Children’s Pastor

Children’s Pastor

Status: Full-Time

Classification: Salaried

Type of Position: Exempt                                    

Time Required: 40+ hours per week

 

CONTEXT

South Lake Church, located in the growing suburban area of Crown Point, Indiana, is committed to fostering spiritual growth and community engagement. With a focus on discipleship, we aim to equip our members to know and show the love of Jesus to those around them. As we expand our ministries, we seek a Children’s Pastor who will nurture the next generation, partnering with families to inspire children to develop a strong faith foundation while creating a safe, welcoming, and dynamic environment for their spiritual growth.

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Children’s Pastor will work with the Senior Pastor to provide pastoral leadership and organizational management to the Children’s Ministry Team in facilitating the development of a premier Children’s Ministry that meets the needs of families in Lake and Porter Counties and serves as a model for Children’s Ministry for the entire region.

 

RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Senior Pastor
Supervises: All Children’s Ministry  Volunteers

 

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General

• Passion: A passion for kids and a deep desire to see them grow in their relationship and understanding of God.
• Spiritual Growth: Actively pursue and model a growing relationship with Jesus.
• Collaboration: Work with the South Lake Church staff team at-large to create and promote unity and cooperation within the staff.
• Stewardship: Display good stewardship in managing the Children’s Ministry budget to support South Lake Church’s vision.
• Excellence: Ensure all policies and ministry standards are met in the Children’s Ministry.

 

Strategic Discipleship

• Work with the Senior Pastor to define a spiritual growth plan for children. Ensure the spiritual growth plan is implemented in every programming and organizational management aspect.
• Oversee the direction and utilization of curriculum resources that support the values of South Lake Church.
• Lead in the development and effective facilitation of excellent weekly programming.
• Lead in developing and implementing events that reach children and encourage families.
• Lead in developing and implementing milestone events that facilitate spiritual growth in families (i.e., child dedication, baptism, etc.).

 

Leader Development

• Work with the Lead Pastor to ensure the ongoing leadership development of volunteers and children.
• Lead a team of volunteers in ministry planning and team alignment.
• Oversee the designated processes for recruiting, onboarding and training Children’s Ministry volunteer leaders.
• Oversee the implementation of regular Volunteer Leader training.

 

Parent Partnership

• Challenge, equip, and encourage parents to fulfill their biblical role as spiritual leaders of their children.
• Seek to know families in the community and those who come through the doors of South Lake Church.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a digital resource hub for parents.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of digital and live parenting seminars.

 

Pastoral Care (Shepherding)

• Relationally engage children towards knowing and sharing the love of Jesus.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and delivery of resources for children.
• Offer coaching and spiritual counsel to children and families, appropriately referring to a biblical counseling center as needed.
• Respond promptly to families in crisis to communicate support, offer prayer, & connect with needed resources.
• Regularly & specifically pray for children and seek opportunities to pray with children/families.
• Oversee processes related to meeting physical needs/benevolence

 

Other

• Ensure exceptional care of Children’s Ministry facilities and resources. Communicate facility needs to the Senior Pastor.
• Steward financial resources of the ministry, maintaining expected financial records & following organizational procedures.
• Any additional responsibilities as directed by the Senior Pastor.

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Education, Experience, & Theology

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a related field from an accredited university is strongly preferred.
• Must have at least 10 semester hours of Bible and/or Theology studies from a recognized source or must demonstrate that his or her prior ministerial responsibilities and duties involved significant practical Biblical knowledge and experience.
• The Children’s Pastor must affirm and adhere to the doctrine and beliefs of the Church of the Nazarene, demonstrating a commitment to its theological framework and values. Additionally, the candidate must either hold or be willing to pursue ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, actively engaging in the process of becoming a licensed minister within the denomination.

 

Preferred Competencies

• Relationship Building: Ability to build healthy relationships with staff, students, parents, and volunteers
• Communication: The ability to effectively share information in various ways within the ministry (staff, volunteers, parents, & students) and promote the ministry at large to the church & community
• Leader Development: The ability to encourage and empower leaders to serve the ministry’s mission. This competency involves effective delegation while maintaining and prioritizing self-growth
• Team Leadership: Ability to facilitate alignment within the Children’s Ministry team and with other teams.
• Time Management: Ability to facilitate productivity by effectively handling time. This includes appropriate time management for daily/weekly tasks, meetings, programming prep, professional development, personal time, and margin to accommodate crises as they arise in the ministry
• Strategic Planning: Ability to plan strategically by forward-thinking, beginning with the big picture and working towards vital details. Budget management, systems development, and organization are key to successful strategic planning.
• Conflict Resolution: The ability to courageously initiate tough conversations to seek agreement and facilitate peace between team members, students, or families when difficult situations or anger arise.
• Flexibility: The ability to adapt and improvise when unexpected circumstances arise.
• Multi-Tasking: The ability to focus on a single task without losing track of others, simultaneously managing many responsibilities, and switching between tasks as needed.