Pastor

Job Description

The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Smith Center, Kansas, is expanding our search for a full-time pastor. We partner with the Gaylord Community Church in Gaylord, Kansas, to share our pastor. Together, our ideal candidate will have these characteristics:

• Pastor – Teacher – cares deeply for the spiritual well-being of God’s people; holds a strong commitment to teaching the Bible through word and deed; interprets and teaches the Scriptures sensibly and realistically, in a way that is based on practical, everyday living, rather than theoretical concepts; guides us as we fulfill the Great Commission in our community and beyond.
• Evangelist – sustains a strong inner drive and courage to talk about Jesus and can motivate and train others to do the same; builds relationships with non-believers and the unchurched in our community; explains spiritual truths so that those who don’t know Christ are inspired into relationship with Him.
• Worshipper – maintains a rich life of praise, adoration, and devotion to Christ; develops in others the same; works with the Worship Committee, elders and diaconates, and volunteers to plan and oversee the weekly Sunday services to include Communion as each congregation is led.
• In summary, our ideal candidate would be an early to mid-career, ordained pastor who is called to serve God in a rural, agricultural area. We would like to find a man or woman who effectively proclaims the Word of God in and out of the pulpit, who inspires people to choose Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and who lives by the Spirit of God. Our ideal pastor would work closely with other pastors in our community through the Smith County Ministerial Association and serve on rotation at our rural hospital and nursing home facilities.

About Our Church

Our congregation was founded in 1887 in the Stone-Campbell Movement. Stone-Campbell churches are characterized by a focus on New Testament teaching, shared governance between clergy and congregation, baptism by immersion, ecumenism, and the regular celebration of communion during worship. In 1968 we joined in the denominational organization of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  The First Christian Church of Smith Center continues to hold to the Stone-Campbell values while sharing in fellowship and missional service to our community. We encourage our members to be active witnesses for Christ in all their activities and to maintain healthy communication with biblical problem-solving. We frequently organize and provide hospitality to our active and inactive members and to our community.

In the early 1970s we built our current church building with a sanctuary capacity of 200, added on a large fellowship hall about 20 years later, and continue today to steward it for God’s service. We o er a modest three-bedroom, two-bathroom parsonage with a shed, garage, and backyard that is in the heart of Smith Center, within walking distance of the downtown shopping district, city park and pool, and the elementary school.

Our last pastor retired several years ago, after serving for ten years. Since then, we’ve shared in the gifts of an interim pastor, a few retired pastors, a commissioned missionary with the gift of teaching, and our elders. We are ready to work alongside a full-time pastor to fulfill the Great Commission where we are planted and beyond as we are called.

About Our Community

As of 2026, Smith County, Kansas, continues to be a predominantly rural region with a slowly declining population trend that may be starting to turn as young people return and choose to plant their roots here. Residents enjoy a slower pace of life in a safe community that is proud of its traditional values and generational perspectives. Our children grow up with a champion mindset, learning the meaning of hard work. The county is notable as it includes a marker of the geographic center of the contiguous United States near Lebanon. We truly are in the heart of the country.

Demographics and Population

• Total Population: Estimated at 3,541 for 2024.
• Median Age: Approximately 50–52 years.
• Diversity: The population is primarily White (Non-Hispanic) at 92.7%–95.1%. Other groups include Hispanic or Latino (3.1%) and Two or More Races (2.7%).
• Citizenship: 99.3% of residents are U.S. citizens.

Economic Indicators

• Median Household Income: Estimated at $57,024 (in 2023 dollars).
• Unemployment Rate: Reported at 2.9% as of December 2025.
• Top Industries: The economy is driven by Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, followed by Retail Trade and Health Care & Social Assistance.

Housing and Living

• Homeownership: High rate at 83%, with a median property value of $91,000.
• Commute: The average commute time is short, approximately 15.5 minutes.
• Poverty Rate: Approximately 11.9% of the population lives below the poverty line. 15% of children are in households experiencing poverty.

Health and Wellness

• Health Metrics: As of 2025, the more prevalent adult diseases include obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Mental health issues include depression, and anxiety.
• Insurance Coverage: 91.9% of the population has health coverage.
• Providers: Our hospital, a rural critical care facility that was new as of 2018, has 5 primary care physicians, and 14 specialists who come in to see patients here. We are also served by 2 dentists, three chiropractors, and two mental health professionals.
• Health/Fitness: We have three fitness centers and a new outdoor fitness complex with a new walking trail coming soon.

For more information, you can visit the https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/smithcountykansas/PST045224  where you can find information about living, working, and playing in Smith County, including Rural Opportunity Zone incentives for those moving into the county.

To Apply

If you are an ordained minister and pastor and would like to start a conversation about our pastoral call, please submit a pastor profile and cover letter to the Search and Call Committee, 400 W Hwy 36, Smith Center KS 66967 or fccsc@ruraltel.net. We will in turn share with you our Congregational Profile and pray with you about this opportunity.