Youth Pastor

West Lawn United Methodist Church; Reading (Berks County); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

West Lawn United Methodist Church is seeking a gifted Youth Pastor to lead a vibrant ministry for students in grades 6–12 and their families. The role emphasizes relational leadership, spiritual formation, and partnership with parents in a large, active congregation in Berks County, PA.

The ideal candidate loves Jesus, can communicate faith in meaningful ways, and will develop adult and student leaders while planning weekly programming, retreats, and mission opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in ministry or related field, or equivalent ministry leadership experience.
• Experience leading volunteers and building relationships with teenagers and families.
• Ability to communicate Scripture and faith effectively to youth.

Responsibilities

• Lead weekly youth gatherings, Bible study, small groups, and discipleship for grades 6–12 and families.
• Teach Scripture and spiritual formation; Bible teaching for youth.
• Coordinate Confirmation in partnership with pastoral team.
• Organize mission trips, retreats, service projects, and special events.
• Provide pastoral care and build relationships with students and families.
• Recruit, train, and develop adult volunteers; mentor student leaders.
• Communicate with parents and integrate youth with worship and church life.
• Plan annually, budget, schedule, and administer ministry activities.
• Set goals and strategies for ongoing health and growth of Youth Ministry.

Skills

Youth ministry

Leadership

Relational mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in ministry/youth ministry

Job description

West Lawn UMC is seeking a gifted, relational, and spiritually mature Youth Pastor to provide leadership for our established ministry with students in grades 6–12 and their families. We are looking for someone who genuinely loves Jesus and young people and who is passionate about helping students grow in their faith, develop meaningful relationships, discover their gifts, serve others, and become active participants in the life of the church.

Position

Youth Pastor

Status

30-40 hours per week; position may be structured as full-time or part-time based upon the successful candidate

Ministry Focus

Students in grades 6–12 and their families

The Opportunity

West Lawn United Methodist Church is seeking a gifted, relational, and spiritually mature Youth Pastor to lead a vibrant ministry with students in grades 6–12 and their families.

We are looking for more than someone who can run programs. We are seeking a pastor and ministry leader who genuinely loves young people, can communicate the Christian faith in meaningful and relevant ways, builds strong relationships with students and families, develops adult and student leaders, and helps young people become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.

West Lawn UMC is a large, active congregation located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, near Reading. Our church offers multiple weekly worship services and has a strong commitment to discipleship, missions, children and families, youth, community outreach, and serving our neighbors.

The new Youth Pastor will inherit an established Youth Ministry with students, families, adult volunteers, regular weekly programming, Confirmation, retreats, mission and service opportunities, and special events. At the same time, we are looking for a leader who will bring fresh ideas, energy, vision, and creativity as we consider what effective youth ministry should look like in the years ahead.

What We’re Looking For

• Has a mature, authentic, and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Has a genuine calling and passion for ministry with teenagers.
• Builds meaningful relationships with students and earns the trust of parents and families.
• Communicates Scripture and Christian faith effectively to today’s teenagers.
• Understands that youth ministry includes discipleship, worship, fellowship, mission, service, outreach, and fun.
• Can recruit, train, encourage, and develop adult volunteers rather than attempting to carry the ministry alone.
• Recognizes and develops leadership gifts in students and gives young people meaningful opportunities to serve and lead.
• Is creative and willing to explore new approaches to reaching and discipling young people.
• Understands contemporary youth culture, including the opportunities and challenges presented by technology and social media.
• Is organized and capable of planning and overseeing weekly programming, retreats, mission trips, special events, budgets, communication, and ministry administration.
• Works well as part of a collaborative pastoral and ministry staff.
• Values partnership with parents and recognizes the important role families play in the spiritual development of young people.
• Wants youth to be connected not only to a youth program but also to the worship, mission, service, and larger congregational life of the church.

Primary Areas of Leadership

• Weekly youth gatherings, Bible study, small groups, and discipleship opportunities.
• Biblical teaching and spiritual formation.
• Confirmation in partnership with the pastoral team.
• Mission trips, retreats, service projects, outreach activities, and special events.
• Pastoral care and relationship‑building with students and families.
• Recruitment, training, and development of adult volunteers.
• Development of student leaders.
• Communication and partnership with parents.
• Outreach to students and families in the surrounding community.
• Integration of youth into the broader worship and ministry life of West Lawn UMC.
• Annual ministry planning, budgeting, scheduling, communication, and administration.
• Development of goals and strategies for the continued health and growth of Youth Ministry.

Education and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in ministry, theology, Christian education, youth ministry, education, counseling, social work, or a related field is preferred, but we are equally interested in candidates whose ministry experience, leadership ability, theological understanding, and work with young people demonstrate their readiness for the position.

Previous experience in youth ministry and demonstrated ability to lead volunteers, teach Scripture, organize programs, and build relationships with teenagers and families are strongly preferred.

Ordination is not required.

Candidates should be supportive of the mission, ministry, and theological identity of West Lawn United Methodist Church.

We recognize that strong candidates may be in different seasons of life and ministry. For that reason, West Lawn UMC is intentionally open to structuring this position around the right candidate.

The position may be structured as approximately 30 hours per week or as a full‑time 40‑hour position.

Under a 30‑hour model, the Youth Pastor would work alongside an existing part‑time Associate Youth Pastor.

Under a 40‑hour model, the Youth Pastor would assume the broader responsibilities of the ministry.

Our priority is not simply filling a predetermined schedule. Our priority is finding the right person to lead our youth and their families into the next season of ministry.

Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with the position’s hours, responsibilities, education, and experience.

About West Lawn UMC

West Lawn United Methodist Church is a Christ‑centered congregation committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Our ministry seeks to invite, embrace, and empower people to become part of the family of God in Christ. We believe young people are not simply the future of the church—they are an important part of the church today.

• We are looking for a Youth Pastor who shares that conviction and who is excited about helping the next generation know Christ, grow in faith, discover their gifts, serve others, and find their place within the Body of Christ.