Director of Children and Youth Ministries

Director of Children and Youth Ministries

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church (SIUMC) in Savannah, GA, seeks a full-time Director of Children and Youth Ministries to serve as an integral part of the church's senior ministerial staff. The Director of Children and Youth Ministries serves children, youth, and their families in the church and community through developing, implementing, administering, and growing programs designed to meet their spiritual, social, and emotional needs.

OUR CHURCH :

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, founded in 1987, has grown to a congregation of some 900 people, the largest membership of five houses of worship on Skidaway Island. Many, but not all, of our members live at The Landings, an established gated community of 8,500 residents. While many of the church's members are active retirees, the congregation includes all age groups, and our children and youth programs are active, viable, and growing. Skidaway Island is located 15 miles from downtown Savannah, a popular tourist destination known for historic preservation, active arts-oriented organizations, and a diverse musical community, all described at http : / / www.visitsavannah.com / . With facilities as diverse as close access to the ocean, water sports, parks and ball fields, public and private athletic programs, museums, and opportunities to serve the community through many existing social welfare programs, the area presents almost unlimited opportunities for meaningful programs for children and youth.

The Skidaway Island United Methodist Church is a community in covenant with God. We are people who proclaim the Gospel by our words and actions as members of the Body of Christ. We are committed to living according to God's will and growing in our Christian faith as revealed in scripture and further clarified by tradition, personal experience and reason. We are given to nurturing, compassion, justice, peace, love, service, and reconciliation.

SIUMC embraces the following mission : Welcoming people to Christ; growing in our relationship with God; and loving others through service. We seek to accomplish our mission through the five ministry areas of worship, education, fellowship, nurture, and missions. Applying our core values of love, faith, prayer, and service, we strive to achieve our vision of Changing Lives : physically; spiritually; and eternally.

• Sanctuary (capacity 500, equipped with quiet room) with two morning services (8 : 30 and 10 : 00)
• Chapel (capacity 100)
• Other Administrative Facilities : Offices (Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Director of Adult Ministries, Director of Children and Youth Ministries, and Controller) and Main Office / Reception Area (Church Office Coordinator and Communications Coordinator)
• Music Suite with Choir Room, Director's Office, and Music Library.
• Fellowship Hall and Kitchen
• Nursery suitable for infants and toddlers, recently remodeled
• Youth Classrooms / Meeting Space, recently remodeled
• Classrooms and Library

CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES :

The children and youth ministries are important ways that the church reaches out to the community. Over 800 people attended the Fall Festival on a Sunday afternoon last year. It included a wide variety of entertainment and learning programs for children of all ages. Inflatables lined our parking lot along the only road to the island. A petting zoo brought nature to those who are young and those young at heart as they were entertained by a Blue Grass Gospel Band. Food Trucks, carnival games, and sports activities for youth attracted many people who do not normally attend church. In the same way, the Drama Camp and Music Exploration Camp offered in summer attracted many children from unchurched families, leading some to seek a greater spiritual faith by attending and joining our congregation. We support a Boy Scout group that came to us seeking a place to receive religious guidance.

EQUIPMENT :

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES :

The Director of Children and Youth Ministries leads one of our most important forms of outreach, ministering to church members and nonmembers on Skidaway Island and beyond. We seek to appoint an individual who professes a vital Christian faith, has a relationship with Christ that is compatible with United Methodist theology and polity, and experiences ministry to children and youth as a calling rather than a job. The position is full-time, requiring a personal and professional commitment of 40+ hours per week. The hours can be irregular to meet the schedules of the children and youth. Travel with mission groups of children, youth, and their families will occur. Leading and participating with children and youth in learning activities, sports, mission activities, and recreational activities will require energy, strength, and dexterity.

The Director must be an active part of the life and ministry of the church, working in cooperation with the Senior Pastor and other members of the ministerial staff and also with laity. The Director, as with all staff, reports directly to the Senior Pastor. The Discipline of the United Methodist Church also assigns the Staff Parish Relations Committee the responsibility for setting annual evaluations, salary adjustments, benefits, and other considerations for all staff personnel. In our church, a member of the Committee is assigned to each staff member to serve as a liaison and representative to the Committee. The Director recruits, supervises, trains, and schedules the Nursery staff, interns, and volunteers involved in all programs and activities for children and youth.

QUALIFICATIONS :

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS :

SALARY AND BENEFITS :

The salary is competitive, commensurate with training and experience, and benefits include disability insurance, a retirement plan, and paid leave for : vacation, sick, and personal days; extended medical leave; bereavement leave; Jury Duty leave; Holiday leave; and continuing education programs.

Application Materials :

Send application materials by mail or email to :

MAIL :

Phyllis Albertson, Children and Youth Search Chair

Skidaway Island United Methodist Church

Church Phone : (912) 598-8460

Church FAX : (912) 598-7981

Website : www.siumc.org

Deadline for applications : Application period is open until the position is filled.

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