First Pres  ·  Colorado Springs

Discipleship
Pastor

We are looking for a catalytic leader who will be on the move, connecting people, equipping leaders, and building the structures that tie the discipleship ministries of the church together into a coherent, life-giving whole.

Apply Now Learn About the Role
Our Mission

We exist to see lives transformed in the power of Christ, shaping believers into Christian disciples who proclaim the Light of the Gospel and demonstrate the Life of Jesus to our City, bringing many to saving faith in Christ and the whole world to glorify God.

Worship at First Pres
Kids Ministry
Youth Ministry
Families at First Pres
Community at First Pres
First Presbyterian Church

Faithful since 1872.
Devoted to the mission of today.

First Pres has proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the heart of Colorado Springs for more than 150 years. Rooted in the wisdom of the Reformed tradition and the polity of ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, we are a church that takes both our history and our calling seriously.

We are not coasting on our past. First Pres is a multigenerational congregation in motion — two classic and two modern worship services each Sunday, a thriving family ministry, and a staff culture marked by trust, collaboration, and genuine joy. We were recently recognized as a Best Christian Workplace, and that matters to us.

Our mission is simple and our commitment is total: Light + Life for the City.

150+ Years in Colorado Springs
4 Sunday Services
Position Details
Title Discipleship Pastor
Reports To Executive Pastor / Head of Staff
Salary Range $80,000 – $90,000
Denomination ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
Theology Evangelical, Reformed, and Egalitarian
Location Colorado Springs, Colorado
The Role

Activator, Connector, and Developer

The Discipleship Pastor oversees the full scope of adult discipleship ministry at First Pres, reporting to the Executive Pastor and Head of Staff. This is not a theologian-in-residence. This is an activator — someone on the move, connecting people, equipping leaders, and building the structures that tie the discipleship ministries of the church together into a coherent, life-giving whole.

This role supervises a Discipleship Ministries Manager, a Women's Ministries Coordinator, and a Teaching Pastor, while working in close collaboration with lay leaders, Life Group leaders, and ministry volunteers across the congregation.

The person we're looking for earns trust and acquires influence with seasoned ministry leaders not by position, but by competence, character, and genuine relational investment. They are entrepreneurial and self-motivated, creating structure where it's needed and finding new ways to move people into deeper faith.

They will join First Pres at a moment of renewed health, clarity of mission, and momentum — and will lead the charge in shaping how this congregation forms the next generation of disciples.

Who We're Looking For

This role calls for someone who...

🔗
Is a Connector

Quick to draw people together, make strategic connections, and support Life Group leaders in doing their best work. They get the right resources into the right people's hands without delay.

⚡
Is Entrepreneurial

Self-motivated and creative — building structure where it's needed, bridging ministries, and finding new ways to move people into deeper faith. High initiative, high energy, a bias toward action.

🤝
Earns Trust and Influence

Acquires credibility with seasoned ministry leaders not by position, but by competence, character, and genuine relational investment.

⚓
Is a Non-Anxious Presence

Navigates conflict wisely and redemptively, keeping relationships intact and the mission moving forward, without passing anxiety to the people around them.

🙌
Models Humility

Committed to collaboration and an emphasis on teamwork, with a personal and mature commitment to Jesus Christ at the center of it all.

🌱
Develops Other Leaders

Identifies, equips, and unleashes lay leaders across the discipleship ministries — raising up people to own their areas with health and confidence.

Key Responsibilities

What this role does.

01
Lead the Discipleship Vision Develop and execute a comprehensive, cohesive strategy for church-wide discipleship, in close alignment with the Executive Pastor and the mission of First Pres.
02
Activate Lay Leadership Identify, equip, and unleash lay leaders across Life Groups, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Alpha, New Members, Sunday Communities, and other initiatives. Raise up leaders to own these areas with health and confidence.
03
Resource & Connect Get the right curricula, tools, and training into the hands of leaders. Curate and deploy discipleship resources that are practical, theologically sound, and accessible to a broad adult population.
04
Build Integrating Structures Develop systems that tie discipleship ministries together, so the right hand knows what the left hand is doing and no one falls through the cracks of a fragmented program landscape.
05
Partner Cross-Departmentally Work closely with First Pres staff and ministry teams to ensure alignment across the discipleship pathway, from first-time guests to long-tenured members.
06
Ensure Theological Consistency Oversee the selection and implementation of curricula across age and demographic groups, maintaining consistency with our theological convictions.
07
Train & Develop Ensure Life Group leaders, teachers, and ministry volunteers are equipped in group leadership skills, pastoral care basics, risk management, and church protocol.
08
Pastoral Duties Preach and lead worship as assigned by the Executive Pastor; participate in hospital visitation, counseling, funerals, weddings, and other pastoral responsibilities as needed.
09
ECO Covenant Cultivate connection with peer ECO pastors and stay actively involved in the Presbytery of the West.
Education & Experience

What you bring.

Education & Ordination
Experience
  • Minimum of five years in ministry, including three years in ordained ministry
  • A demonstrated track record of activating, equipping, and retaining volunteer and lay ministry leaders
  • Experience building or reforming discipleship structures in a congregation
  • Expertise in discipleship strategy and ministry integration across multiple program areas
Colorado Springs

A city worth planting roots in.

Colorado Springs sits at the base of Pikes Peak on the front range of the Rockies. It is a city of military heritage, Christian ministry, and outdoor life that rewards both the adventurous and the rooted.

The city is home to multiple military installations, including the United States Air Force Academy, a growing tech sector, and the headquarters of some of the nation's most influential Christian organizations — The Navigators, Focus on the Family, Compassion International, and Young Life are all here.

Nearly 250 days of sunshine each year. World-class hiking, biking, skiing, and parks within reach. A vibrant downtown that First Pres has called home for more than 150 years.

250+ Days of Sunshine
US Air Force Academy
The Navigators
Focus on the Family
Compassion International
Young Life HQ
Garden of the Gods
Pikes Peak
Join Our Team

Ready to take a step?

If this role resonates with who you are and where God has been preparing you, we'd love to hear from you. Submit your application through our employment portal, or reach out to our Executive Pastor with any questions.

Apply Now Contact Greg Hartnett

Questions? Email ghartnett@firstprescos.org