Hire a Youth Pastor

Job Description

Position Description
DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN & YOUTH MINISTRY
Falls Church Presbyterian Church

Purpose:
The Director of Children & Youth Ministry (DCYM) will be directly responsible for 1) administering
the children and youth ministries, including recruiting and supervising volunteer ministry leaders to
carry out the mission of the church; 2) building relationships with children and youth and facilitating
similar relationships with other adult mentors; and 3) nurturing Christian faith and discipleship in
children and youth of the congregation by fostering Christian community, teaching from the Bible,
and creating opportunities for them to practice the Christian life together.
Position Classification:
The position Director of Children & Youth Ministry (DCYM) is classified as a 30 hours per week,
exempt position eligible for vacation and sick leave, holidays, health insurance benefits, and a 403(b)
retirement savings plan. This is a relationship-based position requiring familiarity and trust with
families, the congregation, and the community. Regular attendance and participation in Sunday
worship is expected.
Reporting and Direction:
The DCYM works directly with, and takes policy and program direction from, the Spiritual Growth
team—which acts on behalf of the Session—and works collegially with the entire staff and
congregation to support an integrated and holistic children and youth ministry at FCPC. The DCYM
reports to the Head of Staff through the Associate Pastor, who is their direct supervisor. Personnel
matters are handled by the Head Pastor and Personnel Team.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Children and youth ministry work experience required. Solid understanding of the Bible and its
importance in faith formation, theology, and spiritual formation required. Initiative; leadership; ability
to connect well with children and youth and volunteers; problem solving; patience; teaching; strong
verbal and written communication; planning and organizational skills; sense of humor. Ability to
prioritize and balance multiple tasks and manage potentially tense situations. Commitment to grow as
a disciple of Christ.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Administration and Coordination: The first priority of the DCYM is to serve as the primary
administrative staff person for all children and youth ministries. This involves identifying, recruiting,
coordinating, and supervising all adult volunteers to ensure that the efforts of all leaders participating in the ministry are working toward common values and vision for the ministry. Activities under this category include but are not limited to:
● Creates and publishes Children and Youth Ministry calendars by the beginning of the program year, and communicates throughout the year through weekly e-grams and articles.
● Ensures that all adult volunteers receive training prior to the start of the program year. All major event coordinators and other behind-the-scenes volunteers for calendared events are
being recruited and equipped with the information and tools needed to carry out
responsibilities.
● Is certified in Godly Play (or, if not certified, training will be provided by FCPC), and ensures volunteers are trained and certified through Godly Play workshops prior to working as
doorkeepers and storytellers.
● Ensures FCPC’s Child Protection Policy is adhered to throughout the ministry. ● In coordination with FCPC office, maintains a current contact list for children and youth that is maintained for youth through their collegiate and young adult years.
● Integrates the Children and Youth Ministry into the life of the church through participation at scheduled staff meetings, appropriate team meetings, and church fellowship activities.
● Tracks expenses for the current year, and proposes a budget for the coming year to the leadership of the church as requested.
Building Relationships: The DCYM ensures that relationships are being built between the adult
leaders of FCPC and the children and youth of the church. Activities under this category include but
are not limited to:
● Knows the children and youth in the congregation as well as their families. ● Provides timely follow-up with all first-time guests to ministry events, either directly or via a volunteer, so that all children and youth and their families who want to become a part of
FCPC ministries do so in a way that feels welcoming and natural to them.
● Serves as a “sounding board” for children and youth and their families and has an accessible referral list of professional counselors to access when necessary.
● Participates and encourages volunteer leaders to participate in community and/or school events involving children and youth connected with FCPC.
Nurturing Christian Faith and Discipleship: The DCYM works with church leadership to design,
execute, evaluate, and improve programs and special events to support FCPC’s ministry to children
and youth. Activities under this category include but are not limited to:
● Aligns the ministry’s activities with the church’s overall mission and vision, such as cultivating an atmosphere of belonging and fellowship inclusive of those with special
emotional, social, and developmental needs; encouraging emerging and deepening spirituality;
and identifying opportunities to serve each other and the community.
● Fosters growing participation, enthusiasm, and excellence of ministry programs and activities, such as Sunday classes or youth group, confirmation, Kid’s Corner, Godly Play, small groups
and summer trips to faith development centers like Massanetta or Montreat.
● Directly or through volunteers, ensures that all details and logistics of programs and special events are covered.
● In conjunction with the Spiritual Growth team, identifies and selects curricula for the ministry programs; ensures curricular resources are in place at least one month before the program year begins.
● Is present on Sunday mornings in worship and around any classrooms if needed. ● Organizes regular mission opportunities for children and youth.. ● Seeks out new ideas to develop the children and youth ministry by attending appropriate training workshops, seminars, and/or meetings, and networking with other directors in the
presbytery.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Bachelor’s degree required. At least three years experience is strongly preferred.
EVALUATION:
Using the DCYM’s job description and vision for the ministry, the direct supervisor will evaluate
professional effectiveness, accomplishment of work objectives, and compensation at least annually.
Annual evaluations will be reviewed by the Personnel Committee.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The DCYM will endure a few nights each year with minimal sleep, particularly on retreats and
summer trips with students.
In addition to programs that take place on the grounds of the church and in the homes of members,
some of the work of the DCYM will require work that takes place away from the office.

Interested Candidates are invited to submit a resume, statement of faith, and cover letter to the search team at FCPC.DCYM@gmail.com. Cover letters should address your approach to children, youth, and family ministry and how your experience is appropriate for FCPC.

Falls Church Presbyterian Church

At Falls Church Presbyterian Church (FCPC), we believe that we are called to gather those who fear they are not enough, so we may experience grace, wholeness, and renewal as God’s beloved.

The very specific way God is calling us right now is to a particular, spiritual practice of living together — living as God’s beloved people in a place of rest. We are called to be a church for recovering perfectionists, a church of Sabbath keepers. A place where we can rest, where we are enough, where we are fully known, where we are wholly and completely loved by God, where we experience true joy. From this place of deep acceptance, joy, rest, and love, we reach out and invite others into this alternative, counter-cultural way of being together, sharing God’s love, acceptance, and hope through concrete acts of love and service to those who most need to experience it.