Purpose: To direct, grow, and nurture the children and family ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Allentown, helping children, youth, and families know God’s love, grow in faith, build relationships across the congregation, and participate in the life and mission of the church.
Qualifications: The ideal candidate will possess the following:
- A sincere, informed, and enthusiastic faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian gospel.
- A commitment to serving children, youth, families, and the church with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love.
- Experience with and understanding of family systems, child development, and educational practices that support age-appropriate faith formation.
- The ability to recruit, train, equip, encourage, and empower volunteers and ministry leaders.
- Familiarity with and knowledge of the Presbyterian Church (USA), including its worship, theology, and polity, or a willingness to learn.
- A willingness to grow professionally and spiritually through supervision, feedback, continuing education, collaboration, and the changing needs of ministry.
Accountability: The Director of Children and Families shall have primary accountability to the Pastor for Faith Formation. This is a full-time position without prescribed hours, as activities and needs fluctuate throughout the year and with Christian seasons. It is expected that all duties and responsibilities will be fulfilled on time according to the activity or seasonal needs of the ministry.
Key Position Responsibilities: The duties required in this position fulfill two interrelated professional roles: direct leadership and oversight of our children’s ministries, and support and guidance for our broader family ministry
Direct Leadership and Oversight of our Children’s Ministries:
· Recruit, train, and empower teachers, group leaders, specialists, and volunteers who together will implement children’s ministry programs, including Nursery, Preschool, and Kindergarten through 5th grade ministries.
· Schedule leaders and substitutes for Sunday morning faith formation programming through the Fall and Spring seasons for children and youth ministries.
· Oversee the nursery and nursery care staff and volunteers.
· Spearhead, with assistance and guidance from the Pastor for Faith Formation and the Faith Formation Team, the process of choosing, creating, and/or developing curricula most ideally suited for the particular age groupings of the children.
· Coordinate with other church leaders, especially wherever their work in the church could overlap with and enhance the faith formation of children and their families.
· Utilize and promote social network communication tools to communicate with families, consistent with the church’s internet communications policy.
· Coordinate efforts with necessary staff for periods of transition and milestones in children’s lives, such as new preschoolers and Pre-K children, rising Kindergarteners, 2nd and 4th graders, rising 6th graders entering middle school ministry, welcoming children to the Lord’s Table, Bible distribution, and other significant faith formation moments.
Support and Guidance for Family Ministry:
· Support and guide, with the Pastor for Faith Formation and the Faith Formation team, the church’s ministry with families from birth through high school, helping families experience connection, care, belonging, and growth in faith.
· Make regular contact with parents and caregivers with children and youth still living at home. Contact should include welcome, pastoral awareness, ministry invitations, and connection to age-appropriate opportunities.
· Assist the Pastor for Faith Formation in developing and providing opportunities for youth and their families including Sunday morning faith formation, fellowship opportunities, mission opportunities, special events, and intergenerational faith formation opportunities.
· Develop and implement opportunities for children, youth, their families, and the greater community to grow in faith through formation, worship, fellowship, and relationships. This could include Vacation Bible School, The Love Feast, Easter Egg Hunt, Trunk-or-Treat, Advent for All, Pentecost Celebration, and other seasonal or ongoing ministries.
· Create and maintain a monthly calendar of children, youth, and family ministry activities, coordinating with the Pastor for Faith Formation, the Faith Formation team, and church staff.
· Serve on the Faith Formation Team, offering staff support, ministry updates, collaboration, and leadership for children and family ministry priorities.
· Maintain all Safe Sanctuary clearances for leaders working directly with children and youth in accordance with the FPCA Safe Sanctuary Policy.
Evaluation: Performance reviews will be conducted annually by the Pastor for Faith Formation.
Terms of Employment:
- The salary range is $48,000 to $60,000, based off education and experience. This position is not ordained.
- Salary, benefits, and other terms of employment will be administered in accordance with the policies contained in the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown Personnel Manual, a copy of which along with the PCUSA Book of Order will be provided to each employee.
- Successfully pass a criminal background check in accordance with the congregation’s Safe Sanctuaries policy.
Continuing Education: Continuing Education 2 weeks + $750 (may accumulate to 6 weeks and $1,125).
NOTE: This description contains the information and facts considered necessary to describe and evaluate the duties of this position fairly and equitably. It should not be considered an exhaustive description of all the work requirements to be performed, but indicates the kinds of duties and levels of responsibility required by the position. The Pastor or the pastor’s designee will have the prerogative of adding or deleting responsibilities as occasion may require.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $48,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
