The Salzburg International Christian Church (formerly Salzburg International Christian Fellowship) is looking for a new pastor. The position will be free in the fall of 2009.
Our application deadline is December 31, 2008, and we will consider any ordained minister whose church belongs to the World Council of Churches in Geneva.
Please contact Edward Bartlett [salzburged@sbg.at]
PROFILE for : SALZBURG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Salzburg, Austria
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Date: September 10, 2008
1. Name of Church: SALZBURG INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2. Mailing address:
Edward Bartlett
Augustinergasse 11a
5020 Salzburg, Austria
Phone: +43 662...
E-mail: salzburged@sbg.at
Web Site: www.salzburgchurch.org
3. Deadline date for candidates search and transmittal of PDF's: December 31, 2008
Proposed starting date: summer 2009
4. Church members: Today: 60 3 years Ago: 43
Participating non-members: Today: 25-30 3 years Ago: 35
5. In the congregation, there is a concentration of which professions: (numbered in order)
1. Musicians
2. Students and teachers
3. Retirees
6. Time of worship service: 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning
7. Average attendance: 2003: 44 2004: 55 2005: 68 2006: 50 2007: 52
8. Church school attendance: Today: 5 3 years ago: 0
9. Number of English-speaking people in the community: Approx. 3000
10. Other English language congregations in the community:
To the best of our knowledge we are the only English language congregation in the city center of Salzburg. There is a Pentecostal church with a Ugandan pastor near the airport. There is a Catholic service in English held on Sunday afternoon in a small chapel in the old city.
11. Budget information Operating budget: 22,500 Euros per year (includes the Pastor's rent of 1100 Euros/month) Benevolence budget: 10% of Income
12. Church staff: Pastor; volunteer worship leaders and musicians
12a. History:
For many years, Mrs. Thelma Treml, an American married to an Austrian, and a regular participant in the Evangelische (protestant) Christskirche wanted to see an English-language ministry at the church. She organized and led this ministry for a number of years and it grew to an average attendance of 10-15 with worship twice a month, and weekly Sunday Bible fellowship.
In August, 2001, Pastor Richard Solberg and his wife Valeria responded to the notice that there was a need for a completely self-supporting pastor to come to Salzburg to see what would happen if regular worship was offered and there was regular pastoral leadership. The position was described as a part-time position, taking about 20 hours per week. However, the position requires somewhat more time than that.
The Solbergs announced in 2005 that they were leaving Salzburg (the Pastor was turning 70). the Reverend Michael Spangler of Iowa was chosen by a Call Committee and approved by a congregational vote. He and his wife Liz arrived in the summer of 2006. He has presided over a consolidation of the SICC gains of the previous years: increased dialogue with our host church, including signing a financial agreement codifying the SICC's use of the Christuskirche facilities. The Sunday school has been reactivated, more emphasis is placed on younger members' needs (such as praise songs during the service). and additional fundraising projects, e.g. regular book sales have been instituted. The Spanglers want to return to the US next July, after three years in Salzburg, to spend more time with a growing number of grandchildren.
The congregation has:
Purchased 100 hymnals (the Chalice Hymnal published by the Disciples of Christ), written and approved a Constitution, negotiated successfully with the National Austrian "Evangelische Kirche" to become a fully independent parish, adopted budgets, encouraged regular financial support by members, either in dollars or euros, publicized the worship services in schools, hotels and information centers, purchased a €20,000 grand piano for our host church through a series of concerts by artists in and out of the congregation, undertaken the support of 12 AIDS orphans in Kenya until all reach the age of 15, published a monthly electronic newsletter called E-Salt along with a printed version thereof, attracted and is serving a number of refugees from Nigeria who were looking for an English speaking church, and twice sponsored the Alpha Course.
The SICC serves four distinct groups of people:
Permanent residents
Students
Tourists
Refugees/New immigrants
13. Describe briefly how you try to serve children: Sunday School has started again, headed by the pastor's wife and volunteer parents.
14. Describe briefly how you try to serve youth: Currently many spontaneous activities (movie nights, sports, meals together, prayer sessions, and a youth bible study) are regularly organized by the young members. We do offer a Bible study each Wednesday which some college students attend, but it is open to all. We have a "Welcome Sunday" for college exchange students in the fall and try to integrate those young people in the general activities of the church.
15. Describe briefly your program for adults: Weekday Bible studies, prayer time on Sunday morning, fellowship events (bike rides and other events) and coffee hour following worship each Sunday. Ad hoc events based on members’ needs (men’s dinners, ladies coffees, etc.).
