Director of Children & Youth Ministery
Purpose: To focus on ministry with children and youth and work on developing spiritual faith resources for them and their families within the United Methodist tradition. This includes the primary responsibility for equipping volunteers with children and youth to serve with confidence and to build a sustainable system for ministry.
Accountability: Director of Children and Youth Ministry is accountable to the senior pastor and staff parish relations committee.
Expectations:
Accountability: Director of Children and Youth Ministry is accountable to the senior pastor and staff parish relations committee.
Expectations:
- Serve as a leader for faith formation ministries for children and youth.
- Participate in staff meetings and coordination of ministries with other staff persons.
- Rotate through Sunday School classes; be visible and approachable by all.
- Develop a parent/adult involvement plan in conjunction with the volunteer coordinator.
- Articulate to parents and the congregation the purpose and goals of the church’s programs for children and youth.
- Build personal, pastoral relationships with children, youth, and parents and work in cooperation with other staff members and volunteers in the congregation.
- Build a network of professional relationships and pursue continuing education in children and youth ministry.
- Provide an ongoing volunteer training program that inspires volunteers with the vision, values, and goals, equips volunteers for serving, and provides resources specific to their area of serving.
- Assures that the child and youth protection policy is adhered to.
- Develop an overarching faith formation plan for children and youth ministry.
- Participates in administrative board meetings as a staff resource.
- Oversee all volunteer areas and help coordinate with the appropriate members.
- Conduct planning meetings with volunteers twice a year and communicate with them monthly.
- Promote participation in all local, district, and conference church events.
- Develop/Plan/Supply a curriculum that promotes growth in Christianity and discipleship that is energetic and engaging for teachers to include Sunday School, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings, that include all necessary supplies.
- Serve as communications director for the childrens’/youth ministries.
- Communicate often with the senior pastor and lay leaders to keep them informed of the youth activities.
- Communicate regularly with youth, parents, and volunteers.
- Provide detailed itineraries, release forms, fees for any events in a timely manner.
- Provide treasurer and church secretary with any receipts, expense reports, fees collected, etc. in a timely manner (bi-weekly).
- Work closely with Master Calendar and Major Events Coordinator to ensure all local, district, and conference events are up to date with current information.
- Be active in the lives of the youth outside of the church.
- Communicate with other youth leaders in our community and the school district.
- Work with Volunteer Coordinator to ensure all volunteers have gone through appropriate application and screening to work with young people.
- Troubleshooting of problems in the youth ministry that honors the concerns of those who brought them and offers timely, creative solutions to problems in the youth ministry.
- The “in-between-the-cracks” needs of the youth/children’s ministry should be handled in a professional and timely manner, including bulletin boards, photography, attendance, newsletter articles, attendance, announcements, forms, registration, etc. (Some of these of course can and should be delegated through the volunteer pool.)
- Work as a coordinator of the children’s ministry committee and manage the overarching priorities of the children’s ministry.
- Schedule/Plan/Oversee age-appropriate events to include, but not limited to:
- Back to School Celebrations
- Christmas Program
- Easter Egg Hunt
- End of School Celebration
- Vacation Bible School
- Work with the senior pastor in the implementation of the confirmation class that serves as a bridge from Children’s activities into Youth activities.
- To include a school-year-long program of study during which time there are Sunday School classes and outside of Sunday activities both on and off campus.
- Course would be offered on a yearly basis or as necessary.
- Serve as coordinator of the youth ministries committee and manage the overarching priorities of the youth ministry.
- Coordinate opportunities for youth to integrate into the ministry of the congregation.
- Schedule/Plan/Oversee age-appropriate events to include, but not limited to:
- Back to School Celebrations
- Halloween Carnival
- Summer Reward Trip
- Local Mission Opportunities
- Vacation Bible School
- Angel Tree Project
- Youth Christmas Party
- Mother’s Day Outing
- Rally Days
- And multiple other opportunities to build relationships with each other and Christ.
- Develop personal relationships with the youth and their families and provide pastoral care as appropriate.
- Follow up with first-time visitors within a week of their visit.
- Follow up with youth who do not regularly attend; develop an outreach program.
- Have a deep-rooted faith in God and a desire to guide young people on their path to Christianity and discipleship.
- Energetic, passionate, emotionally mature, organized, administrative, responsible, and kind.
- Promote a climate of trust and support in a safe environment where every young person feels wanted and loved. As trust grows, faith is revealed.
- Commit to being a local resident; not a commuter (preferably within Sheridan School District).
- Interact well with children, youth, and adults.
- Be approachable and possess a gift for listening, understanding, and offering wise counsel.
- Demonstrate skills of a team player who can work collegially and in close consultation with the pastor, lay leaders, and the program and administrative staff of the church.
- Experience working with children and youth
- Working knowledge or willingness to learn of children’s and youth ministry curriculums
- Organization, recruitment, and communication skills (i.e social media, email, text, etc.)
- Possess or be willing to obtain a CDL within a 6-month period.
- Attend annual children and youth ministry training events provided by the conference and others at the regional and/or national level.