Director of Religious Life

Lakeside; Hudson (OH); On-site; USD 31,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

Lakeside seeks a Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care to lead spiritual programming, pastoral care, and religious life across Lakeside and affiliated churches. The role includes coordinating worship services, securing visiting preachers, and guiding educational experiences for staff, residents, and guests.

The position emphasizes collaboration with the Lakeside United Methodist Church and other religious organizations, with year‑round, demanding leadership from Memorial Day through Labor

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or doctorate in theology from an ACCREDITED seminary.
• Proven track record in parish leadership or church governance with deep faith formation experience.
• Ability to relate to people of all ages, races, and theological perspectives.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills for staff, residents, and guests.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual leadership and promote Lakeside’s religious life across all programs.
• Secure preachers and manage contracts and hospitality for visiting clergy.
• Oversee worship services, bulletins, and devotional activities.
• Lead Religious Life programming, seminars, and seasonal offerings.
• Collaborate with Lakeside pillars and coordinate with local clergy.

Skills

Pastoral leadership

Communication

Conflict resolution

Team collaboration

Education

Master's or Doctoral degree in Theology

Job description

Reports To: Vice President for Programming

Job Type: Full-time during summer months, part-time in shoulder season, exempt year round

Schedule: Full-time hours (approx. 40/week) from mid-May to early September; reduced hours (approx. 10x/week) from mid-September to early May

Salary:36,000 per year

Position Summary: The Director of Religious Life & Pastoral Care will provide spiritual and pastoral leadership for the staff, residents, and guests of the Lakeside community and oversee all religious programming, in cooperation with the other three pillars, Lakeside United Methodist Church, as well as networking with other churches, religious organizations, and judicatory agencies. The position is full time from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and part time the rest of the calendar year.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Focus on Lakeside Chautauqua’s Vision Statement for Religious Life:
  • To inspire all who enter Lakeside with the spirit of God’s love.
  • To engage people of all ages in embracing the values of the Chautauqua experience.
• Provide spiritual leadership and promote the spiritual foundation of Lakeside in all areas of Lakeside’s life and governance, including the Lakeside Board of Directors, staff, residents, and guests.
• Secure all Preachers of the Week, including contracts, arrangements, and hospitality during their visits.
• Oversee the Lakefront Worship Service, Community Worship Service, Sunset Praise & Prayer, Vespers, Roman Catholic Mass, Children’s and Youth worship opportunities, including securing and hiring of staff, and the supervision of staff.
• Plan weekly and preside at worship services in coordination with preachers/leaders (i.e. Lakefront, Hoover Community Worship and Vespers). Develop and provide bulletins for each service.
• Oversee and plan all religious inspirational/educational experiences including, but not limited to Faith for Living, Religious Life Seminars, and seasonal/topical offerings, as they arise.
• Co-lead Religious Life Advisory Team with team chairperson.
• Oversee Children’s, Youth, Teen, and Young Adult ministry programs; recruit, mentor, and evaluate leadership.

• Provide general oversight of the Religious Life Program: Creating contracts, submitting vouchers for payment and supervision of Religious Life Staff, including the Religious Life Intern(s).
• Provide mentoring with staff, including goal-setting and confidential pastoral care and counseling, when requested.
• Assist in devotional elements of Lakeside’s Wednesday night Picnic in the Park.
• Lead the creation of the annual Faith Walk Devotional booklet including soliciting contributors, editing each contribution, working directly with the layout and publication team.
• Attend events and conferences to represent Lakeside as requested by the President/CEO. This may include representing Lakeside at statewide and national conferences and religious events.
• Collaborate with the other three pillars. Explore and execute plans for joint pillar programs.
• Submit and enter Marketing and space reservations into appropriate online systems. Proof Lakesider news articles prior to publication.
• Work with the Lakeside community to enhance financial support for Religious Life programming.
• Maintain communication and organize meetings with local area clergy to explore partnerships and areas of mutual concern. Invite each pastor to participate in the Lakeside Chautauqua program and send weekly updates (during the summer) and timely communications for inclusion in their parish bulletins and/or newsletters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Collaborate with the Pastor of Lakeside United Methodist Church to accomplish the following:

• Create hybrid experiences and virtual opportunities for shoulder season religious life programs, as needed. (ex. Advent and Lenten studies).
• Oversee the Spiritual Direction Program, including Centering Prayer, Spiritual Directors and retreats.
• Explore missional activities for Lakeside.

Education and/or Experience

• Master’s degree and/or earned doctorate in theology from an AATS accredited seminary.
• Preference to an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church not requiring an episcopal appointment.
• Proven track record including 30+ years of parish experience or leadership in the connectional church.
• Ability to relate to people of all ages, races, and theological perspectives.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Computer Skills

Ability to formulate and work with Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF files. Familiar with use of Teams and Zoom software.

Language Skills

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the operation.

Reasoning Ability

Strong skills in problem solving and conflict management. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions where only limited and standardization exists.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, use vision, depth perception, and have the ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to wet, cold, humid, hot, very hot, conditions and will be required to work outdoors. These characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.