16. Describe special programs for women: A monthly coffee at a member's home, a weekly somen’s Bible study.
17. Identify any special groups (business, military, or diplomatic personnel, student; etc.) and describe your ministry with them: Vocal and instrumental music has been organized for regular services and special occasions by the many musicians who attend.
18. Is your congregation related to a local church organization? We are a full parish, or a "parish of persons" (meaning that our members are not from a specific geographical area) of the Austrian "Evangelische Kirche" (Evangelische Kirche A.B. and H.B.). We are currently renting facilities from the Evangelische Christuskirche on the Schwarzstrasse in Salzburg.
19. During the past year, in what cooperative church or community programs or projects has your congregation participated as an organization (not individuals)? Describe:The church has developed the SICC Concert Series, which has, in the past, provided financial support for the Butterfly Children’s Project at the local hospital and helped fund the organ renovation at the Christus Kirche. It has also raised over €7000 which currently supports 12 AIDS orphans in Kenya until they are 15 years of age. The church has also provided money and food for various homeless people’s programs, and programs for at-risk or abused children.
20. Describe outreach activities within your community, host country and outside the country: Publicity in the city includes direct information on the church premises advertising the service, delivery of information to all American student programs in Salzburg (about 8 of them), also delivery of information on the church to over 50 hotels and information centers three times a year. Pastor Spangler visits all English-speaking patients in the hospital who would like pastoral care. Our congregation sponsors frequent benefit concerts which have been advertised in the community and special Christmas programs which are well-attended.
21. Identify and describe any special programs or ministries not listed above: There is a special time during every church service for concerns, prayer requests and praise testimony. There was a social evening (“Tanzabend”) this year to which members of our host church were invited, featuring food, music and dancing. There are plans for another such event this year.
22. During the past year, what have been your major methods for maintaining or for increasing your church membership? There has been no special pressure on people to join our fellowship. They may become full members or affiliate members (retaining home church membership). We are considering ways to actively promote new memberships. The membership, as in any international congregation, changes frequently.
23. A. What is the purpose or mission statement of your congregation? Here are the preamble, purpose statement and covenant from our constitution:
PREAMBLE
Believing it to be the will of God that the followers of Jesus Christ associate themselves in fellowship for the worship of God, for mutual encouragement in Christian living and for active service, the English-speaking residents in this community, representing many different denominations and national traditions, do hereby declare their common Christian heritage and purpose by establishing a local fellowship under the following articles.
PURPOSE STATEMENT
The purpose of this Church shall be to encourage and foster in the lives of its members the significance of Christ's Lordship and his rule in their lives; to provide a means of witness to their loyalty to Christ; to engage them in public and private worship, in Christian education, and in service; to reach out and receive with joy all who will respond; inviting people to commitment to God’s love in Jesus Christ and encouraging them in their relationship with God; and to maintain fellowship with all other bodies of Christians, especially other church groups in this area.
COVENANT
Acknowledging the various statements of faith under which its members may have made their professions, the Fellowship agrees upon the following main points as indication of the basic convictions of its membership:
We believe in God, the Heavenly Father, whose goodness is our blessing, and whose wisdom is our law.
We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Divine Lord and personal Savior, whose life and death and resurrection redeem and inspire all who accept Him.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, by whom we are led in the ways of righteousness and love.
We believe in the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God, which reveal to us His will and are our guide in faith and practice.
We believe in the Kingdom of God as the divine rule in human society; we believe in the testimony of the Apostles; and we believe the Church to be Christ's body of believers.
We believe in the power of prayer; in Baptism and Holy Communion as sacraments; and in the life everlasting.
Upon this foundation of our faith we enter into a covenant with one another and with God to live and labor together, as true disciples of Jesus Christ.
B. Is this a consensus statement? Yes
C. Was it developed by church members through a planning process? Yes.
24. What special opportunities does your church face in the next five years? There is much potential for growth in our group, especially among the permanent residents of the city. We will be working on the opportunities that we have as an independent congregation of the national church and on strengthening our ties with our host congregation. We look forward to having another new pastor next year.
The Christuskirche is planning a major building expansion in the next few years. We have had design input and will be able in a few years to have a much larger worship space. We may consider fund-raising to help with the costs.
25. What special problems does your church face in the next five years? Since our meeting room in the parish house is limited in size, our continual growth confronts us with a challenge as well as an opportunity (See 24). Finances are always a challenge. A minister with fund-raising skills who can motivate the congregation in the direction of increased stewardship would be welcome..
26. What definite objectives and hopes does your congregation have to meet the above opportunities and problems? We believe that a strong emphasis on prayer and study of the Word will be our best way to meet all the challenges and opportunities that we face. Our objectives are 1) to strengthen communication and cooperation with the Christus Kirche through regular meetings and 2) encourage increased stewardship (see 25.)
