A Director of Religious Education directs educational programs and activities for a denominational group such as a church or synagogue. Coordinates the work of volunteer religious education teachers and plans classes and curriculum designed to introduce children and adults to the beliefs and practices of the congregation or denomination.
Summary The Children s Ministry Director will lead all aspects of the Children s Ministry for St. Andrew Methodist Church (SAMC) through a focus on equipping staff and volunteers to accomplish the vision of the ministry and the church.
Essential Functions General Responsibilities:
Lead, coach, and develop the Children's Ministry team through regular staff meetings, ongoing communication, performance feedback, and spiritual encouragement. Coordinate and lead all Children s Staff meetings. Keep current with existing resources, materials, educational approaches, etc., through attending continuing education events and seminars. Work closely with the Family Ministry Project Manager to develop, manage, and steward the annual Children's Ministry budget, ensuring responsible use of resources and alignment with ministry priorities. Work with our Communications and Marketing Departments to keep our social media presence strong Comply with church policies and procedures regarding children s programs and events. Create a steady path of development for preschool, elementary, and pre-teen ministers. Build strong relationships with parents, volunteers, and church leadership, cultivating an environment where children are known, loved, and encouraged to grow in their faith. Collaborate closely with the Family Ministry Project Manager to ensure all weekend programming, special events, registrations, volunteer scheduling, communications, room reservations, database management, and operational logistics are planned, coordinated, and executed with excellence. Children s Small Groups/Large Group Provide a loving, nurturing environment in which children can grow in God s grace (from newborn to 6 th grade). Collaborate and work closely with Facilities Team to provide a safe environment in the classrooms and large group rooms. Communicate regularly with the parents about children s programs and events via various communication vehicles. Work with staff to ensure classes are staffed with volunteers and that materials/supplies are ready for each age/room for Sunday mornings. Work with staff to ensure the large group time is engaging and bringing children into a deeper relationship with God. Ensure that Sunday morning programming runs smoothly to ensure adequate time for worship, large group, and small groups. Review current programs for effectiveness and make recommendations to ensure the children are being taught and developed. Be available on Sunday mornings to check classrooms, lead a class for a teacher who is tardy or absent, locate parents of an ill or unhappy child, get supplies for teachers, and handle other necessary tasks. Children s Annual Programs Oversee the excellent execution of all annual programs, such as: Palm Sunday VBS Ash Wednesday/Holy Week Advent Celebration Christmas Nativity Service All Church Events & Projects Along with the Family Ministry Pastor and Project Manager, collaborate with all church departments to ensure that church-wide events include excellent and engaging components for our children and families. Coordinate with the Missions department to ensure the successful execution of Kids on Mission Volunteer Recruitment and Management Build relationships with existing and potential volunteers Along with the Children s Ministry Volunteer Coordinator, Ensure that all volunteers are background checked and have completed Ministry Safe Ensure that all volunteers have the training and support needed to fulfill their roles well Ensure that volunteers are appreciated and given opportunities to grow in their roles Continually build the corps of volunteers actively serving in Children s Ministry Required Education and Experience Bachelor s degree or equivalent years of experience. Religious degree and credentialing and/or experience in being a pastor preferred, but not required Background in education / child development preferred, but not required Competencies A deep personal faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to Wesleyan theology and Methodist traditions Love for seeing children have a real and authentic relationship with Jesus Have a heart for St. Andrew and support the vision and mission of the church Strong speaking and presentation skills Good active listening and willingness to help Strong interpersonal skills Strong leadership skills Strong communication skills both verbal and written Work well within a team setting Confidentiality Organized Flexible Supervisory Responsibility This position will supervise preteen, elementary, and preschool ministers Position Type and Expected Hours of Work This is a ministerial exempt full-time position at 36.5 hours per week. Weekly expectations include consistent presence in staff meetings and on campus, Sunday through Thursday. PTO on Sundays are limited to the number of weeks of vacation (example, 6 weeks of vacation = 6 Sundays).