Pastoral Intern

Providence Presbyterian Church in Quakertown is seeking to establish a three-month summer pastoral internship at that will:

• Engage the intern’s gifts in service to the church
• Foster growth in ministry and leadership
• Support the intern in discerning a potential long-term direction in ministry

The internship at Providence Presbyterian Church offers meaningful opportunities for growth through hands-on ministry and active engagement in the life of the church. While it is especially suited for those with teaching elder experience or advanced seminary training, individuals who are early in their pastoral journey are also encouraged to apply and can benefit greatly from this role.

Outreach Focus
Set a positive example for community outreach, helping Providence Church grow in grace internally while sharing faith externally through reliance on the Holy Spirit. Support and equip members to share their faith and disciple new believers and actively assist with outreach initiatives such as Vacation Bible School.

Pastoral Shepherding Focus
The intern will serve the church by providing pastoral care to its members. This involves building relationships across age groups, offering support in various ways, and faithfully praying for the congregation. The intern will assist both pastors in these responsibilities and receive mentorship from them and the broader session throughout the role.

Teaching, Preaching and Leading Worship Focus
Those called to ministry are expected to faithfully and skillfully handle Scripture, as encouraged in 2 Timothy 2:15. This responsibility may include opportunities to teach, preach, lead congregational prayer, and participate in worship leadership within the church, all under the guidance and supervision of the session.

Church Planting Vision, Relationships, Planning/Evaluation
As Providence Presbyterian Church seeks guidance and works with the Presbytery on the possibility of planting a new church in the area, the Pastoral Intern will play a valuable role in supporting the session’s evaluation process. This includes contributing to the development of vision, assisting with presbytery and other key relationships, and helping coordinate the planning and understanding of the overall church planting process.

Training and Development
While Providence Church will benefit from the pastoral intern’s contributions to the life and ministry of the congregation, our greater desire is that the internship serve as a context for the intern’s continued growth and preparation for future service.

This includes deepening his understanding of Scripture and the grace of our Lord, strengthening his grasp of the confessional standards, and cultivating readiness for pastoral ministry within the church and, potentially, within the Eastern Presbytery of the PCA. To support this development, the internship will incorporate the following elements:

• Active Participation in Governance: Regular attendance at Providence session meetings as well as Presbytery gatherings, providing exposure to the broader structures of church leadership and accountability.
• Personal Spiritual Discipline: Ongoing self-study with intentional focus on Scripture reading and prayer, fostering both theological depth and spiritual maturity.
• Mentorship and Feedback: One-on-one regular meetings with Rev. Mark Fodale to review objectives, assess growth, and provide encouragement, prayer, and direction.
• Formal Evaluation: A final debrief and evaluation conducted by the session at the end of the internship, ensuring reflection on progress and areas for continued growth.
• Congregational Input: Feedback from the congregation will be received, not through formal surveys, but captured informally through conversations and observations, allowing their perspective on the intern’s ministry impact.

Oversight of the Pastoral Intern is provided by the Providence senior pastor, Rev. Mark Fodale, who will offer ongoing guidance and feedback through one-on-one mentoring and regular meetings throughout the internship. During the intern’s time at Providence, any challenges, concerns, or questions may be brought to Mark Fodale or any session member for prompt attention. For day-to-day support, the intern can rely on both Mark Fodale and Jonathan Kuciemba as primary points of contact.

• Collaborative team player with PPC church leadership
• Able to work independently as well as in partnership with others
• Effective communicator in person, by phone, and via email with staff, ministry teams, members, and visitors
• Adaptable and responsive to multicultural environments
• Teachable, with the ability to clearly present and explain the gospel
• Proactive and willing to take initiative
• Passionate about reaching those who do not know Christ
• Highly organized with strong time management skills
• Capable of managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• Committed to personal growth in grace and the knowledge of Christ

• Seminary training well along in status or degree achieved
• Ministry experience preferred

• Applications open: January 2026
• Program Duration: Late May – early September (3 months)
• Time Commitment: Full time

The pastoral intern will receive a total of $15,000 for the three-month internship, paid as $2,500 every two weeks. Standard deductions for social security and other applicable taxes will be made, including Pennsylvania state income tax (3.07%) and Pennsburg local income tax (1%).

This position does not offer housing, a housing allowance or retirement benefits.

The intern is expected to work full-time, five days per week including Sundays, with two days off each week. Vacation days are not included due to the limited duration of the internship, but requests for time off will be considered as needed.

During the intern’s first week of service at Providence, the session will convene with him to carefully review this document and provide orientation to the expectations of the internship. Together, they will establish clear goals, objectives, plans, and measurable outcomes that will serve as a roadmap for his time in ministry. This initial meeting is intended to ensure that the intern is well grounded in the mission and life of the church, understands the priorities of the session, and has practical guidance on how and where to begin ministering.

By setting this foundation up-front, the session seeks to give the intern confidence, direction, and a framework for growth as he engages in the full breadth of church life and leadership.