Park Church Residency Program
Our residency program creates the opportunity to understand and practice contextualized ministry, grow as an integrated and dynamic leader, and develop practically and theologically as a follower of Jesus. Residencies are full-time, support-raised positions with a two-year timeframe (plus a possible, project-oriented third year if mutually discerned and agreed on). Training, ongoing coaching, pay, and community are provided for the support raising process.
You can jump to open residency positions here or keep reading to learn more about the program.
Residency Overview:
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
Regardless of the responsibilities ultimately owned by the resident, he or she can expect the following from their time participating on our team:
Understand & Practice Contextualized Ministry
- Learn and observe how the unchanging Gospel and truths of Scripture get worked out in a particular cultural context
- Participate in putting contextualization into practice, responding to felt needs and questions with the Bible’s answers
- Speak into and help shape structures and opportunities for greater ministry to flourish
Grow as an Integrated & Dynamic Leader
- Learn how the components of your life and story honestly integrate with the grand Story God is telling in the world
- Discern your own wiring and work out your giftings, working alongside others and within teams, likewise leading others to do the same
- Experience greater healing and wholeness in your relationship with Jesus, from which you lead other people
Develop Theologically & Practically as a Follower of Jesus
- Gain clear biblical and theological categories for God, ourselves, the church, and the world
- Work out your theology in the practice of ministry, enlivening the core doctrines of the Christian faith for our everyday lives
- Explore how clear commitments to regular practices form our lives in Christ for greater fruitfulness
BREAKDOWN OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Work Within Specific Ministry Area (50–60%)
- Serve and operate as a part of a particular team and ministry area within Park Church
- Specifics are set by the Team Lead and found in the attached job description
Personal & Professional Develpment (20–25%)
- Bimonthly time with Residency Cohort and Residency Team Leads
- Reading, listening, discussing, and writing on the key areas of focus
Cross-Departmental Exposure (15–20%)
- Presence and involvement in regular all-staff rhythms including staff meetings, prayer gatherings, etc.
- Service in particular rotating roles during Sunday services
- Invitation-based project collaboration discerned and agreed upon by ministry team leads
Cultivation & Maintenance of Financial Partner Team (5–10%)*
- Participate in fundraising training and ongoing coaching for successfully building and maintaining your financial partner team
- Invest relational time cultivating a network of people to partner with you in the Ministry Residency
*This portion of the residency will occupy 100% of the resident’s time during the first two months and slightly more than 5–10% during the summer months thereafter. A living stipend is provided during the first two months while the resident establishes a financial partner team.
Learn more about the development topics, timeline, compensation, and benefits using the PDF linked below:
Complete Residency Description
The 2026–2028 Residency Season has Begun
2026 Residency Positions:
Applications for the positions below are now open.
Community Resident
A Community Resident invests relationally in adults connected to Gospel Communities (small groups) at Park Church. This role supports group leaders, helps create training environments, and strengthens the overall health and alignment of our small group ministry.
Missions Resident
A Missions Resident helps fuel Park Church’s local and global mission by supporting key outreach events, developing leaders, caring for volunteers, and helping tell the stories of what God is doing through our church and partners.
Park College Resident
A Park College Resident provides leadership and support to the discipleship—focused ministry of the Park College Team on college campuses and with students at Park Church.
Park Students Resident: Boys Discipleship
The Park Students Resident Girls Discipleship position plays a key role in shaping the faith, character, and community experience of our students, grades 6–8. This residency provides hands-on ministry training while giving direct leadership, supervision, and relational discipleship to middle school boys.
Park Students Resident: Girls Discipleship
The Park Students Resident Girls Discipleship position plays a key role in shaping the faith, character, and community experience of our students, grades 6–8. This residency provides hands-on ministry training while giving direct leadership, supervision, and relational discipleship to middle school girls.
Young Adults Resident
A Park Young Adults Resident provides leadership and support to the community and discipleship-focused ministry of the Park Young Adults team. This involves coordinating recurring or standalone events, building new relationships, discipling young adults, and giving spiritual direction.
Resident Alumni
(and their thoughts on the program)
“The residency program has encouraged me to be a critical thinker about how to best relate the love of Jesus to the people around us. I have really enjoyed the round-table discussions that enable us to discern practical ministry applications from the reading. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to learning more about how to present the Gospel message in effective ways through proper contextualization.”
Danny Fuhr, Park College Resident
” I have loved being a part of the residency program at Park this year, as it has provided an enrichment of my personal life and ministry life. Center Church has been fascinating and challenging to me as a person pursuing vocational ministry, but also as a follower of Jesus. Learning about the ways in which we can better love and reach the people in our city through culturally relevant approaches has been my favorite part about the content. In addition to the reading, I look forward to our bi-weekly discussions as a cohort as they continue to challenge my perspective and heart.”
Madelynne Starbeck, Park Students Resident