OPPORTUNITY PROFILE
for
PASTOR
Gardiner Community Church
And
A Christian Ministry in
Yellowstone National Park
Gardiner, Montana
Yellowstone National Park
[email protected]
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INTRODUCTION
The Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry invites nominations and applications for the role of Pastor
to serve the Gardiner, Montana Community Church and the Mammoth Chapel in
Yellowstone National Park.
Search Contact: Joshua Young, Pastor Search Committee Chair
[email protected](406) 599-1850
Leslie Daher: Gardiner Mammoth Ministry Secretary-Financial Secretary
[email protected] (425) 495-7235
The Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry has a rich, continuous history of deeply engaging God’s Word
as well as the community and world with His Truth. Officially founded in 1951 to provide regular
access to protestant religious services, these people joined together to sponsor an interdenominational year-round ministry affiliated with “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks”.
This ministry has grown through the years to a community of over 200 adults, children and
youth, with a strong foundation of inter-denominational worship and a commitment to mission
and community service in the community of Gardiner, Montana, and beyond as well as within
Yellowstone National Park. The mission of adopting attitudes, beliefs, convictions and behavior
consistent with the biblical standards dictated by I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, I Peter 5:2-4 has
been fruitful and enduring. The church government is congregational with and has an elected
Board with representatives from Gardiner, Montana, and Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone
National Park providing church oversight to a volunteer-led body. Volunteerism has historically
been strong within this ministry.
The Gardiner Community Church seats 150 worshipers and has multiple classrooms and a
fellowship hall with a kitchen. Our vision is to be a resource for the community at large housing a
community closet providing space for community events and functions, as well as offering
classrooms for the Roads Scholar Program. The church operates almost every day of the year
with numerous ministry and non-ministry events. The Mammoth Chapel in Yellowstone National
Park is available as well for combined holiday services, summer weekly services, and special
events. It seats 300.
Gardiner, Montana, an unincorporated town on the northern boundary of Yellowstone National
Park, is the world’s first gateway community to a national park. Gardiner was officially founded
in 1880, but has served as the gateway to Yellowstone since the Parks’ creation in 1872.
Residents of Gardiner have catered to, and built a viable tourism economy around the needs of
park visitors for over 140 years. The three top images Gardiner residents have of their
community is “a friendly community,” “a supportive community,” and “a community with a
unique and rich heritage.” The town is situated at the original entrance to YNP and is the only
year round entrance into the park. The town is located in the Upper Yellowstone Valley,
surrounded by national park and forest lands. The Yellowstone River flows through the center of
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town. Gardiner relies on recreation, tourism, and the service industry to support its economy.
Primary employers in the area include the National Park Service, Xanterra Parks & Resorts (a
park concessioner), and the U. S. Forest Service. Gardiner has a public school that has
approximately 230 students, kindergarten through 12th grade from the Gardiner and Mammoth
communities.
Gardiner has approximately 850 residents; however the population increases during the summer
months. Gardiner resides in Park County, Montana. The population of Park County as of 2008
was over 16,000. The availability of services varies from community to community.
Yellowstone’s recreational opportunities tend to create a tourist-based economy in communities
surrounding the park. These communities receive significant income by providing goods and
services to park visitors and employees. Local businesses also benefit from annual NPS and
concessioner expenditures for salaries, goods, and services.
Under the three decades of leadership of Pastor Bill Young, and the past year with Pastor Rob
Spykstra, the Gardiner-Mammoth congregation has grown in size and outreach (including youth
and adult missions and A Christian Ministry in the National Parks), while being devoted to the
Word of God inside and outside of her walls. From the pulpit to the classroom, a high value is
placed upon understanding and obeying God’s Word and the church has been blessed with many
gifted teachers. As it relates to this passion for Truth, it exists to serve a higher purpose: for the
people of the Gardiner-Mammoth congregation to aspire to know and love God with all their
hearts, souls, strength and minds. The ministry takes great pride in its inter-denominational
nature and hosts a recreational summer “worker-priest” ministry – A Christian Ministry in
Yellowstone National Park— reflecting a heart to touch lives for Christ.
Many people are drawn to the Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry due to its strong commitment to
the family. The quality and impact of the Children and Youth ministries are significant and are
deliberately focused on equipping parents and families in raising young people who love and
follow the Lord. In addition, students are involved in youth ministry, children’s ministry, and
worship ministry including community service and mission trips to serve the under-privileged in
this country, the Caribbean, Africa, and India. As an evangelical, inter-denominational church
the Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry is committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is devoted to a
servant-rooted and biblical faith.
THE POSITION
The Pastor of the Gardiner-Mammoth congregation shall be responsible to: (1) The Lord Jesus
Christ, (2) spouse and children, (3) the people in the communities of faith in Mammoth Hot
Springs and Gardiner, (4) the permanent residents of Mammoth Hot Springs and Gardiner, (5)
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the seasonal employees and residents of said communities along with all of the visitors to
Yellowstone National Park.
The Pastor of the Gardiner-Mammoth congregation shall be responsible for: (1) proclaiming the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) using skills in administrative leadership, (3) engaging in
pastoral care ministries in order to meet the needs of persons both in the church and in the
communities, and (4) to act as the chief facilitator of the ministerial and seasonal/vocational
student-staff assigned by “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks”.
The Pastor reports to the Gardiner – Mammoth Ministry Committee (governing board) and
shares with the board the responsibility of discerning the mission and vision of the church. As
such, his role is key in helping set direction, and providing primary teaching and staff leadership.
The Pastor is partnered with lay leadership whose responsibility is to manage staff, implement
the mission and direction of the church, and manage overall church operations.
Due to the Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry’s long history of deep biblical teaching and preaching,
the next Pastor will be an individual who has a demonstrated ability to make the truth of God’s
Word relevant to people’s lives in today’s context and across the generations. In addition, we
also expect the next Pastor will continue the practice of developing the ministering skills of
current or future teaching Christian leaders.
In terms of leadership, the church is seeking a leader who converges with the church’s desire
to remain strong in our interdenominational roots, vision, and reaching out more broadly to
impact the community and world for Christ, including younger generations and families shall
be an integral desire for the new pastor. In addition, Pastor will take the lead in discerning
with all members of the congregation what God intends for the next season of building His
kingdom.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Adopt attitudes, beliefs, convictions and behavior consistent with the biblical standards
dictated by I Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:6-9, I Peter 5:2-4.

