Associate Pastor Search

Associate Pastor

(Future Lead Pastor Pathway)

Current - A Christian Church is prayerfully seeking a humble, biblically grounded leader who senses a future calling to senior leadership

Show Up.
Leave Different.

Jesus-Centered Community

We're all about the change and transformation that only God can bring about in the lives of people. Our simple statement, "Show Up - Leave Different," is both a challenge and a promise—a low-pressure invitation and a spiritual dare all in one. "Show Up" can mean simply giving it a try and attending a service to see if you like it. But it can also mean bringing your spiritual focus, passion, and intentionality with you—arriving ready to be changed by God.

When we show up and draw near to God, He has promised to draw near to us (James 4:8). When God draws near, He does so with the purpose of making us new, different, and changed. We're not about attending church to check off an item on a spiritual "to do" list or going through the motions. We serve the living God, and He invites us to show up. Because of who He is and how He works in our lives, we can leave different.

The Team: You will join a collaborative and high-energy staff of 16 team members dedicated to our mission of action, transformation and celebration.
Weekly Attendance: We currently serve a growing congregation of 800–900 attendees.
Leadership Model: Current is an Elder-led church (1 Timothy 3:2-7), providing a stable, biblically-grounded environment for vision and growth.
The Katy Life: Life in Katy, TX, offers the best of both worlds—a family-first suburban feel with world-class amenities. Known for its top-tier schools and rapid growth, Katy is a vibrant, diverse community that serves as a perfect home base for a ministry family looking to plant deep roots.

Team & Community at a Glance

The Elders of Current: How we Lead and Function

Believing that the scriptures call us to lead but require us to determine how we are structured and how we are to function, we have chosen these principles and values as additional guides in our self-governance:

Elders have an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus. We believe the church can rise no higher than its leaders. We are committed to pursuing Christ in our personal lives, growing as a healthy team of mature believers, and leading the church out of the insights gained in our own personal and collective journey with Christ.
Elders are the spiritual overseers of the church. To help us get where God wants us to be, we keep the vision updated, fresh, and God-directed. We establish guardrails of protection which serve as parameters and limits. We lead by setting direction, agreeing on vision, and establishing policy so that our staff, under the direction of our Lead Pastor, can implement the vision.
Elders lead as a team. Biblically and at Current, there is always a plurality of elders that lead together – meaning we are a group that discerns collectively by the voice of the Spirit as our guide. The authority of the elders rests with the voice of the whole group together, not as individual elders. This means: “We speak with one voice or not at all.” If we personally disagree with a decision made by the whole, others will never know about it. Once a decision is made, we hang together. When we walk out the door we do so in unity at the deepest level. We recognize that our united front is one of the strengths of the church and necessary for unity.
Elders emphasize relational leadership rather than demanding respect out of presumed positional authority. We are not so much a “board” as “the elder team” – a band of brothers who are on mission together. We are a team made up of comrades who are in each other’s lives enough to know what is going on so we can truly care and pray for each other. We come together not only for decision-making, but for prayer and mutual encouragement and fun. We believe that building a healthy team and staying close relationally are our responsibility, because we know we will lead better when we understand the gifts and unique contribution each of us can bring to the team. We love and support all our staff and see one of our jobs as helping them succeed in their roles of leadership and service. We want to be an encouragement to them, lifting them up in prayer and cheering them on as they serve Jesus faithfully.
Elders seek God’s guidance in our decision making. As leaders we are intentionally deliberate and analytical while at the same time visionary and aggressive. Being deliberate and analytical allows us to practice good stewardship, and take data and proper caution into account in order to protect the church’s integrity, assets and mission. Being visionary and aggressive allows us to practice bold and faith-filled leadership that allows the Spirit to take us where our caution or fear might not. We know our best days have come as a result of God’s blessing us when we trusted and took big steps of faith. We see ourselves as stewards of this church and want to be responsible, but we will never let our fear nature hold us back from a step of faith and visionary obedience, where we feel God leading.
Elders operate with a consensus model, and realize it will take extra effort to achieve it. We realize we may have to submit our individual preferences in respect for the whole and for the good of the entire church. We want and need to hear each elder’s opinion on the matter at hand. We welcome healthy disagreement and dialogue. At the end of the day we believe the Spirit will draw us together around the direction God desires. Toward that end, we will listen for the Spirit’s leading above our own voice or someone else’s. We believe strongly in, and practice, the restoration ideal: in essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things love.

According to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9, a scriptural Elder must be:

Above reproach
The husband of one wife
Temperate
Prudent
Respectable
Hospitable
Able to teach
Not addicted to wine
Not pugnacious
Free from the love of money
Gentle
Not contentious
One who manages his own household well
One who has his children under control
Not a new convert
Have a good reputation with those outside the church
Have children who believe
Not self-willed
Not quick-tempered
Loving what is good
Sensible
Just
Devout
Self-controlled
Holding fast the faithful word
Able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict
An example to the church (Peter)
And must desire the work

The Role of an Elder

The Bible is clear the Lord has established Elders to be the watchmen and shepherds of God’s flock, the church. The elders are charged with leading the church. This includes: guarding the doctrinal teachings and direction of the church, shepherding and caring for the congregation, making prayerful decisions on behalf of the church, and being a source of wise and godly counsel as needed. This is a heavy responsibility. The elders understand they will have to answer to the Lord for their leadership of His church (Hebrews 13:17).

