The Church

Fondren Presbyterian strives to be God’s church in the world, welcoming everyone with love and respect through joyful worship and compassionate service to our community.

Our vision for ministry

  • To glorify God and share God’s unconditional love

  • To provide a place for growth in our relationship to God and our community, open to all those who seek to live out Christ’s call in their lives

  • To support and minister to those in need in our city and throughout the world

Our vision for ministry for more than 100 years has been rooted in joyful worship and education that nourishes the soul, challenges the mind, and lifts the heart, so that we are equipped and inspired to go out into the world to serve those in need and share God’s reconciling love in the midst of a broken world. We want to connect with younger people, so that they may fully develop and live their faith. We cherish our youth and wish to foster more intergenerational fellowship.

Fondren Presbyterian feels called to reach out to address the emerging needs of the Jackson, Mississippi community by welcoming everyone to Fondren, wherever they are on their faith journeys. We are a warm, inclusive, theologically progressive congregation that strives to bring people together despite their differences to worship and glorify God. The pandemic taught us we have room for growth. Many young families have not returned and many members are aging. We expanded our outreach through our YouTube channel, virtual gatherings, and social media and welcomed new faces. We yearn to connect, to celebrate the energy and joy of a community of all ages gathered to share God’s love. We enthusiastically support many local outreach programs serving the homeless, hungry, and marginalized. Fondren is a predominantly white, economically fortunate congregation located in a thriving, vibrant neighborhood. Jackson is a majority black city with areas of extreme poverty. Jackson’s challenges present tremendous opportunities to reach out and effect meaningful change as we live into our commitment as a Matthew 25 church. We are actively engaged with other groups to create solutions to address systemic issues and improve the lives of less fortunate neighbors. The congregation recently raised significant funds to improve our aging building, so that we can continue to have welcoming, accessible common spaces to gather and connect. Pre-pandemic, our spaces were used by many community organizations. We hope to invite others again to use our renovated space and are eager to explore other uses for our space that advance Fondren’s vision and mission goals.

Our Values

  • We value a welcoming spirit within our church. We want a church that blesses our community, that connects our spiritual life to the way we relate to everyday concerns and issues in the world around us. We want to be a place of comfort, community, and safety.

  • We value community. Specifically, we value the kind of community that knows, accepts, welcomes, cherishes, celebrates, and cares for one another across generations, perspectives, backgrounds, and spiritual journeys. We value a community that is present to others in times of joy and sorrow, in worship and service, in fellowship and learning.

  • We value life alongside one another—children and youth, long-term members and new, young families and old—as we worship, serve, learn, and celebrate. We value belonging to one another.

Our Stats

  • Ministry size: 101-250 members

  • Average weekly attendance: 55 (Sunday worship); 15 (Sunday school)

  • Ethnic composition: 1% Asian; 1% Black or African American (African Native, Caribbean); 1% Hispanic Latino/Latina, Spanish; 95% White; 2% Other

  • Community type: Urban

  • Presbytery: Mississippi Presbytery

  • Synod: Synod of Living Waters

  • Yoked: No

Associated Organizations

The Call

Fondren Presbyterian seeks to call a full-time pastor who will help us discern God’s vision for us and journey with us to realize our vision for ministry and achieve our mission goals. Our pastor will lead us, as together we chart a path that will help us exemplify our highest ideals and deepest values.

Desired characteristics of our next called pastor

  • We seek a pastor who can build on our strong foundation by helping us work together to discern God’s vision for Fondren and strategically plan to grow and adapt to a changing world and community.

  • We seek a pastor who is a gifted preacher, able to deliver inspiring, challenging, thoughtful, and thought-provoking sermons.

  • We seek a pastor who is committed to providing pastoral care to our members and in forming personal relationships with us.

  • We seek a pastor who is adept at providing administrative leadership and organization.

  • Finally, we seek a pastor who has courage, creativity, and vision to challenge and lead us into new areas of ministry, as we yearn to reach new souls and make this world a better place.

Leadership Competencies of our next callED pastor

  • Compassionate

  • Preaching and Worship Leadership

  • Spiritual Maturity

  • Communicator

  • Willingness to Engage Conflict

  • Decision Making

  • Organizational Agility

  • Collaboration

  • Interpersonal Engagement

  • Flexibility

PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY of our next called pastor

The pastor will oversee Fondren’s entire ministry as well as a staff of one full-time church administrator and a part-time staff that includes a director of music, an organist, a bookkeeper, and a sexton. They will also be able to rely on a strong session and a host of members eager to help. Other responsibilities will include:

  • Preparing and conducting meaningful weekly worship services for the congregation that effectively blend Scripture, preaching, music, liturgy, and prayer;

  • Attracting, educating, inspiring, and equipping lay leadership in the life of the church, including stewardship development, the training of elders, and the revitalization of a program for children and youth;

  • Leading the congregation in its mission of reaching out in concern and service to the local community and the world;

  • Providing pastoral care and counseling to the congregation;

  • Developing, with the session, the overall program and staffing of the church;

  • Moderating a session consisting of nine elders;

  • Participating in the church’s spiritual enrichment programs, including weekly Wednesday evening gatherings, and periodically leading adult studies and an occasional confirmation class;

  • Establishing clear lines of communication both among church staff and between the various programs of the congregation; and

  • Representing the congregation in denominational, ecumenical, and community life.

Are you interested?

If you believe that being Fondren Presbyterian’s next called pastor is the next step in your journey, we invite you to review our Ministry Information Form and apply by: