Director of Christian Education - Ithaca, NY
Listed: 07-05-2022
Employer: First Presbyterian Church - 315 N. Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850 | (607) 272-2800 | www.firstpresithaca.org
Location: Ithaca, NY
Type: Full-time
Download: Job Description - Director of Christian Education
Description:
This is a full-time position, created by our Session with hope and anticipation of realizing our children’s program capacity to grow in our diverse city community. We seek a pro-active, entrepreneurial individual with a vibrant faith to serve as the Director of Christian Education (DCE). We are looking for someone with the skills and desire to provide creative leadership to nurture and revitalize the current program. A major goal is to build community and connections between the church and families, children, and youth. With the help of the pastoral staff and the church, our goal is for the DCE to cultivate an environment where children and youth feel integral to our church and want to come to Sunday school and youth programs. With leadership from the DCE, these activities should build a sense of community and trust, where individuals feel they are in a safe place to be themselves and share with others. The DCE’s goal will be to help children and youth recognize and use their faith as an important source of strength in dealing with what life brings them. Programs should encourage the youth to think beyond the walls of the church.
Candidates should be able to talk about their own faith journey have a proven track record of working with children and youth. As a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we have our theological roots in the Protestant Reformation. Following Christ’s teachings, we are fully inclusive in membership and leadership.
Relationships:
The Director of Christian Education reports to the Pastor and is accountable to the Pastor and the Session.
Responsibilities:
Children’s and Youth Ministry
Provide entrepreneurial and innovative leadership and specialized knowledge of resources to create engaging programming that meets the needs of children, youth, and their families. Plan, in consultation with the pastor, the social and spiritual experiences for children and youth. Develop relationships with families with children in order to understand and meet their children’s spiritual needs and to strengthen their bond with our church. All responsibilities should be carried out with support and consultation, as needed, from the Youth Ministry and Sunday School (YMSS) Committee and pastor.
Essential Functions: (representative, not exhaustive)
Sunday School
Facilitate the Godly Play® curriculum for children, K-5th grade for Sunday school during church. Work with YMSS Committee to recruit Sunday school teachers. Creatively launch each new Sunday school year. Prepare classroom materials and support collaboration among Sunday school teachers throughout the year. Hire and supervise Sunday nursery attendants. Observe if there is a way for Godly Play to begin in the nursery with our 3-6 year olds or pre-K students.
Youth Ministry
Serve as the primary youth leader. Continue to provide specialized knowledge of Godly Play stories into the youth group programming to create a flow of creativity and a living experience of the bible and one personal relationship to God with the Presbyterian beliefs. Develop relationships with families with youth in order to understand and meet their youth’s spiritual needs and to strengthen their bond with our church. Provide a safe place for adolescents to share and grow in their individual spiritual growth.
Retreats, Conferences, and Mission Trips
Assist in the planning and implementation of weekend retreats for youth. Facilitate opportunities for participation in conferences, and local, national, and international mission trips for youth and children. Participate fully with youth and children groups in such activities.
Children’s Time
Lead an engaging spiritual Children’s Time during the Sunday worship service as scheduled by the pastor.
Vacation Bible School
With the YMSS Committee, determine the curriculum, schedule, and leadership for Vacation Bible School or other summer programming. Lead and or teach as needed.
Child Protection
Ensure compliance with the Child Protection Policy of the church in all areas of responsibility. Maintain on file a completed Volunteer Form for each leader.
Finances
With the pastor and the YMSS Committee, propose the annual budget for the ministries of Christian Education.
Promoting and Sharing
Develop and maintain effective communication with the congregation and broader community through the website, newsletter, bulletin announcements, email, phone, and in person. Find creative ways to draw the community into our children’s and youth programming by outreach and community relationships, building a stronger program and a growing, more sustainable future ministry.
Maintain professional and ethical practices when utilizing social media.
Qualifications:
Required: Bachelor’s degree in education, religion, or related field. 3-5 yrs. experience in leading a Christian education program. Candidate should be approachable, organized, innovative, welcoming, professional, mature, and an experienced Christian leader who inspires confidence and trust in parents, staff, and volunteers. Able to demonstrate and model cultural sensitivity by being aware that cultural, differences and similarities between people exist and should be celebrated. We seek a self-starter with great interpersonal skills.
Preferred: Master’s degree/graduate studies in theological/Christian education or Certification as a Christian Educator in the PC(USA) or interest in pursuing theological education or Christian Ed certification.
Compensation:
The Director of Christian Education will be compensated as a full-time position and commensurate with the applicant’s experience and credentials.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply, please send cover letter, résumé, and list of references to Bruce Lane, Chair of search committee, at FirstPresIthacaDCEsearch@gmail.com.
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