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Associate Pastor Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

The Pastor of Global & Local Outreach and Hospitality; the Pastor of Women and Groups; and the Pastor of Families and Young Adults. Position Summary: Cedar Mill Bible Church is rooted in Christ. We ...

New

The Pastor of Global & Local Outreach and Hospitality; the Pastor of Women and Groups; and the Pastor of Families and Young Adults. Position Summary: Cedar Mill Bible Church is rooted in Christ. We ...

New

Associate Pastor information

See Portland, OR salary details

$15.9K

$54.2K

$88.9K

How much do associate pastor jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate pastor in Portland, OR is $54,241.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43,900.00 and $65,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Associate Pastors face when balancing administrative duties with spiritual leadership responsibilities?

Associate Pastors often juggle a variety of responsibilities, from planning and leading worship services to managing youth programs and overseeing church operations. One common challenge is finding the right balance between administrative tasks—such as scheduling, budgeting, and event coordination—and dedicating time to pastoral care, teaching, and spiritual mentoring. Successful Associate Pastors typically prioritize effective time management, delegate tasks when possible, and maintain open communication with senior leadership and ministry teams to ensure both administrative and spiritual needs are met.

What is an Associate Pastor?

An Associate Pastor is a clergy member who assists the Senior Pastor in leading and managing a church congregation. Their responsibilities often include preaching, teaching, organizing church programs, providing pastoral care, and supporting various ministries within the church. The specific duties can vary depending on the size and needs of the church, but Associate Pastors play a vital role in fostering community and spiritual growth. They often work closely with church staff and volunteers to ensure the smooth operation of church activities.

What is the difference between Associate Pastor vs Youth Pastor?

AspectAssociate Pastor
AspectYouth Pastor

While both roles serve within church leadership, an Associate Pastor typically has broader responsibilities across various ministries, including pastoral care, administration, and supporting the senior pastor. A Youth Pastor primarily focuses on youth ministry, engaging teenagers and young adults. Both roles often require similar credentials such as theological degrees and involve working in a church environment. However, the Associate Pastor role usually encompasses a wider range of duties, making it more comprehensive in church leadership.

What Is an Associate Pastor?

An associate pastor works with a senior pastor at their church to serve their congregation. As an associate pastor, you assist with worship services and lead other religious activities for various ministry groups. Other job duties include collaborating with the senior pastor on service liturgy, giving sermons, leading prayer sessions, and reaching out to the community. The qualifications you need to pursue a career as an associate minister include a bachelor’s or master’s degree in religious studies or a seminary degree, along with ordination in your faith denomination. Because you work with people on a daily basis, you need excellent interpersonal and public speaking skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Associate Pastor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Pastor, you need a solid theological background, pastoral training, and often a degree in divinity or ministry. Familiarity with church management software, digital communication tools, and curriculum resources is typically required. Excellent interpersonal skills, empathy, leadership, and the ability to communicate effectively help build trust within the congregation and staff. These skills are vital for providing spiritual guidance, supporting church operations, and fostering a welcoming and engaged church community.
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What are popular job titles related to Associate Pastor jobs in Portland, OR? For Associate Pastor jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:
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What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Associate Pastor jobs? Cities near Portland, OR with the most Associate Pastor job openings:
Infographic showing various Associate Pastor job openings in Portland, OR as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $54,241 per year, or $26.1 per hour.
Ministry Partner

Ministry Partner

Cedar Mill Bible Church

Portland, OR • On-site

Part-time

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Ministry Partner

Employment Type: Non-Exempt, Part-Time (approximately 25 hours per week, including Sundays)

Works With: The Pastor of Global & Local Outreach and Hospitality; the Pastor of Women and Groups; and the Pastor of Families and Young Adults.

Position Summary:

Cedar Mill Bible Church is rooted in Christ. We’re committed to becoming like Jesus and making Him known. We’re a growing church with deep roots, where multiple generations worship and serve together with real unity.

The Ministry Partner comes alongside three pastors to help push their ministries forward. This highly relational and organized individual provides administrative and logistical support across global and local outreach, hospitality, women’s ministry, groups, family ministry, and young adults—catching the details for events and meetings, helping each pastor stay organized and on top of ministry plans, and providing hands-on help at events as needed. The role ensures events are well-run, communication flows smoothly, and people feel welcomed and cared for. This position requires flexibility, a servant-hearted attitude, strong attention to detail, and the ability to thrive in both behind-the-scenes work and face-to-face interactions while working collaboratively with staff and volunteers.

Key Responsibilities:

Administrative & Organizational Support

  • Monitors and manages ministry-related email accounts and calendars for supported pastors, providing consistent administrative assistance, including scheduling and data entry
  • Attends ministry meetings to capture details, decisions, and action items, and helps ensure follow-through

Event Planning & Support

  • Assists with planning, logistics, registration, and execution of ministry events and seasonal gatherings across the supported ministries
  • Prepares event resources such as name tags, printed materials, sign-up forms, and check-in lists
  • Coordinates room reservations, setup needs, food and catering, and supply orders for events and meetings
  • Provides on-site support during events and Sunday gatherings

Communication & Follow-Up

  • Drafts and sends ministry communications, announcements, and reminders on behalf of supported pastors
  • Ensures follow-up processes are completed after events (e.g., thank-you emails, connection card processing, participant surveys)
  • Collaborates with pastors to assist with volunteer scheduling, communication, and engagement
  • Communicates and coordinates with other church staff and teams to ensure ministry needs are aligned and supported


Additional Responsibilities

  • Adapts to the seasonal rhythms of church life, offering help across ministries during high-demand times
  • Handles sensitive information with discretion, maturity, and confidentiality
  • Completes other tasks, projects, and duties as requested
  • Regularly participates in the life of Cedar Mill Bible Church

Qualifications:

  • Affirms the church’s Statement of Faith and lives in alignment with its Seven Distinctives
  • Strong interpersonal skills and a heart for people—relates well to individuals of all ages and backgrounds
  • Highly organized and detail-oriented, with experience managing calendars, communication, and events
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (especially Outlook, Word, and Excel); willingness to learn other ministry tools as needed (e.g., Church Community Builder (CCB), Planning Center, ProPresenter)
  • Comfortable multitasking and adjusting plans in a dynamic church environment
  • Trustworthy, flexible, and team-oriented—with a readiness to serve wherever needed

Spiritual Character:

The Ministry Partner is a mature and growing follower of Jesus Christ who views behind-the-scenes service as a meaningful part of ministry. We are looking for a person of evident integrity, humility, and discretion who demonstrates a servant’s heart in coming alongside pastors, staff, and volunteers; handles sensitive and pastoral information with trustworthiness; and supports the mission, vision, and values of Cedar Mill Bible Church through both their work and their personal walk of faith.