Called Abroad

Baptist · Darmstadt, Germany

Pastor

Converge International Fellowship

Darmstadt, Germany
Baptist
Under 50 congregants
Full-time
€2,000/month (partial; additional support self-funded)
Posted today
Applications close: 30 June 2026
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About the role

Full-time solo pastor for Converge International Fellowship (CIF), established 2012 in Darmstadt.

Average Sunday attendance of ~50; services held at 17:00 in the German Baptist Church premises.

Member of the International Baptist Convention (IBC) and German Baptist Union (Bund EFG).

Church has been without a full-time pastor for over a year; leadership currently shared among members.

Congregation is diverse — six continents represented, many non-native English speakers, high turnover tied to study/work contracts.

Church pays €2,000/month; all additional personal expenses must be self-funded.

Apply by 30 June 2026 with cover letter, CV, and completed questionnaire to pst@convergedarmstadt.com.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead, preach, and teach the congregation on Sundays and in midweek Bible study groups.
  • Provide pastoral care and spiritual direction to a multinational, transient congregation.
  • Guide the church into its next phase of growth in numbers and spiritual maturity.
  • Oversee children's church and nursery programme during Sunday services.
  • Develop and support existing ministries and new outreach initiatives.
  • Work collaboratively with lay leaders and volunteers from diverse church backgrounds.
  • Represent CIF within the IBC and German Baptist Union networks.

Requirements

  • Sufficient theological education, training, and ministry experience (specifics not defined).
  • Fluent in English; German not listed as required but practically beneficial.
  • Meets the biblical qualifications for elder/pastor per 1 Timothy 3:1–7 and Titus 1:6–9.
  • Able to lead and teach across diverse denominational and cultural backgrounds.
  • Willing and able to self-fund the portion of salary beyond the church's €2,000/month contribution.
  • Must be eligible to live and work in Germany (note: homeschooling not permitted; international school available).

Theology & Culture

We want candidates to know exactly where we stand before they apply. Converge International Fellowship has shared the following convictions:

Women in Ministry

Complementarian

Men and women serve across many ministries, with senior pastoral or elder roles reserved for qualified men.

Sexual Ethics

Traditional

Affirms historic Christian teaching on marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman.

Beyond the role

Life in Darmstadt

Darmstadt is one of Germany's most quietly impressive mid-sized cities — a scientific and technological hub of around 160,000 people anchored by the Technical University of Darmstadt, the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), EUMETSAT, and the global headquarters of Merck. That institutional density draws a genuinely international workforce and roughly 40,000 students, which gives the city an unusually cosmopolitan character for its size. It sits in the Rhine-Main region, just 30 kilometres south of Frankfurt, making it exceptionally well-connected: Frankfurt's international airport is under an hour away, and the wider region's cultural and professional life is easily accessible by train. The city itself is liveable in the best German tradition — green, well-organised, with good public transport, excellent cycling infrastructure, and a café and restaurant scene that punches above its weight. Architecturally, Darmstadt is known for its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) heritage, with striking buildings from the early twentieth century alongside more modern development. The cost of living is lower than Frankfurt and significantly lower than London or Zurich. For families, it offers good schools (including an international option), safe neighbourhoods, and a pace of life that feels genuinely sustainable.