Provide administrative leadership for the total program of both churches (the Gardiner
Community Church and the Yellowstone Park Chapel) including administrative and
supervisory leadership for the student-ministry staff assigned to Yellowstone National
Park by “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks”.

Maintain a regular discipline of study, including continuing education, to enable
her/himself to plan, implement, and conduct meaningful and beneficial services of
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worship for the Christian communities of Mammoth/Gardiner, along with the visitors to
Yellowstone.

Prepare and conduct services of worship, lead in the observance of the ordinances and
sacraments, direct the participants of faith in proclaiming the gospel to the church and
community, and function as the “theologian in residence.”

Visit participants and prospects and lead the membership in consistent efforts of outreach
and evangelism.

Visit the hospitalized and infirmed.

Supervise other members of the church staff according to staff organization and practice,
along with the participants assigned yearly by the national staff of “A Christian Ministry in
the National Parks”

Conduct premarital, vocational, family, bereavement, counseling sessions, etc., as needed.
Advise and refer to other professional resources, especially including those from a
Christian perspective, when necessary.

Perform wedding ceremonies and conduct funeral services for the churches, communities,
and the visiting public.

Work with the church committees in performing assigned responsibilities. Be available
for, and provide training, as needed.

Motivate and lead those in the Gardiner Community Church and the Yellowstone Park
Chapel to cooperate with the Executive Director and staff of “A Christian Ministry in the
National Parks” and report to the Executive Director in all matters regarding the program
in Yellowstone National Park.

Serve as the appointed representative of Yellowstone National Park and the Gardiner
Community Church on the Advisory Council of “A Christian Ministry in the National Parks.”

Serve as the appointed representative of the Christian community in
Yellowstone/Gardiner to the National Park Service in social and civic matters.

Serve as the chairman in planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and evaluating the
total church and ministry programs.

Serve as the moderator for the church business/ministry committee meetings as directed
by the by-laws of this ministry.
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QUALIFICATIONS
The next Pastor of the Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry will possess or demonstrate the following:
 An active and growing faith and relationship with Jesus Christ and a desire to
contribute directly to His Church and Body

A clear and articulate understanding and practice of what it means to live a life governed
by the Scriptures and led by the Spirit

A pattern of prayer in his personal and family life that can serve as a model for others on
staff and in the congregation

A desire for excellence in all things with impeccable personal integrity

5 years of key staff leadership or pastor leadership in an evangelical Christian
church

A Masters of Divinity degree (M.DIV.) from an accredited seminary is required. A
terminal degree (D.Min.) is preferable.

Transparency related to job history and the ability to share references from current
and past ministries or employers as a potential candidacy develops
PROCESS OF CANDIDACY
For individuals referred to the opportunity and for those seeking to explore next steps,
please provide your resume’ and responses to the questions below to:
Joshua Young – Chairman, Pastor Search
Committee
[email protected]
Deadline is May 23, 2016

Describe your faith in Jesus Christ. Tell us how you came to know the Lord, something about your
journey with Him, your current walk and how your relationship with Him has affected your life
and ministry.
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
At this point in your ministry, why are you interested in leading as Pastor of the GardinerMammoth Ministry? What is it about the role or opportunity that motivates you to apply?

Please write about your understanding of “in essentials unity, in non-essentials charity, and in all
things, Jesus Christ”. Please also share how you would both lead and teach through that
understanding. The Apostle’s Creed is our statement of faith.

Describe three efforts you have led in a church context that required shaping a direction, culture
and team of contributors to accomplish important results. Please describe the circumstances and
your specific role in them.

Describe your philosophy of ministry and leadership within an inter-denominational, rural church
environment, including addressing your personal style of leadership and preferred organizational
structure.

Please share five or six references including a few supervisors, ministry peers and direct reports
(paid or volunteer). No references will be contacted without your specific permission and only
after mutual interest develops with the Gardiner-Mammoth Ministry.
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