Director of Children and Youth Ministries – Collierville UMC

COLLIERVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH is a 2,400-member church with 1,100+ of them “active” in our congregation. Currently, our worship average between the two services on Sunday morning is 270 in person, with an additional on-line presence. CUMC is focused on creating disciples for the transformation of the world – “one block at a time”. We are solidly United Methodist and rely on the traditions of Methodism to drive our missions, worship, faith sharing, and disciple-making emphases. Our congregation is actively involved in several major ministries including a regional food redistribution program that provides perishable foods from big-box stores, restaurants, and groceries to area feeding programs and retirement facilities. We have a long tradition of regional and international mission trips for adults and youth. We are laity-driven and spirit-led. Both of the full-time clergy possess terminal degrees and the church is the administrative home for four other clergypersons. The physical plant is uniquely designed for children and youth ministries with not one but two entire wings set aside for the purpose of educating young people and providing for their worship styles. Yet that separate space is merely a getaway since our church-wide programming relies on the presence and participation of disciples of all ages.

Our youth and children ministry team leader will be offered opportunities to lead in worship, in staff-gathering settings, and in the larger community of Collierville, Tennessee. The Town of Collierville (population 51,000) is well known for its great school system, small-town atmosphere, award-winning parks and recreation facilities, first-rate office and retail developments and beautiful neighborhoods. We are just outside Memphis, TN and within three hours of Nashville, Cape Girardeau, Paducah and a massive list of places to go and things to do. (See https://withinhours.com/3-hours-of-collierville-tn for more information.)

Report to: Associate Pastor

Date Edited: 4-19-2023

SUMMARY

The person in this position should be a committed Christian Disciple.  Under direct supervision, this position provides guidance for programming and ministry activities that meet the spiritual needs and help our Kindergarten through college students of Collierville UMC grow in their discipleship of Jesus Christ.  All ministry efforts will be developed and guided by our vision, “Reaching out to transform lives by extending God’s love to all,” and consistent with the core values of CUMC.

ESSENTIAL CHILDREN’S MINISTRY FUNCTIONS

1. Build relationships with parents, caregivers, children, youth, and college students so as to instill trust and confidence in the care and spiritual development of each individual and each family.
2. Provide overall discipleship plan, direction and administration for these age level ministries of CUMC, including Sunday School, Kids Church, Wednesday night programming, etc.
3. Work with a Children’s Ministry Council to help with direction, programming, collaboration, volunteer recruitment, etc.

1. Plan and be responsible for all structured children’s ministry activities, including but not limited to seasonal events such as Easter Egg Hunt, Fall Festival, Thanksgiving Feast, Christmas Celebration, VBS, etc.
2. Work with the Creative Director to promote upcoming events.
3. Collaborate with music ministry staff to ensure the success of SNAP (Sunday Night Arts & Praise)
4. Teaching the Christian faith as understood through the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church.
5. Work collaboratively with other ministry directors for the full benefit of the Church.
6. Be responsible for ongoing recruitment, training and evaluating of Children’s ministry staff and volunteers.
7. Select and approve all curriculum used for Sunday school and other children’s programming.
8. Maintains rosters of children and families for nursery through 5^th Grade programs within the Children’s Ministry of CUMC.
9. Update bulletin boards in children’s Sunday School rooms.
10. Keeps the social media accounts current and the church website youth ministry page up to date with all immediate youth ministry information by communicating weekly with the Communications department.
11. Serves as Staff Ministry Partner, providing assistance and direction when required for designated ministry Task Teams, especially working directly with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and MOMs Next.
12. Be responsible for the compliance of the children’s ministry with regard to safe sanctuaries training and execution.
13. Prepares budget requests and monitors expenditures of the children’s ministry budget and the nursery budget.
14. Serves and assists with occasional specialized ministry projects as assigned.

ESSENTIAL YOUTH MINISTRY FUNCTIONS

1. Provide overall direction for all youth ministries of CUMC.
2. Develop relationships with youth and their parents/caregivers to nurture their faith development.
3. Recruit, equip, and empower youth ministry volunteers and staff for effective enactment of church programs.
4. Coordinate all weekly youth ministry activities (e.g., Sunday School and the Gathering) and special events (e.g., Confirmation, Discovery Weekend, Rummage Sale, summer trips).
5. Select and approve curriculum used for Sunday School, The Gathering (Wednesday p.m.), and other programming that is age-appropriate and aligns with the doctrinal standards of the United Methodist Church.
6. Coordinate ways for CUMC to stay directly connected to our college students, to gather during holidays, breaks & the summer.
7. Maintain rosters for Sunday School classes and all other structure youth ministry programming and maintains up to date data base for each grade 6^th – 12^th.
8. Keeps the social media accounts current and the church website youth ministry page up to date with all immediate youth ministry information by communicating weekly with the Communications department.
9. Works with the Communications department to publicize youth ministry events and produce flyers, posters and other youth ministry information for parents and other members of the congregation.
10. Organize and direct special events or special programs in the youth ministry, as well as, family events when student families are involved.
11. Serve as Staff Ministry Partner to the Rummage Team and other assigned task teams and committees.
12. Oversee the finances of the youth ministry, including preparing budget requests.
13. Ascertain compliance of the youth ministry with the Safe Sanctuaries Policy.
14. Serve and assist with occasional specialized ministry projects, as assigned.
15. Other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or Senior Pastor

COMPETENCIES

1. Positive Christian Role Model
2. Excellent Interpersonal Skills
3. Ethical Conduct
4. Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
5. Communication Proficiency
6. Collaboration Skills
7. Conflict management
8. Flexibility
9. Confidentiality

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional church office environment and age-appropriate ministry environments. The range of work requires adaptability and may require routine use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) and includes working during programming hours on Sundays and Wednesdays with evening meetings, weekend retreats and events, weeklong trips, as needed.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor degree & 5-10 years of experience in a similar or related field.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

As a full-time position, this position may have some supervisory responsibility, usually with parents and volunteers on an as needed basis.