:
- Has a growing and vibrant faith in Jesus
- Lives with integrity and Christian character
- Deeply shares our values
- Can preach and teach clearly and faithfully
- Has leadership gifting and experience in a church context.
- The ability to understand finance and make strong strategic decisions
- Relates well to people and builds strong teams
- Is self-motivated, energetic, and proactive
- Is organised and comfortable with admin and IT
- Ideally has a degree or relevant ministry training
This is a vocational role. As such, the Associate Pastor will be expected to model and embody the church’s Christian ethos and participate fully in the life of the church—including prayer meetings, worship services, and other gatherings. There is therefore a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post-holder be a practising Christian.
Key Responsibilities
Preaching & Teaching
- Preach engaging, Bible-based sermons on Sundays
- Lead and host Sunday services, including prayer and ministry
- Help shape discipleship and evangelism through groups and courses
- Contribute to creating resources that help people grow as disciples of Jesus
Church Leadership
- Collaborate with Senior Pastor in strategic planning and whole church leadership
- Lead or oversee key areas of church life
- Develop and grow volunteer teams to increase ministry capacity across the church
Pastoral Care
- Provide pastoral care and discipleship, including in sensitive or challenging situations
- Foster warmth, welcome, and connection—especially for newcomers and the disconnected
Team Contribution & Administration
- Collaborate with the staff team to ensure smooth planning and delivery of ministry areas
- Model team-based, servant-hearted, leadership
- Uphold safeguarding best practice and maintain a valid DBS check
What We Offer
- Salary: £35,000–£45,000 (based on experience and circumstances)
- Holidays: 25 days (rising to 30 days - a day a year for 5 years) plus bank holidays
- Pension: 6% employer contribution
- Training: Support for further study or development (e.g. MA, PGDip)
- Leadership Development: Opportunities to grow towards Senior Pastor role
- Sabbatical: Offered after 7 years of full-time ministry
To Apply
Please send a short letter of application and your CV to howard@godfirst.org.uk, or contact Howard (our Senior Pastor) directly on 07880 548045 to arrange an informal conversation.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis—we encourage early expressions of interest.
Timeline
We aim to make an appointment during 2026. We’re willing to wait for the right person, prioritising gifting and fit over speed of appointment.