Director of Children and Youth Ministries

outh Carolina United Methodist Conference; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church seeks a full-time Director of Children and Youth Ministries. This role involves leading youth programs, nurturing faith through activities, and fostering community relationships. Candidates should possess a Master’s degree and relevant experience with a strong Christian foundation.

Benefits

Disability insurance

Retirement plan

Paid leave for vacation and sick days

Continuing education programs

Qualifications

• Strong spiritual background and relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Three to five years’ experience in an equivalent position.
• Dynamic leader with passion for ministry.

Responsibilities

• Lead and implement children's and youth programs.
• Recruit, supervise, and train staff and volunteers.
• Engage with families and develop community outreach activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Program Development

Engagement with Community

Education

Master’s degree in Christian Ministry or related field

Job description

Director of Children and Youth Ministries

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church (SIUMC) in Savannah, GA, seeks a full-time Director of Children and Youth Ministries to serve as an integral part of the church’s senior ministerial staff. The Director of Children and Youth Ministries serves children, youth, and their families in the church and community through developing, implementing, administering, and growing programs designed to meet their spiritual, social, and emotional needs.

OUR CHURCH:

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, founded in 1987, has grown to a congregation of some 900 people, the largest membership of five houses of worship on Skidaway Island. Many, but not all, of our members live at The Landings, an established gated community of 8,500 residents. While many of the church’s members are active retirees, the congregation includes all age groups, and our children and youth programs are active, viable, and growing. Skidaway Island is located 15 miles from downtown Savannah, a popular tourist destination known for historic preservation, active arts-oriented organizations, and a diverse musical community, all described at http://www.visitsavannah.com/. With facilities as diverse as close access to the ocean, water sports, parks and ball fields, public and private athletic programs, museums, and opportunities to serve the community through many existing social welfare programs, the area presents almost unlimited opportunities for meaningful programs for children and youth.

The Skidaway Island United Methodist Church is a community in covenant with God. We are people who proclaim the Gospel by our words and actions as members of the Body of Christ. We are committed to living according to God’s will and growing in our Christian faith as revealed in scripture and further clarified by tradition, personal experience and reason. We are given to nurturing, compassion, justice, peace, love, service, and reconciliation.

SIUMC embraces the following mission: Welcoming people to Christ; growing in our relationship with God; and loving others through service. We seek to accomplish our mission through the five ministry areas of worship, education, fellowship, nurture, and missions. Applying our core values of love, faith, prayer, and service, we strive to achieve our vision of Changing Lives: physically; spiritually; and eternally.

• Sanctuary (capacity 500, equipped with quiet room) with two morning services (8:30 and 10:00)
• Chapel (capacity 100)
• Other Administrative Facilities: Offices (Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Director of Adult Ministries, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, and Controller) and Main Office/Reception Area (Church Office Coordinator and Communications Coordinator)
• Music Suite with Choir Room, Director’s Office, and Music Library.
• Fellowship Hall and Kitchen
• Nursery suitable for infants and toddlers, recently remodeled
• Youth Classrooms/Meeting Space, recently remodeled
• Classrooms and Library

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES:

The children and youth ministries are important ways that the church reaches out to the community. Over 800 people attended the Fall Festival on a Sunday afternoon last year. It included a wide variety of entertainment and learning programs for children of all ages. Inflatables lined our parking lot along the only road to the island. A petting zoo brought nature to those who are young and those young at heart as they were entertained by a Blue Grass Gospel Band. Food Trucks, carnival games, and sports activities for youth attracted many people who do not normally attend church. In the same way, the Drama Camp and Music Exploration Camp offered in summer attracted many children from unchurched families, leading some to seek a greater spiritual faith by attending and joining our congregation. We support a Boy Scout group that came to us seeking a place to receive religious guidance.

EQUIPMENT:

• The Fellowship Hall is being modified to serve also as a basketball court and youth activity center
• The 12-passenger bus is available for youth mission trips and retreats
• A full complement of teaching and learning materials, games, musical instruments, and toys are available.

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES:

The Director of Children and Youth Ministries leads one of our most important forms of outreach, ministering to church members and nonmembers on Skidaway Island and beyond. We seek to appoint an individual who professes a vital Christian faith, has a relationship with Christ that is compatible with United Methodist theology and polity, and experiences ministry to children and youth as a calling rather than a job. The position is full-time, requiring a personal and professional commitment of 40+ hours per week. The hours can be irregular to meet the schedules of the children and youth. Travel with mission groups of children, youth, and their families will occur. Leading and participating with children and youth in learning activities, sports, mission activities, and recreational activities will require energy, strength, and dexterity.

