Director of Senior Adult Ministry

Job Description: Director of Senior Adult Ministry
Laurel Heights United Methodist Church (San Antonio, TX)

Position: Part-Time

Apply Today: Michelle Vernone, Senior Pastor mvernone@mylhumc.org

Position Summary

Laurel Heights United Methodist Church seeks a compassionate, creative, and faithful Director of Senior Adult Ministry to provide leadership, pastoral presence, and meaningful opportunities for spiritual growth, fellowship, service, and connection among the senior adults of our congregation and community.

The Director of Senior Adult Ministry will develop and coordinate a vibrant ministry that recognizes senior adults as vital participants in the life and mission of the church. The Director will cultivate relationships with senior adults, provide excellent congregational care, create opportunities for continued spiritual formation and service, and help ensure that older members remain deeply connected to the worshiping and serving life of Laurel Heights.

This is a part-time position requiring both strong relational skills and the ability to envision, organize, and implement effective ministry programming.

Primary Responsibilities

Senior Adult Ministry Leadership

• Develop, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive ministry with and for senior adults that supports spiritual growth, fellowship, education, service, and community.
• Assess the interests, gifts, needs, and concerns of senior adults within the congregation and develop appropriate ministries and programming in response.
• Plan regular gatherings, educational opportunities, Bible studies, fellowship events, retreats, day trips, service projects, and other activities appropriate for senior adults.
• Create opportunities for senior adults to use their gifts, experience, wisdom, and leadership in the ministries of Laurel Heights and the wider community.
• Encourage intergenerational relationships and opportunities that connect senior adults with children, youth, young adults, and families throughout the congregation.

Spiritual Formation and Wesleyan Leadership

• Develop and lead Bible studies, devotional gatherings, small groups, and other opportunities for Christian formation.
• Ground senior adult ministry in Scripture, Wesleyan theology, and the traditions and practices of The United Methodist Church.
• Help participants understand and live out the Wesleyan emphasis on grace, discipleship, personal and social holiness, service, and love of God and neighbor.
• Work collaboratively with clergy to ensure that senior adult ministries complement the overall mission, vision, and discipleship ministries of Laurel Heights.

Congregational Care

• Develop strong, trusting relationships with senior adults and their families.
• Provide compassionate congregational care to individuals experiencing illness, grief, loneliness, life transitions, loss of independence, or other significant circumstances.
• Maintain appropriate contact with homebound members, those living in retirement or assisted-living communities, and others who may have difficulty participating regularly in congregational life.
• Coordinate with clergy and congregational care ministries when individuals have significant pastoral or sacramental needs.
• Help identify senior adults who may be becoming disconnected from the congregation and develop appropriate ways to maintain meaningful relationships with them.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality and healthy pastoral boundaries.

Program Administration and Collaboration

• Recruit, equip, encourage, and coordinate volunteers who participate in senior adult ministries.
• Develop and maintain an annual calendar of senior adult programs and activities.
• Communicate ministry opportunities effectively through church publications, email, social media, telephone contact, and other appropriate channels.
• Coordinate logistics for programs, including facilities, transportation, meals, registration, volunteers, and accessibility needs.
• Manage the senior adult ministry budget responsibly and in accordance with church policies.
• Participate in appropriate staff meetings, ministry planning, and church-wide events.
• Work collegially with clergy, staff, lay leaders, volunteers, and other ministry areas.
• Perform other ministry-related responsibilities consistent with the purpose of the position as requested by the supervising pastor.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A college degree from an accredited institution.
• Previous experience in senior adult ministry, older-adult programming, congregational ministry, or a closely related field.
• A genuine passion for senior adults and an appreciation for their gifts, wisdom, spiritual lives, and continuing contributions to the church and community.
• A strong working knowledge of Wesleyan theology and The United Methodist Church, including its theology, mission, practices, and connectional nature.
• The ability to develop, plan, organize, and implement meaningful and age-appropriate programming for senior adults.
• Excellent congregational care and interpersonal skills, including compassion, discretion, attentive listening, and the ability to respond appropriately to individuals and families experiencing significant life transitions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both large and small groups, including Bible studies, educational programs, fellowship gatherings, and ministry teams.
• Strong organizational, communication, and administrative skills.
• The ability to recruit, equip, and encourage volunteers.
• The ability to work independently while also functioning as a collaborative and supportive team player within a church staff.
• A welcoming and inclusive approach to ministry consistent with the mission and values of Laurel Heights United Methodist Church.
• Dependability, emotional maturity, good judgment, confidentiality, and appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

Preference may be given to candidates who have:

• Formal theological or ministry education.
• Experience working specifically with senior adults in a United Methodist congregation or similar ministry setting.
• Experience developing ministries that combine spiritual formation, congregational care, fellowship, mission, and community engagement.
• Familiarity with the opportunities and challenges associated with aging, including changing mobility, caregiving, grief and loss, social isolation, and transitions in housing and health.
• Experience developing intergenerational ministries.

Desired Personal and Ministry Characteristics

The Director of Senior Adult Ministry should be a person who:

• Sees aging as a meaningful and spiritually rich season of life.
• Values senior adults not simply as recipients of ministry but as disciples, leaders, mentors, servants, and bearers of wisdom within the Body of Christ.
• Demonstrates warmth, patience, compassion, creativity, and hospitality.
• Is comfortable visiting and building relationships with people in homes, hospitals, retirement communities, and other settings.
• Can balance relational ministry with effective planning and administration.
• Enjoys bringing people together and creating opportunities for meaningful connection.
• Understands ministry as collaborative work carried out alongside clergy, staff, lay leadership, volunteers, and the congregation.

Accountability

The Director of Senior Adult Ministry will serve as a member of the Laurel Heights United Methodist Church ministry team and will be accountable to the designated supervising pastor and the appropriate staff-parish leadership structures of the congregation.

Purpose of the Ministry

Through this position, Laurel Heights United Methodist Church seeks to nurture a community in which senior adults continue to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, experience meaningful Christian community, receive compassionate care, share their wisdom and gifts, and participate fully in the mission and ministry of the church throughout every season of life.

Pay: $20,000.00 - $25,000.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Application Question(s):

• Describe your work or volunteer experience in a faith-based organization.

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20,000 - $25,000