Other Details

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Our mission at Grace Presbyterian Church is to welcome our neighbors to grow together in Christ and serve God in our community and world. Our congregation is drawn from a variety of communities along the North Shore and Northern suburbs of Chicago. Our children’s ministry program averages 75+ children each week, ages six-months to fourth grade.

Purpose: The Director of Children’s Ministry (DCM) is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordinating, and implementation of gospel-centered ministry environments for children from birth through fourth grade.

Reports To: Assistant Pastor

Primary Responsibilities:

• The DCM will cultivate his/her own spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical health; this includes membership and participation in the church
• The DCM will nurture relationships with his/her spouse, friends, family, and the church community
• If married, the spouse of the DCM should feel comfortable making Grace their church home

Vocational Responsibilities:

• Effectively create and communicate a vision for children’s ministry that is aligned with the overall church
• Be an advocate for children’s ministry and educate the congregation about the hopes, concerns, and needs of children in the local church and community
• In collaboration with the Children and Youth Team, contribute to creating, organizing, and delivering an integrated strategy of discipleship for all of Family Ministry, from birth through high school students
• Oversee, plan, and coordinate Children’s Ministry programming throughout the week and year, including mid-week programming (GraceKids), Grace Bible Camp (formerly, Vacation Bible School), and events
• Ensure that appropriate safety and security procedures are followed in all Children’s Ministry contexts (e.g. check-in, check-out, 2-adult policies, etc.)
• Develop systems of tracking children, parents, and attendance using church database
• Recruit, train, and inspire both paid and volunteer staff to become leaders in the planning and implementation of relevant, effective, and safe ministry environments (in tandem with the Children and Youth Committee – CYC)
• Develop and maintain a healthy volunteer culture and structure (in tandem with the CYC)
• Oversee scheduling of paid and volunteer staff (in tandem with the CYC).
• Oversee appropriate communication, making sure opportunities for connection and involvement are clear to children and parents in the church and in the community
• Provide support and clear partnership points for children and families as they transition through both age and spiritual milestones like baptism, annual promotion Sundays, and promotion from children’s ministry to Middle School Youth
• Ensure an annual children’s ministry budget has been created and submitted. Monitor expenses against that budget through the timely submission of expenses and review of quarterly budget reports
• Maintain well-organized Children’s Ministry classrooms, storage areas, and office space

Skills, Traits and Experience:

• Previous experience with ministry oversight and management of volunteers, ideally in a children’s ministry area
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Self-starter and disciplined to work in an unsupervised environment
• Highly relational and possessing excellent people skills, with an orientation towards serving, empowering others, and building strong teams
• Possess a strong working knowledge of standard office equipment, computers, proficiency in software programs including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, database systems, and use of the internet

Qualifications / Characteristics:

• Bachelor’s Degree with 3+ years experience leading children’s ministry in a local church or similar setting
• Background and/or familiarity with PCA. Ordination or desire to pursue within the denomination is welcomed but not required
• Cultivate his/her own spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical health
• Nurture relationships with his/her spouse and family (if applicable)
• Nurture relationships/friendships/community with others