Job Available at Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Youth and Young Adult Ministries Coordinator 
Our young people are the now and the future of both the Church and the world. Consequently, Aldersgate feels the obligation to provide them with the opportunity to grow as children of God. This involves especially but not exclusively providing an active and exciting Biblically-based Methodist Study and Fellowship program for our young people from 5th -12th grade and young adults of college age.  It will also involve welcoming young people into our Christian Youth Fellowship who may not be associated with Aldersgate, and certainly involves providing Sunday school learning opportunities for all our young people. This Job description outlines the qualifications and responsibilities of a Youth and Young Adult Ministries Coordinator who will lead and guide our young people into becoming a strong and active part of Aldersgate’s congregation and Christ’s Global Church through mission and through a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

2. Qualifications

• Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and be dedicated to developing same in young people  
• Must possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree, with prior experience or education in Ministry with Young People.
• Must be willing to submit to, and pass, a criminal background check
• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal communication skills with both adults and young people
• Must demonstrate excellent organizational skills
• Must be willing to support other ministry areas of the church.
• Must have an in-depth understanding of the teachings and practices of the United Methodist Church

3. Requirements

• Job requires no less than 20 hours weekly. Must document hours, activities and plans on an Aldersgate Project Management sheet.

• Attend Worship and become an active, visible, participant in the spiritual life and service ministries of the congregation
• Attend - or provide a representative - Church Council and other Team Meetings as scheduled or requested by the Pastor
• Meet regularly with the Pastor according to a mutually agreed upon schedule
• Participate in some form of Professional Development annually (Conference event, General Church gatherings, etc.)
• Read, fully understand, agree to and sign Aldersgate Safe Sanctuaries Policy

4. Responsibilities
     Christian Education of Youth (7-12th Grade) (Currently Sunday mornings)

• Develop a unified and strategic educational program
• Promote and track Sunday school attendance and growth.  Reaching out to those absent or no longer in attendance
• Meet regularly with the Christian Education team to enhance the educational ministry.
• Be available and willing to teach the Aldersgate UMC Confirmation Class with the Senior Pastor. (every other year)
• Promote and/or lead various weekday/night studies for young people.

Youth:

• Provide and lead faith based monthly activities for 5 & 6th grade students
• Provide and lead weekly activities (youth group) for youth (7-9th and 10th-12th grades),
• (Sunday) evening meetings (Youth Group)to include: Fun, Fellowship, Meaningful instruction in applying their Christian values to everyday life, Faith-based, biblically grounded lessons and activities for youth, provided on a regular (preferably weekly) basis
• Provide opportunity for outside fellowship activities (skating, bowling, skiing, movie nights, lock-ins, etc.)
• Facilitate Spiritual growth for youth through Bible Study

 

• Develop relationships with youth, encouraging them to grow in their faith and make decisions in light of God’s will for their lives
• Guide, recruit and train Adults Leaders (regular and occasional) to work with the Youth.
• Encourage youth attendance in worship weekly beyond Sunday School and regular Youth Group meetings
• Make a concerted effort to become an active participant in the daily lives of youth involved by attending activities in which they participate (sports, plays, chorus/band concerts, etc)
• Develop leaders within the Youth Group, and elect a Senior (Junior if necessary) to represent the youth at meetings of Church Council
• Develop an Aldersgate Youth Council comprising of youth and adult leaders of youth.
• Facilitate opportunities for youth to become active and visible members of the congregation

• Encourage participation in church activities
• Provide opportunities for and encourage youth to participate in weekly services (Scripture reading, ushering, greeting, playing instruments, joining choirs etc.

• Provide leadership for at least one annual “Retreat”-like experience
• Provide Missions opportunities under advisement of the Pastor – (weeklong Summer experience)
• Participate in Greater NJ Conference and District/Regional events on a regular basis.  Helping Youth to understand the importance of the connectional church
• Plan for at least one special Youth Service annually - approved by the Pastor. Encourage youth to act as special speakers during this service

• Plan and monitor Youth Group expenses and budgeting in collaboration with Finance Committee or Church Treasurer

• Hold fundraisers in accordance with church policy, obtaining approval from Church Council as needed.

• Plan Summer activities in consultation with the Pastor
• Support parents and families in resourcing them with tools/update on current youth trends

     Young Adults

• Provide monthly (or seasonal) gatherings of young adults.
• Develop programs/events to engage young adults where they are. ie: college age, single, etc.
• Resource Young Adults in current faith trends, blogs, outlets and mission opportunities for faith development.
• Connect college students with local UMC’s in their college town.
• Provide opportunities for young adults in the Aldersgate UMC community to fellowship, worship, and be in mission together.
• Connect with the local universities to provide a link between the schools and this local congregation/mission.  
• Serve as the Aldersgate representative  to the GNJ Rutgers Univ. Ministries team.
• Engage the Aldersgate congregation to stay connected to our college students through prayer, care packages, notes of encouragement, etc.  
• Participation in Greater NJ Conference and District/Regional Young Adult events when available.

5. Supervision and Accountability

• Youth and Young Adult Ministries Coordinator is supervised directly by the Pastor
• Youth and Young Adult Ministries Coordinator is evaluated following each school year by Staff-Parish Relations Committee

6. Communication

• Schedule at least two meetings with parents of Youth annually, one in September at the beginning of the annual program, and the second near the beginning of January, to review the first semester, to receive comments, and make any mid-year changes needed. These meeting must be publicized with sufficient advance notice for parents to attend.
• Near the beginning of each semester, create an outline of a schedule for activities that will take place outside of the regular weekly meetings, taking into account anticipated school vacation schedules, holiday schedules and any information provided by the parents/young person. This is intended to be a proposed outline, not a final schedule. Provide this proposal as a brief listing (perhaps a single page) to the Pastor.
• Provide bulletin, newsletter, website and/or Facebook(and other forms of social media) announcements on a regular basis. Descriptive information must be provided with sufficient lead time that all potential participants in activities have sufficient time to plan for them.
• Facilitate communication with young people and parents (newsletters, text-messages, e-mailing, US Mail, etc.) as opportunities arise
• Provide opportunity for and encourage young people to address the congregation following meaningful experiences (Retreats, Mission projects, etc.)
• As soon as they are known, Inform the Pastor of any commitments which will prevent your full participation in event(s) associated with this position.  Especially with weekly/monthly meetings/activities fund raising events, Mission projects, etc.
• Provide for or post office hours or times available (days and evening hours) for meeting with young people and their families beyond group setting in a safe environment.
• Provide annual report to be included in Church Conference booklet

7. Other

• The schedule for performing this job shall be a year long position.  Aldersgate UMC follows the EB School system calendar.
• One weeks’ paid vacation (2 weeks after the first academic year employed) can be scheduled with the approval of the Pastor.   
• Sick days and personal days (on days programs/Sundays are scheduled) need to be approved by the Senior Pastor.  Hours will be expected to made up during the week.
• Salary for this position will be based on experience and education starting at $15,000.
• Any duties performed outside of this schedule shall be agreed upon in advance among the individual, the Pastor, SPRC and/or the Church Council.
• Ministry opportunities to support a degree program can be done with the approval of the Senior Pastor and will need to be in addition to the job requirements and hours.

Position is to begin approximately August 1, 2019.  All interested persons should submit a cover letter and a current resume to [email protected]

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