How to Post a Ministry Position on MinistryPlace Jobs: A Guide for Churches

How to Post a Ministry Position on MinistryPlace Jobs: A Guide for Churches

You have an opening. Maybe your pastor just resigned. Maybe you have been without leadership for months and the search committee is finally ready to make it official. Maybe you are a small church that has never listed a position online before.

You do not have a big budget. You do not have an HR department. You need help.

This guide walks you through exactly how to post a ministry position on MinistryPlace Jobs — from choosing your listing tier to writing a posting that actually attracts the right candidate.

Step 1: Understand the Listing Tiers

MinistryPlace Jobs offers three tiers. All of them are significantly less expensive than other ministry job boards, because the churches we serve count every dollar. Full pricing comparison.

Standard — Free (60 days)

Your listing appears in search results for 60 days. Candidates can apply by email (unlimited applications). Standard placement in the listings. No account or payment required — just fill out the form.

Best for: Churches with limited budgets that want to test the board or reach candidates who are actively browsing. If your position is straightforward and you do not need extra visibility, start here.

Featured — $49 (60 days)

Everything in Standard, plus: top placement in search results, a Featured badge, and a bold highlighted listing that stands out from standard posts. Same 60-day duration.

Best for: Churches that need more visibility for a harder-to-fill role — rural positions, bi-vocational roles, or churches in remote areas where the candidate pool is thin. The Featured badge signals to candidates that you are serious about the search.

Premium — $99 (90 days)

Everything in Featured, plus: 90-day duration (50% longer than Standard or Featured), pinned to the top of search results for the full 90 days, and promotion through the MinistryPlace newsletter and social media channels. This reaches candidates who are not actively browsing the board.

Best for: Churches in the most challenging search situations — very remote locations, specialized roles, or positions where you have struggled to find candidates. The extended duration and newsletter promotion give you the best chance of reaching passive candidates who might be open to the right opportunity.

How We Compare to Other Boards

Board	Standard	Featured	Small Church Focus
MinistryPlace Jobs	Free (60 days)	$49 (60 days)	Yes — exclusively
Other ministry boards	Free (7 days) or $9+/mo	$29–$69/month	No

Competitor pricing based on publicly available rates as of May 2026.

Step 2: Prepare Your Job Details Before You Start

The submission form takes about 15 minutes if you have your information ready. Here is what you will need:

• Job title — Be specific. “Senior Pastor” is better than “Minister Needed.” “Bi-Vocational Youth Pastor” tells the candidate exactly what the role is.
• Location — City and state. If the position is remote or partially remote, check the “Remote Position” box.
• Job type — Full Time, Part Time, Temporary, Internship, or Freelance.
• Job description — What will this person actually do in a typical week? How many hours? What is the compensation? Who do they report to?
• Application method — An email address where candidates should send their materials. You can also include a link to an application form on your church website.
• Company name — Your church name.
• Company logo (optional) — A logo makes your listing look more professional and helps candidates recognize your church if they have visited your website.

Step 3: Write a Posting That Attracts the Right Candidate

The biggest mistake small churches make in job postings is being vague. A posting that says “seeking a faithful man or woman of God to lead our church” tells a candidate nothing — and it attracts candidates who are applying everywhere without thinking about fit.

Here is what works:

Be honest about your size and context. According to the National Congregations Study, the median American church has 70 people on Sunday morning. If your church is in that range, say so — and frame it as the strength it is. Candidates who are a poor fit for a small church will self-select out. Candidates who are called to small church ministry will be drawn in.

Be specific about the role. Do not just list responsibilities. Describe a typical week. “Preach Sunday mornings, visit shut-ins on Tuesday afternoons, lead a Wednesday evening Bible study, and serve on the community food pantry board” is infinitely more useful than “preaching and pastoral duties.”

If the position is bi-vocational, say so clearly. Lifeway Research reports that 47% of evangelical pastors work a second job. In small and rural churches, the percentage is higher. There is no shame in this. Frame it as the calling it is, and be clear about expectations for hours, compensation, and what the church provides beyond salary.

Describe your community. Rural candidates want to know about the town, the region, the school system, the cost of living. A candidate who is excited about your community is a candidate who will stay. Include a sentence or two about what makes your area a good place to live, not just work.

Step 4: Submit Your Listing

For a free Standard listing:

1. Go to Submit a Job.
2. Fill out the form completely. All fields are required except company logo.
3. Click “Submit.” Your listing will appear on the board within 1 business day.
4. You will receive a confirmation email. Applications will be directed to the email address you specified.

For a Featured or Premium listing:

1. Purchase the Featured or Premium product from the shop.
2. Go to Submit a Job and fill out the form.
3. In the job description field, include your order number.
4. Your listing will be upgraded within 1 business day.

To upgrade an existing free listing: Purchase the upgrade, then email us at the contact page with your order number and the URL of your existing listing.

Step 5: Manage Your Applications

All applications go directly to the email address you specified in the posting. There is no applicant tracking system on the board itself — you manage the process the way your church normally would.

A few tips:

• Respond to every application, even if it is just to say “We received your materials and will be in touch.” Candidates for ministry positions are used to being ignored. A simple response sets your church apart.
• Set a review timeline. Tell candidates when they can expect to hear from you, and follow through.
• Use the search committee to review materials before the full committee meets. Not every applicant needs a committee meeting.
• Check references. This is non-negotiable. Call at least three. Ask specific questions: strengths, weaknesses, how they handle conflict, would you hire them again.

Common Questions

Can I edit my listing after it is posted?
Yes. After your listing is live, you can log in to the WordPress dashboard and edit it directly. Or email us with your changes and we will update it.

What if I fill the position before the listing expires?
Email us and we will remove the listing immediately. No charge.

Do I need a church website to post?
No. Having a website URL in the listing is helpful for candidates, but it is not required. The application email is all you need.

Can I post more than one position at a time?
Yes. Each position requires its own listing, but there is no limit on how many you can post simultaneously.

More Resources for Your Search

Posting the position is only the beginning. MinistryPlace has free resources to guide your entire search process:

• Pastor Search Committee Guide — Complete step-by-step process from forming the committee to extending the call
• Interim Pastor Handbook — For the period between pastors
• Bi-Vocational Pastor’s Handbook — If your next pastor will work a second job

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Ready to post your position? Submit a free listing now — it takes about 15 minutes and your listing will be live within 1 business day.

MinistryPlace Jobs is the only ministry job board built exclusively for small and rural churches. Free, Featured, and Premium listing options. All denominations welcome. Browse open positions or post your listing today.

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Sources:

• National Congregations Study — nationalcongregationsstudy.org
• Lifeway Research, “Evangelical Pastors More Likely Than Others To Be Bivocational” (June 2025) — research.lifeway.com