Children's Pastor

Pastor of Children’s Ministry

Job Overview

The Children’s Pastor is responsible for creating environments where children and adults learn and can serve together. This includes programming that reflects the vision and values of Discovery in ways that are creative, inclusive, and fun.

Essential Job Duties

• Consistent Prayer and Discernment
• Build teams of caring adults/students that provide leadership and supervision for programs and events, including special needs, for children (birth – 5th grade) at Discovery.
• Create an environment that points families toward a life-long relationship with Jesus through: quality programming, excellent environments, well-equipped volunteers, and strong relationships. 
• Manage financial, personnel (paid and volunteer), equipment, and facility resources to provide a positive experience for children at Discovery. This includes the development and administration of policies and procedures that promote effective best practices for the well-being of all ministry participants. 
• Provide age-appropriate instruction and affirmation of key developmental, educational, and spiritual milestones in the lives of children and their families. 
• Promote participation by a diverse group of appropriately screened and trained volunteers in support of their need to grow, learn, serve, and find affirmation and community.
• Encourage children and adults to use their creative abilities and talents to serve in ministry.
• Collaborate with other ministry leaders (volunteer and staff) for full integration of Children’s Ministry into the life of this church and our community.
• Collaborate with the community development team in the development and execution of a long-term discipleship strategy from birth to death. 
• Equip parents for a lifetime of ministering to their children. 
• Lead “The Avenue”, a ministry that emphasizes one-on-one relationships with special needs families on Sunday mornings.

Non-Essential Job Duties 

•  Develop a resident as assigned

Reports To: Pastor of Community Engagement

Expectation to uphold Discovery’s Vision and Values (more details HERE)

Expectations as a staff member in the overall ministry of Discovery Church:

• Bi-weekly staff meetings 
• Bi-weekly 1x1 with Pastor of Community Development
• Bi-weekly meeting with Community Development Team
• Lovingly and persuasively express your ideas and concerns in appropriate settings and support decisions once they are made whether they reflect your views and needs of your ministry or not utilizing our Discovery Teams Covenant
• Respond in a timely and sensitive way to people’s messages, phone calls, letters, crises, and pastoral care needs 
• Bring a spirit of flexibility, encouragement, and servanthood as needed in a growing, entrepreneurial, church
• A humble spirit and a team player 
• Excellence without pretense

Displays the Four Things We All Do 

• We introduce people to Jesus 
• We cultivate environments and expectancy where God transforms us 
• We cultivate environments where people feel safe to share ongoing struggles 
• We deploy people so all are needed and known

Model an authentic relationship with God as demonstrated by

• Submission to God’s word and the leading of the Holy Spirit 
• Personal integrity in all areas of life 
• Regular attendance of worship service
• Leading a balanced life as a child of God, spouse, parent, worker, and friend 
• Taking regular times away for extended prayer, fasting, reflection, evaluation, and planning 

Experience Preferred

• Formal training from a college or seminary, with an emphasis in Biblical studies and practical ministry.  
• 5 Years Experience in children’s ministry, early childhood education, or other relevant settings is highly preferred. 

Experience Required

• Ministry experience, or formal educational training
• Experience building and leading teams
• Experience casting vision and seeing new ideas through to completion
• Communicate effectively with parents and children to build trust and confidence with those the ministry is serving. 
• Communication with the larger church constituency is also important in developing awareness and recruiting volunteers.  
• Alignment with Discovery’s vision, values, and approach to ministry.  
• Ordination is optional, and if not ordained, the title defers to “Director.”

Denominations: Christian Church

Church Size: 751 to 1000

Job Type: Full-Time

Pay Type: Salary

Pay Range: $52,000 - $58,000

Employee Workplace: On-site