Alumni News
Minister of Children and Families, Part-time, UCC: Milton, MA
Job Posting for Minister of Children and Families
First Congregational Church of Milton, MA (United Church of Christ)
Hours: Part time, based on 15 hrs/week over school year with minimal hours during summer.
Must work on Sundays and every other Wednesday evening.
Reports to: Pastor and works in close partnership with Board of Christian Education.
First Congregational Church, Milton, MA, is an open and affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ. We are seeking a Minister of Children and Families, who will lead our vibrant and vital Sunday school programs and our Wacky Wednesday fun night. The spiritual formation and community building of children lies at the heart of our mission and purpose as a congregation.
Primary Responsibilities
• Working with the oversight of the Board of Christian Education to plan, coordinate, organize, support, and lead programs for children from Nursery through 8th grade.
• Recruit, develop, and supervise Sunday school teachers (high school students). Supervise the adult nursery worker.
• Organize and coordinate annual Sunday school registration process, keep attendance, and maintain an accurate database using Fellowship One (training for F1 available on job).
• Prepare curriculum and provide oversight and support to ensure the curriculum is incorporated into weekly lessons.
• Facilitate and lead teacher trainings and meetings as needed to help teachers grow and improve.
• Organize and coordinate special events including: Christmas pageant, teacher appreciation, children's Sunday, Palm Sunday, and the Easter egg hunt.
• Communicate all Christian education activities, and correspond with parents and the congregation as appropriate using a variety of mediums, including: social media, email, posters, mailings, newsletter, etc.
• Attend Board of Christian Ed meetings.
• Stay abreast of current trends and best practices in Christian education, and share insights with the Board of Christian Education.
Qualifications (Required)
The ideal candidate is a spiritually mature person with excellent communication skills and a desire to engage in the life of the congregation to help strengthen and grow our programs for children and support families as they seek to grow in faith. We seek someone who is invested in fostering a loving, safe, and caring environment where children can build friendships, learn the stories and practices of our faith, come to trust in God’s love for them, and connect their faith to their life in the world.
The ideal candidate has:
• A bachelor's degree in a related field and related experience OR direct experience.
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith, and an ability to share that faith authentically in a way that encourages the faith of others.
• An understanding of and commitment to the church’s mission.
• Proficiency with basic computer programs and social media platforms.
• Strong administrative, communication, leadership, and motivational skills.
Qualifications (preferred)
• Academic training in education or theology.
• General marketing and growth perspective that will assist with the continued growth and development of our educational programs.
• Experience working in a church either in a professional or voluntary position.
Other Pastoral Opportunities
For candidates who are ordained or seeking ordination, this position may offer opportunities for preaching, the administration of the sacraments, and providing pastoral support to the congregation as appropriate.
Financial compensation to be commensurate with qualifications. FCC of Milton is an open and affirming congregation and is an equal opportunity employer. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to:
Rev. R.G. Wilson-Lyons
First Congregational Church of Milton
495 Canton Avenue
Milton, MA 02186
rg@fccmilton.org
(205) 532-0907
Junior High Director of Boys, Full-time, Presbyterian: Nashville, TN
Shortened Version
West End Community Church, in Nashville, TN is seeking a full-time Junior High Director of Boys position. All resumes and inquiries can be directed to elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com by February 10, 2023.
Full Job Description
TITLE: Junior High Director of Boys
REPORTS TO: Co-Youth Director
HOURS: Sunday – Thursday (Full-time position)
OVERVIEW OF POSITION:
- This position works with the Junior High Director of Girls, under the oversight of the Youth Directors, planning, coordinating and executing all aspects of junior high ministry
- This position works closely with entire Youth Ministry staff aiding in the oversight, coaching and encouragement of the entire Youth Ministry
Position Expectations:
Teaching and Development
- Aid in the developing, organizing and leading of Sunday School ministry to junior high students, including regular large group teaching
- Aid in the developing, organizing and leading of small group discipleship ministry to bring junior high students to maturity in Christ, personally leading one small group of students
Relational Ministry
- Meet regularly with students fostering relationship, while encouraging and directing them toward a committed relationship with Jesus (1v1, school lunches, games/plays, etc.)
