Bi-Vocational Associate Pastor at East Lake Road C&MA

The Christian and Missionary Alliance; Erie (Erie County); On-site; USD 15,000 - 18,000; Part time

Job summary

The Bi-vocational Associate Pastor at East Lake Road C&MA in Erie, PA serves part-time, balancing ministry with outside work. You will lead and support youth and children’s ministries, collaborate with parents, volunteers, and church leadership to foster Christ-centered faith in the next generation.

Responsibilities include teaching Scripture, mentoring leaders, planning activities, and ensuring safe, developmentally appropriate curricula.

Qualifications

• Growing relationship with Jesus Christ
• Character marked by humility, integrity, emotional maturity, and teachability
• Experience working with youth and/or children
• Strong relational and communication skills
• Ability to develop leaders
• Agreement with the church’s statement of faith and mission
• Ordination in the C&MA or in process (if applicable)

Responsibilities

• Teach Scripture in age-appropriate, engaging ways.
• Lead or coordinate regular youth and children’s ministry gatherings.
• Cultivate environments that encourage students to follow Jesus, grow in faith, and belong in Christian community.
• Identify and mentor emerging young leaders.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers for youth and children’s ministries.
• Equip volunteers with vision, resources, and pastoral care.
• Build healthy ministry teams marked by encouragement and shared responsibility.
• Partner with parents as primary spiritual influencers and communicate with families.
• Provide pastoral presence for students and families as appropriate.
• Plan ministry rhythms, events, retreats, and service opportunities.
• Implement biblically faithful and developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Ensure safe ministry practices and child protection policies.
• Manage assigned budgets responsibly.
• Participate in staff meetings and ministry planning.
• Support worship services as needed.
• Encourage youth and children to participate in the broader life of the church.

Skills

Strong relational skills

Communication skills

Youth/children experience

Develop leaders

Humility, integrity, emotional mature

Faith alignment with church

Education

Ordained or in process (C&MA)

Formal theological education helpful but not required

Job description

Bi-Vocational Associate Pastor at East Lake Road C&MA

Status: Part-Time / Bi-vocational (20–25 hours/week; negotiable)

Reports to: Senior Pastor

Compensation: $1,500 / month

Summary

The Bi-vocational Associate Pastor provides pastoral leadership and spiritual formation for children, youth, and their families. This role emphasizes disciplemaking, relational ministry, and volunteer development rather than program-driven activity. The Associate Pastor will partner with parents, volunteers, and church leadership to nurture Christ-centered faith in the next generation.

Primary Responsibilities

In partnership with current volunteers:

• Teach Scripture in age-appropriate, engaging ways.
• Lead or coordinate regular youth and children’s ministry gatherings.
• Cultivate environments that encourage students to follow Jesus, grow in faith, and belong in Christian community.
• Identify and mentor emerging young leaders.
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers for youth and children’s ministries.
• Equip volunteers with vision, resources, and pastoral care.
• Build healthy ministry teams marked by encouragement and shared responsibility.

Family Partnership & Pastoral Care

• Partner with parents as primary spiritual influencers.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with families.
• Provide pastoral presence for students and families as appropriate.

Planning & Administration

• Plan ministry rhythms, events, retreats, and service opportunities.
• Implement biblically faithful and developmentally appropriate curriculum.
• Ensure safe ministry practices and child protection policies.
• Manage assigned budgets responsibly.
• Participate in staff meetings and ministry planning.
• Support worship services as needed (prayer, Scripture, announcements, preaching as gifted).
• Encourage youth and children to participate in the broader life of the church.

Qualifications

• An evident and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Character marked by humility, integrity, emotional maturity, and teachability.
• Experience working with youth and/or children.
• Strong relational and communication skills.
• Ability to develop leaders rather than do all ministry alone.
• Agreement with the church’s statement of faith and mission.
• Formal theological education helpful but not required.
• Ordained (or in process of getting ordained) in the C&MA

Bi-vocational Expectations

• Ability to balance ministry responsibilities alongside outside employment.
• Clear communication regarding availability and scheduling.
• Commitment to healthy boundaries and sustainable ministry.
• All other assigned duties as needed and/or passion influences

Schedule

• Approximately 20–25 hours per week.
• Includes Sundays, 1–2 evenings per week, and occasional weekends or retreats.

This position requires licensing with The Christian & Missionary Alliance.