NOTE: THIS POSITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE PART-TIME AS DETERMINED BY THE HIRING TEAM.
Purpose
The Youth Pastor is responsible for furthering the mission of the Church of the Chimes (COTC) by leading, managing, and growing the Youth Ministry. This role connects families to COTC by providing quality care of their youth through relational ministry. An effective Youth Pastor will develop leaders and implement comprehensive, gospel-centered youth programming throughout the year that ignites a genuine desire to be a disciple of Jesus among youth – sixth grade through twelfth grade.
A successful candidate will be able to grow and develop the Youth Ministry by recruiting, inspiring, and equipping a team of volunteers to teach, guide, and care for the youth of COTC. The successful candidate will also be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading of the youth in Biblical teaching, discipleship, and worship for the youth in their care. Areas of focus include group and community building, discipleship, worship, mission, family support, outreach, and creating avenues that ensure opportunities for connection to the life of the body of Christ.
Responsibilities
-- Be an engaging spiritual leader and discipleship role model with a demonstrable personal relationship with Jesus.
-- Ensure that all teaching is based on core Biblical principles with practical application to youth life issues.
-- Develop, implement, and manage (along with a team of volunteers) comprehensive youth ministry programs/activities targeting all the focus areas.
-- Provide counseling and spiritual direction that aligns with church ministry doctrine, strategy, policies, and plans.
-- Serve as an advocate for youth by educating and enlightening the congregation about the hopes, concerns, and needs of the youth in the church and the COTC community at large.
-- Develop and implement ministry activities to support the parents/guardians of students.
-- Collaborate with local schools and youth ministry activities outside of COTC to jointly accomplish ministry goals.
-- Research resources and make recommendations for developing and improving the youth ministry programming.
-- Recruit, train, manage, and mentor adequate volunteer/staff support to work in all aspects of youth ministry.
-- Maintain a flexible schedule that allows for acceptable and appropriate contact with youth outside of programmed activities (e.g., meeting students on school campus, attendance at extracurricular activities, sharing meals, times of crisis, etc.).
-- Maintain accurate records of youth participation and follow up with students whose youth attendance has dropped.
-- Develop and oversee youth ministry policies and procedures ensuring the safety of students, staff, and volunteers.
-- Manage, compile, and execute a youth ministry program budget for reporting purposes.
-- Communicate with church leadership, staff, parents, and congregation in a timely manner utilizing available resources (email, social media, call/text, bulletin, newsletter, posters, etc.).
-- Collaborate with church leaders and staff members in a cohesive and open team environment.
-- Participate in continuing education events and training opportunities pertinent to youth ministry as time permits.
-- Regular and reliable attendance is required in the performance of the job.
-- Handle sensitive/confidential information per COTC policies.
-- Perform other ministry tasks as assigned by the Lead Pastor.
Experience
Five years of experience as a youth pastor or a youth ministry director is strongly desired. Related experience in youth mentoring, youth counseling, and/or youth development would be beneficial. The following job-related experience is strongly desired:
-- Planning, coordinating, and leading/overseeing youth activities; including administrative tasks related to programs/events, meetings, trips, and ministry resources.
-- Mentoring, coaching, and/or advising students in grades 6-12.
-- Building relationships with 1) youth from diverse, multi-cultural groups; 2) parents/guardians; 3) volunteers and staff; 4) church congregants.
-- Developing and teaching curriculum for grade 6-12 students.
-- Effectively resolving conflicts involving students, parents, and other parties.
-- Interacting, advising, and communicating effectively – especially using social media.
-- Following safe and appropriate interactions with students, parents, and volunteers/staff.
-- Recruiting, training, organizing, and leading volunteer efforts.
Requirements
-- A bachelor’s degree (completed or in progress) or higher in a ministry relevant field or equivalent years of experience.
-- Must sign COTC Covenant of Belonging.
The Church of the Chimes has been serving God in ministry since its inception in San Jose, California in 1957 when it was started by a group of people convicted by God to commence a Reformed Church of America (RCA) church in San Jose. The first services were held at a drive-in theatre and were led by a newly ordained minister. By God’s grace, the church persevered beyond 21 members at its incorporation in 1958 though worship was conducted during its first 14 months while people sat in cars. Later, services were moved to the garage of the parsonage to save money as the church was being built at its current site.
Over the past 65+ years, the church congregation has grown and its facilities have expanded into an extensive church campus with a community life center that supports worship, children and youth programs, Ethiopian services, and a host of other ministries. Today, COTC’s congregation comes from a broad range of ages, ethnicities, cultures, backgrounds, and spiritual heritages. Although the church is no longer in the RCA denomination and has recently joined the Alliance of Reformed Churches (ARC) in 2022, our church unity and Life Together, celebrated in our diversity, is a testimony to our love of Jesus Christ.
Church of the Chimes is looking for skilled spiritual and organizational leaders who can leverage our foundational strengths and resources while leading change-- specifically in the direction of discipleship, outreach, and church culture.
The highest priorities for the next season of ministry include ...