The Director must be an active part of the life and ministry of the church, working in cooperation with the Senior Pastor and other members of the ministerial staff and also with laity. The Director, as with all staff, reports directly to the Senior Pastor. The Discipline of the United Methodist Church also assigns the Staff Parish Relations Committee the responsibility for setting annual evaluations, salary adjustments, benefits, and other considerations for all staff personnel. In our church, a member of the Committee is assigned to each staff member to serve as a liaison and representative to the Committee. The Director recruits, supervises, trains, and schedules the Nursery staff, interns, and volunteers involved in all programs and activities for children and youth.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong spiritual background and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ
• Dynamic leader with a passion for ministry to children, youth, and their families
• Demonstrated ability to communicate well with children, youth, and their families, in person, in writing, and with a focus on social media and website applications
• Demonstrated ability to create and develop new programs
• Willingness to adapt and share in the general ministry of the church
• Master’s degree majoring in a field related to Christian Ministry for children, youth, and their families, or an equivalent combination of training and experience
• High level of understanding of United Methodist theology and polity pertaining to the teaching, training, and development of faith for children and youth
• Three to five years’ experience in an equivalent position in a church of a comparable size
• Excellent character and self-starter

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Conduct him/herself in a Christ-like manner and demonstrate high Biblical standards in personal life
• Establish meaningful personal relationships with children, youth, and their families in both the congregation and the community by investing time and interest in their lives
• Plan, implement, and supervise weekly activities for the children and youth including Sunday morning worship and Sunday School, and Wednesday night Youth Group. Work to develop a weekly ministry opportunity for children as well as other events that will encourage children and youth to grow in faith and understanding
• Recruit, train, and supervise nursery staff for Sunday mornings and any other events when SIUMC offers nursery services, including maintaining a monthly schedule for nursery staff
• Identify curriculum and educational resources for all children, youth, and family Sunday School and other educational programs
• Recruit, equip, train, and supervise interns and volunteers to serve in the church’s ministries for children, youth, and their families.
• Be responsible for documenting that all persons involved in programs for children and youth follow the SIUMC Safe Sanctuary policy. File annual reports in January each year with the Staff Parish Relations Committee documenting compliance with the Safe Sanctuary policy.
• Build upon the growing children and youth ministries to increase participation by children, youth, and their families to enrollment goals set by agreement with the Senior Pastor annually
• Develop and track milestones that encourage children and youth to grow in faith and understanding
• Engage children and youth about worship service by demonstrating and leading them to participate in the main worship services through service as acolytes, crucifers, offering the prayer, scripture reading, presenting the liturgy, leading the creed, reading during the lighting of Advent candles, and other ways acceptable to the Senior Pastor
• Work effectively with parents to foster support of the children’s and youth programs, including ongoing communication to provide opportunities for input and feedback, and to support faith development within the family
• Plan, develop, and implement programs for parents and other adults in families with children and youth to gather for social, educational, and worship activities
• Coordinate seasonal events for children, youth, and families such as Family Christmas Eve Service, Fall Festival, and Easter Egg Hunt
• Plan and implement summer camp opportunities such as Music Exploration Camp and Drama Camp to engage children in our church and community
• Plan and publicize fellowship opportunities for the children, youth, and their families to grow in relationship and friendship
• Organize periodic hands-on mission experiences tailored to appropriate age groupings, including mission trips, for children, youth, and their families to live out their faith by serving others
• Inspect the nursery each week to be sure it is safe, clean, and welcoming for families and small children
• Following any activity with children, youth, or their families, inspect the space and facility in which the activity was conducted to leave it neat, clean, and safe for the next activity
• Effectively communicate and publicize events through text, Facebook, Instagram and additional social media applications
• Support children and youth by attending school plays, music and sporting events, and other activities
• Lead the Confirmation class lessons, with assistance from the Senior Pastor and Director of Adult Ministries as needed
• Attend and participate in staff meetings working as a team with other staff members to advance the mission and vision of SIUMC
• Serve a team player, able to work together with all other church staff, volunteers, members, and families in a cooperative spirit to achieve the Mission and Vision of the church while displaying the Values of the church
• Meet on a weekly basis with the Senior Pastor, staff, and lay leadership in coordinating worship
• Attend and participate in administrative and program committee meetings of the church as requested
• Collaborate with cross-over ministries such as music, adults, young adults, missions, evangelism, and other areas as needed
• Promote awareness of Christian vocations and the understanding of how God calls believers to ministry.
• Participate in the wider life of the church as appropriate
• Serve as liaison with other children’s and/or youth groups and their leaders in the community
• Effectively manage the budgets for youth and children’s ministries
• Accept and perform other responsibilities as assigned

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

The salary is competitive, commensurate with training and experience, and benefits include disability insurance, a retirement plan, and paid leave for: vacation, sick, and personal days; extended medical leave; bereavement leave; Jury Duty leave; Holiday leave; and continuing education programs.

Application Materials:

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position and a statement of your personal faith
• A résumé or curriculum vitae including contact information for three professional references and your employment history in church ministry for children and youth positions

Send application materials by mail or email to:

MAIL:

Phyllis Albertson, Children and Youth Search Chair

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church

Church Phone: [phone]

Church FAX: [phone]

Website: www.siumc.org

Deadline for applications: Application period is open until the position is filled.