What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family Pastor position at Ascent Church?
Family Pastor – Ascent Church
OVERVIEW & ROLE SUMMARY
The Family Pastor helps Ascent Church to carry out its mission of “engaging everyone to equip rising generations to live for Jesus.” They do this primarily by providing spiritual, pastoral, and administrative leadership to all aspects of our rising generation (birth through grade 12). They serve as the chief communicator, biblical teacher, and leader of leaders to the Kids and Youth Ministries. They also carefully and prayerfully shepherd the children, teens, parents, and volunteers involved in all Family Ministries.
COMPETENCIES
A disciple of Jesus Christ who personifies a growing relationship with the Lord and demonstrates a love and passion for serving Him;
Spiritual gifts appropriate for this position, such as pastoring, leadership, administration (or capable of partnering with those gifted in this realm), and teaching.
A heart to honor God above all and to lead people, especially children and youth, into a deeper relationship with Jesus.
A lifestyle congruent with the biblical qualifications for leaders (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 2 Tim. 2; Titus 1:5-9).
Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, Christian ministry, biblical studies, or related field.
Previous experience directing a children’s/youth ministry, including leadership of ministry staff and volunteer teams.
Alignment with Ascent Church’s Mission Statement and Core Values
Collaborative, creative, approachable, joyful, and serving attitudes of heart
Resourceful, adaptable, and self-starter
Strategic/Visionary minded
Values relational ministry
QUALIFICATIONS
A sound knowledge of Scripture and an ability to effectively apply Scriptural principles in ministry that lead to life transformation.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Vision for a discipleship track that leads to Spiritual formation of kids and youth
Ability to plan a year into the future
People management and conflict resolution skills
Experienced team leader and developer of people
Able to make sound, timely decisions
Able to lead and influence even where there is no positional authority
GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Personally Pastor and Disciple Kids and Youth
Parents are the primary ones charged with the responsibility of raising their children in the faith of Jesus Christ. And yet, the church is charged to “make disciples of all nations” as well. While the Family Pastor serves in an executive role in church leadership, they are also a disciple of Jesus and therefore never move past the call to personally “make disciples” of Jesus. As far as is reasonably possible, the Family Pastor must always be looking to disciple the kids and youth of Ascent Church. Part of this includes starter conversations with kids, youth and their parents regarding profession of faith in Jesus and going deeper in their discipleship to Jesus, as well as modeling for them how to walk out their faith in Jesus.
2. Be a Leader of Leaders
The Family Pastor must be able to enlist, empower and equip leaders for kids and youth ministry. These are not “do it yourself” ministries, rather a leader of leaders is required. The Family Pastor casts vision up and by championing kids and youth ministry to senior leadership (Lead Pastor, Elders) and casts vision down to all members of the team. They need to have skills for leadership development and overseeing other leaders.
3. Create and Implement an Infant to 18 Discipleship Track
The Family Pastor creates an integrated and aligned approach to kids and youth ministry and less of a fragmented approach common in many churches. This will require developing objectives and competencies as desired outcomes for our kids and youth in their life of faith with Jesus. Asking questions such as “what do we want our kids to know and be able to do as disciples of Jesus by the time they leave our high school ministry?” And, “how will we pass the baton to the young adult ministry when they leave the youth ministry?”
4. Align the Kids/Youth Ministry Teams and Leaders
Guide the kids and youth ministry teams to work together, getting them on the same page. Meet with your teams regularly to identify common goals and objectives between the kids and youth ministries. The Family Pastor is responsible for the alignment of these two ministry teams.
5. Create a pro-family culture
Any role focused on infants through 18 years of age must naturally need to also focus on the entire family. This doesn’t just mean kids—it means their parents, too. Aligning the kids and youth ministries means partnering with parents and families to help them succeed in discipling their own children. Engage community in outreach events or workshops to equip our families and reach new ones through 4 kid focused ministry events, and 4 youth focused ministry events.
6. Gauge Ministry Effectiveness
Gauging your ministry’s effectiveness is a difficult task and requires a lot of thought and discussion. Help your team identify what success looks like and what it means to be effective by defining clear goals, aims, and metrics to help your teams define the wins and measure the markers that demonstrate you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Be an expert in current kids and youth ministry trends to keep Ascent Church kids and youth ministries up to date. Ultimately, to ensure we are succeeding in the things God desires for the Church to do in the realm of ministry to kids and youth.
7. Staff Collaboration
Collaborate with your direct supervisor, the Lead Pastor. Bring high level leadership ideas and issues that you are working on as an executive leader to your ministry. No less than four times per year, effectively preach/teach to the congregation on Sunday mornings.