YOUTH PASTOR

PIKESIDE YOUTH PASTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Pikeside is seeking to hire an exemplary Youth Pastor who will provide visionary oversight and pastoral leadership to the youth of Pikeside United Methodist Church. The Youth Pastor will collaborate with parents, staff, and volunteers to disciple youth, consistently engaging them with the good news of the Gospel and supporting their development of love for Christ and others. To succeed in this role, the Youth Pastor must be actively involved in the lives of our youth across various contexts while fostering an environment where they can feel a sense of belonging, embrace the Good News, enjoy themselves, and become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

STATUS:                              Part-time, Salaried

HOURS:                               20 Hours per week

RESPONSIBLE FOR:          Youth Ministry (Middle & High School), Children & Youth Sunday School

BENEFITS:                          Eligible for continuing education funds as agreed upon with Staff Pastor/Parish Relations Committee (SPPRC) and Church Council.

PIKESIDE’S VISION

God calls us to be a reflection of Jesus’ love.

PIKESIDE’S MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to make disciples for Christ by prayerfully receiving him as our Lord and Savior, reflecting His likeness, and responding to the spiritual and physical needs of others.

YOUTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT:

The Mission of Pikeside’s Youth Ministry (Middle & High School, Christian Education) is to build disciples for Christ, equipping them to share their faith with others.

SUPERVISION:

The Youth Pastor reports to Pikeside’s Senior Pastor for spiritual and ministry guidance. The Senior Pastor, in collaboration with the Staff Pastor/Parish Relations Committee (SPPRC), conducts an annual evaluation of the Youth Pastor’s performance based on an established Ministry Action Plan (MAP).

THE PRIMARY TASK:

Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for student ministry. This strategy is grounded in the understanding of the primary objectives of youth ministry, which include:

1. Disciple youth and young adults to cultivate a personal relationship with God in both large group settings and smaller, more intimate environments.
2. Grow the youth ministry by developing engaging environments that encourage our youth to invite their non-Christian friends.
3. Build a team of dedicated adult youth coaches to mentor and guide the youth in collaboration with the Senior Pastor.
4. Teach youth and young adults about the Gospel and its requirements for them.
5. Provide young people with opportunities for nurturing and personal growth.
6. Show Jesus' love by being a role model.
7. Challenge our youth and young adults to answer God's call to serve in their communities and around the world.
8. Support and assist parents in the process of guiding their youth in collaboration with the Senior Pastor.
9. Equip today's youth to share the Gospel with their peers.
10. Build a ministry that actively engages with local middle and high schools in the area, potentially through an on-campus ministry.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Be an advocate for the youth and young adults of Pikeside by educating the congregation about their hopes, concerns, and needs within the local church and community.
2. Help plan, develop, and implement all facets of a comprehensive youth ministry.
3. Mentor youth and young adults in developing their leadership abilities.
4. Stay informed about new resources and changes in youth ministry and youth culture, and adjust our programming as necessary to ensure an effective program.
5. Share these changes with parents to help them better understand their children and the culture in which they live.
6. Participate in continuing education events and training opportunities.
7. Recruit and train volunteers to support various aspects of youth and young adult ministry, ensuring appropriate adult-to-youth ratios in collaboration with the Senior Pastor.
8. Serve as a liaison between the church and various community organizations, individuals, and resources related to youth ministries.
9. Coordinate the Sunday School curriculum, volunteers, teachers, and other requirements for all children, including Pre-K, Elementary, Middle, and High School students.
10. Select the curriculum, teach, or coordinate the teaching of others for any additional mid-week youth gatherings and classes.
11. Work in partnership with local schools to effectively engage youth in the community and develop a strategic outreach plan for ministry.
12. Keep accurate records of youth participation and effectively manage the youth ministry budget.
13. Communicate with youth and parents in a timely and effective manner by utilizing all available resources, such as email, the website, bulletins, and text messaging. This may include a quarterly newsletter for parents, regular emails about upcoming events, weekly check-in texts for youth, and periodic articles in the church's weekly email and announcements.
14. Be available to encourage, challenge, and counsel youth, young adults, and parents in leading effective lives as followers of Jesus. This may include activities such as having lunch at school, visiting after school, attending extracurricular events, conducting home visitations, and providing support during times of crisis, as schedule permits.
15. Please attend all staff meetings as appropriate, along with Church Council and Worship Committee meetings.
16. This is a part-time salaried position that may require you to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, public holidays, and on short notice.
17. Ensure that the Pikeside Safe Sanctuary Policy is adhered to in all youth ministry settings.
18. Plan and lead annual or biannual confirmation classes for both youth and adults in collaboration with the Senior Pastor.
19. Prepare young people for life after secondary education.
20. Support and facilitate the discernment of gifts and exploration of vocations.
21. Equip young people to defend their faith.
22. Assist youth in connecting with various church ministries, small groups, and other community activities.
23. Continue to be relationally present as a support and resource for students after youth ministry.

QUALIFICATIONS AND APTITUDES:

1. A clear and observable commitment to Jesus Christ.
2. Adhere to our Wesleyan and Methodist traditions and theological values while aligning with Pikeside’s vision and mission.
3. A relational and pastoral heart.
4. A professional certification in youth ministry or a minimum of three years of experience in the field is preferred. This includes ministerial students who are pursuing a degree in theology, ministry, or Christian education.
5. A clear vision and a proven ability to plan, develop, coordinate, manage, and implement a student and family ministry within the church's framework are essential.
6. Candidates must possess strong written and verbal communication skills, effective conflict management abilities, and proficient computer skills.
7. Must possess the ability to work effectively with youth, young adults, parents, diverse individuals, and volunteers.
8. A comprehensive background investigation must be successfully completed.

TO APPLY:

Please send an email to Pikeside’s SPPRC Chair, Steve Waters, at info@pikesideumc.org with the subject line “Youth Pastor Application.” Additionally, please include the following attachments:

1. Your résumé should include three professional references and three personal references.
2. A statement, no longer than one page, outlining your philosophy of youth ministry.
3. Acknowledgment that a two-year commitment is required, with a 60-day notice period for resignation from our employment.
4. Social media handles related to both your personal life and your ministry (Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.).