Pastor of Family Discipleship

Immanuel Anglican Church•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Pastor of Family Discipleship provides leadership, organization, and vision for Immanuel's ministries that serve children, youth, and parents. The Pastor of Family Discipleship is tasked with faithfully teaching the Gospel to the next generation, cultivating discipleship opportunities, and fostering community for children, youth, families and volunteers. The role requires someone who has a heart for discipleship, a strong love of God and people, and an active, growing, and mature relationship with Jesus Christ. The Family Pastor must have a strong inclination towards creativity, organization, and problem-solving to relate to and serve all age groups, from infants to grandparents!

Requirements

Spiritual and Emotional Maturity
Theological Alignment
Visionary Leadership
Energetic Gatherer
Heart for Discipleship
Organization and Administration
Adaptable and Resilient
Problem-solving
Collaborative approach and a team mentality
Creative spirit and a passion for innovation
Humble and willing to accept direction and feedback
Ability to self-start (recognize a need and initiate an appropriate response)
Professional, kind, and consistent communication
Ability to relate to children and adults
Faithfully teaching the Gospel to the next generation
Cultivating discipleship opportunities
Fostering community for children, youth, families and volunteers
Active, growing, and mature relationship with Jesus Christ
Strong inclination towards creativity, organization, and problem-solving
Consult as needed with a leadership coach.
Seek regular counsel from a spiritual director and other pastoral care providers to promote spiritual growth and health.
Seek out training and resources that grow understanding of current best practices in children's and youth ministry and provide opportunities for collaboration with other churches and leaders.
Coordinate Sunday morning ministries: Schedule volunteers and coordinate Sunday service calendars, Select curriculum for each class, Coordinate weekly lessons and supplies, Curate comfortable and safe environments for each age group, Maintain a welcoming and secure registration and check-in process, Take attendance, following up with families after extended absences, Implement guidelines and policies for child safety and abuse prevention.
Coordinate youth events and discipleship connections: Develop a discipleship ministry for youth from 6th-12th grade that helps students move from the foundations laid in children's ministry to deeper engagement with their faith, Support youth involvement in Immanuel's confirmation process, Coordinate events for youth to bond with one another and leaders.
Coordinate events for families and children from Immanuel and beyond: Plan and execute family-friendly special events, Develop child-friendly and youth-friendly service projects, Coordinate child-focused or youth-focused outreach initiatives or events.
Coordinate childcare for church gatherings: Recruit, hire and oversee paid nursery worker, Coordinate childcare for special events and services.
Bridge generational gap by connecting children's and youth ministry to the wider church body: Plan and execute children's and youth programming for all-church retreat, Communicate ways for older children and youth to serve with Sunday teams, Identify volunteers who can lead children and youth in arts and worship opportunities that serve the wider community.
Support: Create, curate and distribute resources to help parents disciple their children at home, Coordinate connection points for parents to fellowship with one another and, when possible, with older parents who can provide mentorship and encouragement, Seek out and publicize "easy yoke" opportunities for parents to grow in spiritual leadership of their families.
Connection: Keep open lines of healthy communication and positive relationships with parents, Regularly seek out feedback on initiatives from trusted parents.
Recruit volunteers to serve in the nursery, children's chapel and youth ministry.
Screen potential volunteers according to Immanuel's safety policies before permitting to serve.
Inspire volunteers to remain centered on the vision of Immanuel's youth and children's ministries, and the significance of their work in passing the Gospel to the next generation.
Equip volunteers to teach and lead Sunday morning classes and to actively participate in safeguarding our children and youth.
Shepherd volunteers by getting to know them personally and building deeper relationships with them.
Regularly pray for volunteers and look for opportunities to point them to Jesus.
Coach lay ministry leaders to lead events, ministries, and initiatives, as their passion and maturity align with ministry needs.
Meet regularly with those who are leading within family ministry to reconnect to vision, plan initiatives, and pray together.
Send regular updates to parents.
Maintain children's ministry portion of website/Immanuel Online; keeping information current and helpful to parents and visitors.
Coordinate new family handouts and oversee distribution of paper announcements.
Work with Communications Director to strategically manage Immanuel's online presence and web representation of Family Ministries to reflect vibrant community life and demonstrate warm welcome to new parents and families.
Move new volunteers efficiently through the on-boarding process.
Keep background checks up to date (renew every three years).
Manage volunteer schedules for Sunday mornings and events.
Maintain records of leadership documents for each volunteer.
Submit yearly budget request.
Monitor spending to keep to the budget provided.
Provide reimbursement information for volunteers making purchases.

Nice To Haves

Has a heart for discipleship
Has a strong love of God and people
Has a strong inclination towards creativity, organization, and problem-solving to relate to and serve all age groups, from infants to grandparents!

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and vision for Immanuel's ministries for parents, youth and children, seeking always to serve the vision of Immanuel Anglican to "lift high the Son of God in the city of Chicago that all would be drawn to Him."
Casts and implements a compelling and practical vision for Immanuel's next generation ministries, including for: Children: Christian formation of the children at Immanuel (birth-5th grade). Youth: Christian discipleship for the youth of Immanuel (6th-12th grade). Parents: Support for parents in the work of discipling their children. Family Outreach: The mission of reaching unchurched families in Chicago.
Initiates and maintains relationships that promote growth in leadership capacity, spiritual vitality and professional competence.
Takes regular prayer retreats (6x/year).
Coordinates opportunities for children and youth — on Sundays and beyond — to encounter Jesus and be transformed by the power of the Gospel to become lifelong disciples of Christ who use their spiritual gifts in service of the Church.
Coordinates Sunday morning ministries: Schedule volunteers and coordinate Sunday service calendars, Select curriculum for each class, Coordinate weekly lessons and supplies, Curate comfortable and safe environments for each age group, Maintain a welcoming and secure registration and check-in process, Take attendance, following up with families after extended absences, Implement guidelines and policies for child safety and abuse prevention.
Coordinates youth events and discipleship connections: Develop a discipleship ministry for youth from 6th-12th grade that helps students move from the foundations laid in children's ministry to deeper engagement with their faith, Support youth involvement in Immanuel's confirmation process, Coordinate events for youth to bond with one another and leaders.
Coordinates events for families and children from Immanuel and beyond: Plan and execute family-friendly special events, Develop child-friendly and youth-friendly service projects, Coordinate child-focused or youth-focused outreach initiatives or events.
Coordinates childcare for church gatherings: Recruit, hire and oversee paid nursery worker, Coordinate childcare for special events and services.
Bridges generational gap by connecting children's and youth ministry to the wider church body: Plan and execute children's and youth programming for all-church retreat, Communicate ways for older children and youth to serve with Sunday teams, Identify volunteers who can lead children and youth in arts and worship opportunities that serve the wider community.
Supports and stays connected with parents of Immanuel in the spiritual leadership of their homes.
Recruits, screens, inspires, equips, shepherds and coaches volunteers who can faithfully shepherd children and youth through their teachings and life example.
Builds processes and systems that enable Immanuel's family ministries to grow in size and effectiveness.
Attends weekly staff meetings and other required staff events.
Honors the conduct and character requirements expressed in our Staff Handbook.
Collaborates with the staff of Immanuel to pray for and carry the vision of our church to life high the Son of God in the city of Chicago, that all would be drawn to Him.