Director of Children & Family Ministry

The role: The Director of Children & Family Ministry provides vision and leadership for children’s ministry and formation from nursery through 5th grade. The Director forms and equips volunteers, cultivates strong relationships with parents, and partners with parents as the primary formers of their children. Their mission is the flourishing of Advent’s children and families – helping children discover and delight in their place at the Lord’s Table and grow into lifelong disciples of Jesus. Our culture & partnering with our team: Our animating center is Life in Christ. We lean into simple, ancient rhythms – worship, formation, community, and mission – and measure success by long-term growth in the fruits of the Spirit in our people and our staff. Our Staff Culture Code is anchored in commitments like ‘Humility heals,’ ‘Kindness, Care, Respect,’ and ‘Relationships are the right priority.’ Because we view the church as a family rather than a corporation, our leadership style is relational and collaborative. We do not micromanage, and we prioritize people over performance. We hope that building relationships that reflect gospel love, especially among staff and volunteers, infuses everything we do. Children’s ministry at Advent is not childcare attached to the ‘real’ ministry of the church. Children are full members of the worshiping body, and this role helps the parish receive them as such – forming them through Scripture, prayer, sacrament, wonder, beauty, belonging, and healthy and safe relationships with faithful adults. The Director leads the vision, formation, relationships, and volunteer culture of children’s ministry. The Parish Administrator & Children’s Ministry Assistant provides approximately 12 weekly hours of operational support, owning recurring scheduling, administration, safeguarding processes, Sunday setup and cleanup, storyteller communication, and the 4th-5th grade curriculum and environment under the Director’s broader vision. The person we are looking for: A joyful love for Jesus, children, and the local church, with a desire to help children know that they belong to Christ and to his people. Relational warmth with children, parents, and volunteers – someone who notices people, builds trust, and creates a calm and welcoming ministry culture. A formational imagination: able to choose and shape age-appropriate, theologically rich curriculum and environments rather than simply run programs. A team-builder who enjoys recruiting, equipping, encouraging, and retaining volunteers instead of carrying the ministry alone. A grounded understanding of child development, sensory needs, classroom dynamics, and behavior support. Reliable organization and communication, paired with the flexibility to troubleshoot graciously when Sunday mornings do not go according to plan.

