A pastor is a teaching elder who is an ordained shepherd and spiritual overseer of Christ’s church, called and equipped by God to preach the Word, administer the sacraments, pray for and with the people, and lead the flock in accordance with Scripture. He serves alongside elders and deacons to guide the congregation toward maturity in faith and obedience to Christ.

The Shepherding Committee (SC) functions to select, engage, and equip shepherds to care for our members in ways that help them live out Covenant’s Vision and Mission of being a loving family of believers that develops and deploys fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ to disciple our family, community, and world. The SC provides expertise and counsel to the Governance Commission (GC) regarding current and anticipated shepherding issues and concerns. The SC reports annually to the GC on progress in the ministry and its future direction.

The Shepherding Team Leader is a ruling elder who oversees a team of under-shepherds (small group leaders, lay shepherds, Men’s Ministry or Women’s Ministry leaders, etc.) and provides accountability to ensure every member of the church is known and cared for. He maintains personal relationships with his under-shepherds and steps in when an elder is required to address situations within his under-shepherds’ flocks

A Small Group Leader/Facilitator is a spiritually mature member of the church who facilitates a small group for fellowship, discipleship, and care under the oversight of the elders. He or she serves as a servant-shepherd, helping each member grow in love for Christ and one another while promoting the church’s shepherding vision in a close, relational setting.

A Lay Shepherd Leader is a spiritually mature member of the church who assists the elders in caring for the congregation. He or she maintains personal relationships with a select group of individuals (an assigned flock), helping each individual grow in love for Christ while promoting the church’s shepherding vision through a one-on-one relationship.