While this is a leadership role, at its heart, it is a serving role. Elders are to serve humbly. This is not a position or title to be held over others in a prideful or forceful manner. Rather, elders are to follow the ultimate example of Jesus, exhibiting Christ-like character and humility.

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 1 Peter 5:1-4

The word for “elder” is used over 20 times in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament letters to the church. The words “elder,” “overseer,” and “pastor” all refer to the same office/role.

At Current, our Lead Pastor is also an Elder. He serves as both an elder and a member of our staff. He is basically a paid elder. Our other ministry staff are referred to as “Ministers” and are not seen as pastors or elders.

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:17-20

While the Lead Pastor is an elder, he is not considered the lead or head elder, nor is the chairman of the elders. The chairman’s role is to schedule and facilitate the elder meetings. The Elder Team serves in submission to one another. We believe part of God’s design for the leadership of the church is that there be a plurality of elders. This plurality of equal elders is seen throughout the New Testament (Titus 1:5, James 5:14, 1-Tim. 5:17, Acts 21:18, 20:17, 14:23, 11:30, 15:2-4).

The combined counsel of the group of elders helps to assure decisions are not self-willed or self-serving. If the elders do not agree on an issue they study, pray, and seek the will of God together until they reach consensus.

How Our Eldership is Structured at Current

In the past our elders served for a three-year term and were required to roll off or to suspend serving as an elder for one year before they could be invited back to serve another three-year term. This became detrimental to the Elder Team for the following reasons:

It often takes about a year for a new elder to get “caught up” and to “hit their stride” as an elder.
When elders stepped away from serving, valuable decision-making history and institutional knowledge was lost.
An imbalance in leadership was often created. Seasoned elders left the team just as new elders were entering the team.
It was a real loss to the church when an exceptional elder had to suspend serving for a year.

Many years ago our elders proposed, and the congregation approved, a change in the bylaws which permitted elders to serve one year terms consecutively. Elders are not required to roll off or suspend their term. Each year the elders choose to verbally affirm or not affirm each elder. Further, the congregation votes by ballot to affirm or not affirm each elder during the annual meeting. All are welcome at the meeting, but only members of the church who are 18 years of age or older are permitted to vote.

The elders chose to improve the system in this way to correct the issues listed above. In addition it is important to note, there were no terms or suspension of service for elders in the New Testament. Biblically speaking, once someone became an elder, they were always an elder, assuming they continued to meet the qualifications and were willing to serve.

As a result of serving together consistently for many years, our elders are more unified than ever before. Unity and trust have been built over time.

What Is The Process For Adding Additional Elders To The Team

The elders begin considering potential elder candidates months prior to the congregational vote. The elders have used various methods to help determine the spiritual depth of potential candidates. For example, we have held a year long Bible study on the topic of eldership that included the serving elders along with potential candidates. We have also hosted a year-long men’s Bible study and invited 45 men to participate while considering who might meet the qualifications of eldership.

Anyone is welcome to suggest a potential candidate for eldership to one of the elders, however we do not hold formal nominations and the elders will not inform someone they have been nominated.

Once a man is selected as a possible candidate we share with him the scriptural qualifications, a bit about eldership, and we ask him to prayerfully consider the role. If the candidate chooses to proceed they are given a lengthy questionnaire that includes questions regarding Biblical doctrine, their personal beliefs and walk with the Lord, as well as leadership style, areas of giftedness and perceptions of Current. After reviewing a candidate's responses, should the elders want to proceed, an in-person interview will be scheduled. If the man is married, a portion of the interview will include the candidate’s wife. If the elders are in agreement that the candidate meets the scriptural qualifications the candidate is presented to the congregation at the upcoming congregational meeting where the congregation will vote to affirm, or not affirm, the recommended candidate.

The Succession Roadmap

We are committed to a healthy, transparent transition. This roadmap is designed to allow the Associate Pastor to get to know the culture and the people before assuming full Lead Pastor responsibilities.

Phase 1: Integration and Immersion

Focus: Relationship building and cultural alignment.

Phase 2: Collaborative Leadership

Focus: Expanding influence and operational oversight.

Phase 3: Transition

Focus: Vision-casting and leadership transition.

Interested in Applying?

Here's what's included:

General Application

Please complete the initial application form to begin the conversation. As part of this process, we ask that you upload a current resume, a professional headshot, and a family photo.

Personality / Spiritual Gifts Assesem

We believe that every leader is uniquely wired by God with specific gifts and temperaments. To help us understand how you lead, relate to others and function within a team, a spiritual gifts assessment will be provided.

Elder Questionnaire

As an Elder-led church, we place high value on alignment between our pastoral staff and our lay leadership. This questionnaire is designed to explore your understanding of the Elder/Staff relationship, and your ministry philosophy.

Doctrinal Questionnaire

At Current, we are a Jesus-centered community that prioritizes biblical authority and clarity. Our goal is to ensure a deep-rooted theological unity as we work together to help people find Jesus and live sold-out lives for Him.