Core responsibilities: Because this is a part-time role, these responsibilities will be prioritized with the Rector according to parish need, seasonal rhythms, and available hours. Children’s formation & parish life Own and develop the vision for children’s ministry from nursery through 5th grade in alignment with Advent’s mission, Anglican identity, and overall formation pathway. Oversee the theological and educational direction of Sunday children’s formation, including Godly Play and related age-appropriate approaches. Map the annual rhythm of stories, Scripture, prayer, feast days, and formation so children’s ministry participates meaningfully in the life of the Church year. Adapt and steward Godly Play curriculum and other resources with attention to theological faithfulness, child development, wonder, beauty, and accessibility. Guide children’s ministry spaces so they are safe, hospitable, ordered, and genuinely formative. Work with the Rector and clergy to help children understand and participate in baptism, Holy Communion, confirmation, confession, the Church year, and the worshiping life of the parish. Support age-appropriate preparation for older children’s baptism and first Communion, working with children and parents under clergy oversight. Collaborate with clergy and the Worship Leader on child-inclusive services, feast days, pageants, and other moments when children’s formation intersects with the liturgy Sunday morning leadership Be a visible, relational leader across both services – welcoming families, noticing newcomers, supporting volunteers, troubleshooting needs, and helping children participate joyfully in parish life. Oversee the Godly Play and children’s formation team, ensuring storytellers and volunteers have the formation, information, and support they need to serve well. Teach or tell stories regularly enough to remain connected to the children, volunteers, curriculum, and actual experience of the ministry. Remain relationally available before and after services while the Children’s Ministry Assistant ordinarily handles children’s-area setup and cleanup. Maintain clear contingency plans for volunteer absences, classroom needs, behavioral concerns, emergencies, and other Sunday-morning disruptions. Volunteer leadership & formation Recruit, discern, train, encourage, and pastorally support children’s ministry volunteers, cultivating a deep and sustainable team rather than relying on a few people. Provide regular orientation and formation for storytellers, classroom helpers, and other volunteers, including incoming three-year-old transitions and age-specific ministry practices. Lead the content and formation for regular volunteer trainings, with administrative and coordination support from the Children’s Ministry Assistant. Create simple, repeatable tools that help volunteers understand the spiritual purpose of their role, the lesson or story they are leading, and what faithful presence with children looks like. Partner with the Parish Administrator on nursery staffing and with the Parish Administrator and Rector on safeguarding implementation, ensuring no volunteer serves before required training and clearance are complete. Parents & family discipleship Partner with and equip parents as the primary Christian formers of their children through encouragement, resources, conversations, and occasional gatherings that help families practice the faith at home. Build genuine relationships with parents and caregivers, listening to their hopes, needs, questions, and experience of children’s ministry; connect with and pray for and with families so they are known and spiritually supported rather than simply served by a program. Meet with or visit families in their homes when helpful, especially around significant transitions, new-family connection, or particular family needs. Provide relational pastoral care to children and parents within the scope of the role, referring significant pastoral, marital, mental-health, or crisis needs to the Rector or appropriate clergy. In partnership with the Rector, organize and curate occasional parenting offerings and resources on relevant topics for age-appropriate family formation (tech, social media, etc.).Connect with new families with children within three weeks of meeting them, helping them understand Advent’s children’s ministry, worship rhythms, safeguarding practices, and pathways into deeper belonging. Pay particular attention to significant transitions – entering Godly Play, moving into the 4th-5th grade years, baptism and first Communion, and transitioning toward youth ministry – helping families experience these as meaningful stages of Christian formation. Special events & seasonal ministry Lead the ministry vision and program for children’s special events such as the Christmas Pageant, Holy Week offerings, summertime formation, child-led services, family gatherings, and similar seasonal opportunities. Partner with the Ministry Operations Coordinator on larger event logistics and with the Parish Administrator on recurring communications, supplies, forms, scheduling, and children’s ministry administration. Flex hours seasonally around major children’s ministry events in coordination with the Rector.

Qualifications & experience: Spiritual Alignment | A deeply rooted, active Christian faith and genuine love for the mission, liturgical tradition, and community of Church of the Advent; the Director should become a worshiping member of the parish. Children & Families | Demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships with children and parents and create warm, safe, spiritually meaningful environments. Formation | Sound biblical and theological instincts, educational wisdom, and the ability to choose or adapt curriculum in ways that are faithful, imaginative, and developmentally appropriate. Leadership | Experience recruiting, training, and coordinating volunteers; able to give clear direction while cultivating a relational, non-anxious team culture. Child Development | Working knowledge of child development, sensory needs, behavior-support strategies, and classroom management preferred. Experience | Previous children’s ministry, Christian education, teaching, or comparable leadership experience preferred. Familiarity with Godly Play or Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a plus, not a requirement. Safety | Must pass a comprehensive criminal background check and complete all diocesan safeguarding requirements before serving with children. Position, pay & benefits

Compensation: $27-$31/hour depending on experience, paid twice monthly.

Hours: Approximately 15 hours/week, with a formal review at six months to assess fit and clarify scope. Strong prioritization is essential within the part-time hours.

Schedule: Weekly administrative work offers scheduling and hybrid/remote flexibility; regular Sunday-morning presence and weekly staff meeting attendance are required. Sundays off: 5 designated Sundays per calendar year, coordinated in advance with the Rector and Children’s Ministry Assistant. Holidays: 10 paid parish holidays observed by the church. Flourishing stipend: $500 annually for continuing education and/or spiritual retreat. Safeguarding: Must pass a comprehensive criminal background check prior to hire and complete Anglican diocesan child-safety training (Safeguarding God’s Children) within 30 days of hire. Soul care Gather weekly on Sunday mornings to receive from Christ in word, spirit, and sacrament. Maintain a genuine weekly day of rest, free from church work and communication. Meet regularly with God in prayer and Scripture – all ministry, including administrative ministry, flows from a rich life with God.