27. Are your members ready to consider changes in purpose and program to achieve these objectives? They can actively support new programs and ideas if sufficiently motivated. Our congregation is blessed with people who possess a genuine desire to share their talents in service to others. The skills and gifts of our congregation are broad but balanced and include exceptional musical abiltiy, committed spirituality and a strong belief that our church is here for a special reason. Our abilites, when nurtured and directed, represent every ingredient necessary for a vital and faithful church.
28. A. Identify and describe your church building facilities: We rent space provided to us by our host church in the parish house twice a month and the church sanctuary on the other Sundays. The room seats 65-70 and the church seats 350. In the winter the church is not well heated. After worship we use the church fellowship room (seating: 30) for coffee and we often open up the wall separating the two rooms. The coffee fellowship is a very lively time when people can get acquainted and network, although sometimes crowded! In the basement of the parish house there are two rooms which can be used for Sunday School and Sunday Bible study. All other meetings are held either at the pastor's apartment or in members' homes.
B. Are your facilities adequate for your present program needs? They are adequate at present, but limit future growth.
C. Do you plan any capital expenditure during the next five years? As our host church expands its facilities, we are considering raising funds to help them.
29. Is there a pastor's study? Yes Where is it? In the pastor's apartment. The church owns a printer/scanner but the computer belongs to the current pastor and will not be left here for church use. All official printing is done using our host church’s equipment.
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30. List of the activities of the church's ministry considered to be most important with respect to the future in order of preference:
a. Bible study and spiritual growth
b. Outreach, especially to English speaking residents
c. Improving our profile with the German speaking community
d. Establishing a choir and music worship teams
31. How many work hours in a typical week is the pastor expected to spend on top priorities? As a non-salaried position it is currently estimated at 20-25 hours per week. Our part-time pastor is already working in these areas in addition to normal worship and sermon preparation, contacts with parishioners, prayer and study, etc. Since it is not expected that the pastor will not spend more than approx. 25 hours on work-realted activities, the amount of time he or she may give to extra emphasis of top priorities is not very much. Moving ahead in these areas will require the involvement of parish members.
32. Special training or experience desired of pastor: Organizational and negotiation skills, multicultural sensitivity. A working knowledge of German or a willingness to learn. We seek a pastor who is visionary, exhibits strong leadership qualities and is committed as a teacher of the Word. Additionally, our pastor must have counseling and referral skills. Desired characteristics include creativity, energy and enthusiasm in ministry and in life. Further, an engaging style of preaching is preferred.
33. To be more effective, what language would be desired other than English? German
34. What is the period of the call or contract? Two years. If the pastor wishes to extend the contract, the congregation will vote on his/her request. If everything is going well, the congregation will certainly be favorably disposed to an extension.
35. What is the starting salary? We are seeking a pastor who is basically self-supporting. However, housing for the pastor and spouse is provided by the church. We currently pay €1100 per month for the pastor's apartment. Because the pastor's financial support is officially below the Austrian minimum wage, Austrian health insurance (mandatory) is available for the pastor and spouse for about €50/month.
36. Will the pastor have to pay income tax? Not in Austria
What will the rate of tax be? n/a
37. How will the pastors salary compare to average salaries earned by church council members? n/a
38. Available budget for covering costs of education for children in grades K through 12. Not provided.
39. Benefits provided: The present apartment of the pastor is fully furnished and is within 15 minutes walking distance from the church. The furnishings include a television, DVD player and VCR. The apartment is about 90 square meters/ 900square feet, with a newly remodeled kitchen, WC, and shower/bathroom. There is also laundry room with washing machine, living room, bedroom, guest bedroom, study with desk and bookshelves, and enclosed balcony which is ideal for plants and can also be opened up, and an entrance hallway. The apartment is on the 5th floor of an apartment building, with elevator, with a view of the alps out of the living room window. The bus stop is 5 minutes walk from the building.
The congregation will provide one round trip ticket to the home country for the pastor and spouse each year.
The present pastor has no car but has traveled by bus, bicycle, train and on foot. The church provides an annual bus pass for the pastor. Additional bus tickets may be purchased at a reduced rate for seniors.
Senior travel passes are available for men over 65 and women over 60. They provide a 40% discount for all train travel in Austria and a 50% fare reduction on buses outside the city.
Salzburg is centrally located in Europe. Vienna is three hours away by train, Munich under two hours.
Salzburg is a center for the arts with many opportunities to attend concerts, opera, etc. There are many fine restaurants and museums and the towns in the countryside are wonderful to visit.