Kern Church | Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Kern Church is seeking a relational and strategic ministry builder to lead ministry with children, youth, and families during an exciting season of growth and new opportunity.
We are looking for someone who can do more than personally lead strong ministry. The right person will have a demonstrated track record of recruiting, developing, and empowering other people to lead alongside them. They will be as committed to developing leaders as they are to developing ministry programs.
Kern's children's ministry is growing, youth ministry is positioned for growth, and a new childcare center will create new relationships with families throughout our community. The Director of Family Ministries will help us build on that momentum through four primary areas of leadership.
- Provide vision and leadership for children's, youth, and family ministries, strengthening and developing ministry in alignment with Kern's mission and vision.
- Give particular attention to strengthening and growing the youth ministry.
- Build meaningful relationships with students and families.
- Build and lead strong volunteer teams across children's, youth, and family ministries.
- Consistently identify, recruit, train, and develop new leaders.
- Provide leadership and supervision for nursery staff and family ministry volunteers.
- Create a culture where volunteers are equipped, supported, and given meaningful ownership of ministry.
- Develop a strategy for connecting childcare families into the life and ministry of Kern.
- Lead outreach and connection opportunities that build meaningful relationships with new families and the broader community.
- Help create clear pathways from connection to deeper engagement and champion a next-steps mindset across Kern's ministries and outreach.
- Serve as a member of Kern's executive staff leadership team and collaborate with staff and lay leaders to strengthen ministry across the church.
- Contribute to church-wide ministry strategy and help align ministries with Kern's mission, vision, and priorities.
- Maintain a visible presence in Sunday worship and the broader life of the congregation.
- Participate in worship leadership and preaching as appropriate to gifts and experience.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have a growing personal faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to ongoing spiritual growth.
- Have a demonstrated track record of recruiting, developing, and leading effective volunteer teams.
- Be a relational leader who can build meaningful connections with children, students, parents, and volunteers.
- Be a strategic builder who can strengthen existing ministries, develop new opportunities, and turn ideas into action.
- Have at least three years of relevant experience working with children, youth, and families in ministry or a related setting.
- Be organized, collaborative, and able to lead multiple areas of ministry while contributing to the broader direction of the church.
- Align with Kern's mission, vision, and values and be able to lead faithfully within the United Methodist and Wesleyan tradition in a congregation that welcomes people from a range of theological perspectives and affirms the full participation of all people in the life, leadership, and ministry of the church.
A bachelor's degree in a related field and/or professional ministry certification is preferred but not required. Demonstrated leadership, character, and effectiveness are more important than any particular educational path.
Employment is contingent upon successful completion of Kern's required Safe Gatherings certification and criminal background screening.
Salary: $45,000–$52,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus health insurance and retirement benefits.
This is a full-time position with a flexible weekly schedule. Sunday morning presence and regular evening and weekend ministry are part of the role.
Kern Church is a United Methodist congregation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, committed to being people helping people belong, grow in faith, and make a difference.
Organization: Kern Church, United Methodist
Contact: Will Conner
Phone: 8654835273
Closing Date: 08/31/2026
