Clergy Search

Our Overall Profile

We are a small traditional church in Watertown, NY, the largest city in the North Country region of NY, about 70 miles north of Syracuse, 30 miles south of the Canadian border, and in close proximity to Fort Drum U.S. Army installation. Our previous pastor retired after 30 years of service at Concordia, and we are searching for a pastor to serve our congregation.

Our congregation consists of dedicated and faithful Christians who love the Lord and strive to live their lives and serve Him and others in the ways which He has taught us. During this time of transition, we have been blessed by the supply services of three Episcopal priests and our deacon. We have a 10 a.m. Sunday morning worship service with music provided on the organ by our music director. We are working to increase the size of our vocal choir and to re-establish a handbell choir. Our outreach programs include supporting the local Urban Mission Food Pantry with funds and food, supporting various ELCA programs such as Lutheran Disaster Response and Good Gifts, and providing events such as a German Lunch, Holiday Bazaar, and Flea Market.

Our hope is to find a pastor who is a Minister of Word and Sacrament, who is enthusiastic and upbeat about joining our family of faith, and can have positive relationships with our parishioners. Skills that we deem essential are the ability for biblical preaching/teaching and the ability to help us apply God’s Word to our own lives. We would also like to have someone who is comfortable visiting the sick and shut-ins and giving counsel when needed. Having a sense of joy and humor and some technological skills would be added bonuses.

We are excited to be collaborating with the Theresa Presbyterian Church in nearby Theresa, NY to share a full-time pastor to serve both churches. Each church would retain their own identity and affiliation and is open to working together on joint ministry or mission projects and social get-togethers. A covenant will be established to delineate the specific nature of the shared position. Each congregation has a housing option available so there is flexibility as to where a pastor chooses to reside. Both congregations have strengths to build upon and support each other to make this a full-time and rewarding call. If a prospective pastor is not interested in having a full-time position, (s)he could choose to be the pastor of only Concordia Lutheran Church and not participate in a shared ministry.

We encourage you to contact us if you are interested in learning more about this position. In addition, you may contact our synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at elca.org. Click on “Call Process” in the top tool bar; then scroll down and click on “Current Openings”. Items you may want to mark are: NY state; Congregation-organized; Small city, Solo pastor. Concordia should be one of the listings that appears.

Our Church Community: Family of Faith

We are believers in Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, who unite to worship, bear witness and provide Christian service. We see ourselves as a Family of Faith, caring about and supporting each other, and we enjoy spending time together at informal weekly fellowship after worship. Our worship is a traditional Lutheran service with an average attendance of 26 to 30 people, with more on holidays. Our congregation ranges in age from 1 to 90. Over half of our people are age 50 and over. Over half of our congregation live more than 3 miles from the church, and several are 20 to 30 miles away. We have a core group of leaders and a supportive congregation. We believe that we are a friendly and welcoming church to visitors and newcomers.

We have one Deacon, one lay- person worship service assistant, and one paid staff person- our music director and organist. As in all Lutheran churches, music is a very important part of our worship service.

Our church was officially established in 1906 and met in another church building in Watertown. The current church was built in 1971 and has added some additions such as the library and the covered foyer at the parking lot entry into the building.

Our Surrounding Community

Watertown, NY is a small city of about 27,000 people located on the Black River and is the hub of Jefferson County in northern New York State. This semi-rural area has much to offer and is family friendly. It has a relatively low crime rate and law enforcement officers are respected and supported by the community. The Flower Memorial Library is part of the North Country Library System and offers various programs for all ages and has a good book collection. A new and expanded “Y” (YMCA) that features two pools, a wellness center, an indoor track, tennis and pickleball courts, art rooms, and a teaching kitchen has recently been built in the center of the city. The schools in the area are good and are major employers. Samaritan Medical Center, also a major employer, is a medical facility/hospital with a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. Behavioral health services dealing with mental health, addiction recovery, and intellectual and developmental disability services and programs, along with a host of related support services, are provided at Citizen Advocates. The largest employer in the area is Fort Drum, home of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, the nation’s most deployed soldiers, with both military and civilian jobs, and currently, three Lutheran chaplains. Watertown and the surrounding area have a large tourism and hospitality industry with hotels, restaurants and other attractions in the Thousand Islands and along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. Nearby Sackets Harbor is especially rich with the history of the area. Educationally, Watertown is home to SUNY Jefferson which offers Associate, Bachelors, and graduate programs designed for transfer or careers. Other colleges in the area are St. Lawrence University in Canton, Clarkson University in Potsdam, Syracuse University, and SUNY campuses in Canton, Potsdam, and Oswego. Culturally, there are opportunities to hear the Orchestra of Northern New York in Watertown and Potsdam; a concert series at a local Episcopal church; and various summer concert series which are offered at some of the surrounding small towns and villages. Watertown has a Lyric Theater group for those interested in performing or viewing a theater production. Work is currently proceeding on the transformation of an old theater and some vacant storefronts into a performing arts center where concerts, comedy shows, theater productions, movie showings and other performances will be presented. The city of Syracuse also offers various cultural events. Sports enthusiasts can watch the Watertown Red & Black semi-professional football team, the Watertown Wolves minor professional hockey team, or the Watertown Rapids collegiate baseball team. In addition, there are lots of high school sports games to attend and enjoy. If you like the outdoors, there are lots of choices for recreation due to our location near rivers, lakes, fields, forests, parks, and mountain peaks – fishing, boating, hiking, camping, swimming, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. If you don’t want to participate in any of these activities, you can always just relax and enjoy the scenic views! Canada is only 30 miles away, can be reached by car or ferry, and offers many interesting events and opportunities also.