Director of Children & Youth Ministries - Columbine United Church, Littleton, Colorado

Position Description
The Director of Children and Youth Ministries will provide program leadership to children, youth, and their families by serving as the principal church presence in their lives and coordinating the faith education and spiritual development process for children and youth, coordinating volunteers, coordinating regular pastoral contact with families. The person filling this position must relate well with children and teenagers, parents, and volunteers, have an energetic and friendly personality, and hold progressive beliefs and values. This person will work closely with the Executive Pastor and the Next Generation Committee.

Responsibilities

• Provide primary coordination of programs for children, youth, and their families from Pre-K through 12th Grade – Sunday morning programs, weekly youth ministry programming, as well as appropriate monthly activities, and annual retreats, camps, and mission’s activities
• Provide direct supervision of Middle School and High School activities and events
• Give input to the Executive Pastor and the Next Generation Committee regarding programming, provide monthly reports to the Next Gen Committee
• Recruit volunteers for programs, primarily Sunday morning Sunday School and weekly youth group
• Coordinate volunteer training – individuals, groups, workshops, and online webinars and/or videos
• Select, in conjunction with the Executive Pastor and Next Gen Committee, the selection of teaching materials and curricula
• Manage supplies, materials and resources needed for programs
• Prepare incoming Pre-K children and parents to transition into Children’s Ministry program
• Prepare 5th grade students and their parents to transition to Middle School program – based on faith and spiritual journey
• Prepare 8th grade students and their parents to transition into High School program
• Prepare 12th grade students and their parents to transition into the larger life of the congregation
• Manage quality communication for children, youth, parents, volunteers, the congregation, and the community (weekly bulletin and eblast, email, text, phone calls, social media, banners, flyers, brochures, etc.)
• Recruit, enroll, and retain children and youth in CUC activities
• Maintain contact information for children, youth, families, and volunteers in the CUC database
• Provide input into budgetary needs and monitor the Next Gen budget
• Facilitate pastoral care for children, youth, and their families in conjunction with the pastoral staff
• Implement Safe Sanctuary policies ensuring that volunteers are properly screened and that children are provided safe, supervised programs, events, and space
• Attend regularly scheduled Staff and Next Gen Committee meetings
• Keep the Executive Pastor and other appropriate leaders and volunteers informed of ministry activities
• Meet regularly with the Executive Pastor for supervision, evaluation, and training
• Provide creative opportunities for families and students to develop relationship with one another and for mentoring relationships to take place
• Involve the youth in building relationships with and serving in the ministries and life of the congregation.
• Oversee the development of intergenerational opportunities for learning, serving, and worshipping

Qualities

• Must relate well with children, teenagers, parents, and volunteers
• Energetic and creative personality
• Progressive theology and values
• Ability to work as a member of a professional team in ministry
• Must be able to coordinate a variety of Christian education and faith development activities
• Be self-motivated and self-managed for daily and weekly tasks
• Training and experience related to ministry with children and youth – such as church ministry, education, psychology, etc.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and stand for 4 to 5 hours at a time

Compensation: $30,000-$40,000 commensurate with experience

Columbine United Church is a Christ-centered, theologically open congregation that is progressive and accepting and affirming of LGBTQ individuals. We are an ecumenical congregation with membership in the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church. With approximately 750 members, CUC is a growing congregation with both traditional and contemporary worship services, thriving programs, and dynamic mission and service partnerships in the community and throughout the world.  Our motto is “changing the way people see God.”  Check out the job description at www.columbinechurch.org/job/. Cover letters and resumes can be emailed to our Executive Pastor, Justin Spurlock, at justin@columbinechurch.org. Find out more at www.columbinechurch.org,www.facebook.com/columbineunitedchurch, and www.youtube.com/columbineunited.