- Aid in shepherding and growing a community of volunteers to invest in the lives of students and lead in the various programs of the youth ministry (fellowship, coaching, care, accountability, etc.)
- Meet regularly with parents developing intentional relationships
Communication and Events
- Aid in executing regular communication to junior high leaders, students and families, including social media
- Contribute to design, marketing and communication of all junior high events and ministry components
- Aid in developing, organizing and executing parent resource communication plan, including Sunday school and small group curriculum material
- Communicate regularly with parents developing and maintaining healthy relationships with families
- Lead in the development, organization and execution of all junior high special events, such as, winter and summer camps, mission trips and other events that foster relationship building, spiritual maturity, and advancement of the kingdom
- Aid in the development, communication and execution of ministry related forums designed to equip youth families
Maintenance
- Oversee and manage regular maintenance tasks associated with a growing youth ministry (stocking hospitality supplies, gathering ministry supplies, etc.)
- Oversee and manage effective execution of administrative duties as required
Qualifications and Requirements:
Education
- A bachelor’s degree is required
- 1-3+ years of ministry experience is desirable
- Proven capability of leading a discipleship ministry
- Track record of developing personal relationships and building ministry structure
Experience and Skills
- Excellent time management, communication, organizational, and execution skills
- Gift of gospel-centered teaching in an engaging manner to all students of the ministry
- Ability to work cooperatively with others, maintain a positive disposition and flexibility in solving problems
- Excellent communication and relational skills
- Desire and ability to work effectively with diverse staff, volunteers, students and parents
- Possesses effective organizational, coaching and networking abilities and gifts
- Is enthusiastic, energetic, a self-starter, and a collaborator
- Willing to face difficulties and conflict with humility
- Commitment to timeliness, reliability, and excellence in all things
- Takes initiative in accessing, meeting and completing needs
- Basic lay-counseling and listening skills appropriate for youth ministry
Requirements
- All employees must commit to performing their duties in accordance with the mission and vision of the church, West End Policies and Procedures Manual, and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Acting Ministry Associate, Part-time, UCC: Concord, NH
South Congregational Church (located in Concord, NH) is excited to announce a search for an Acting Ministry Associate who will spend about 20 hours a week with our congregation. In consultation with our Director of Education, they will co-lead our three youth group programs. This will include the Senior High, which meets weekly and takes a mission trip in the spring. It also includes meetings with the ‘Tween Group and the Junior High, each of which meets once per month. They will meet monthly with our Faith in Action and Faith Formation Ministries. This person will assist with Sunday morning worship (4 Sundays a month). They will help the Senior Pastor with visitation. Other duties may come up as assigned. Some experience in ministry is needed, however this individual does not need to be ordained. It is important that this individual be comfortable working with young people, with public speaking, leading meetings and working with a wide range of congregants from youth to older members. Experience in pastoral visitation will be needed as well. If the person comes with some IT experience, all the better.
Applications will be accepted until a candidate is identified.
Compensation: up to $30,000 based on experience.
Please contact the church office administrator: Kayla Pingree office@southchurchconcord.org
Senior High Director of Boys, full-time, Presbyterian: Nashville, TN
Shortened Version
West End Community Church, in Nashville, TN, is seeking a full-time Senior High Director of Boys position. All resumes and inquiries can be directed to elaine.pendergrass@ministryarchitects.com by 1/31/23.
Full Job Description
TITLE: Senior High Director of Boys
REPORTS TO: Co-Youth Director
HOURS: Sunday – Thursday (Full-time position)
OVERVIEW OF POSITION:
- This position works with the Senior High Director of Girls, under the oversight of the Youth Directors, planning, coordinating and executing all aspects of senior high ministry
- This position works closely with entire Youth Ministry staff aiding in the oversight, coaching and encouragement of the entire Youth Ministry
Position Expectations:
Teaching and Development
- Aid in the developing, organizing and leading of Sunday School ministry to students, including regular large group teaching
- Aid in the developing, organizing and leading of small group discipleship ministry to bring students to maturity in Christ, personally leading one small group of students
- Aid in the developing, organizing and leading of student leadership ministry for high school students
Relational Ministry
- Meet regularly with students fostering relationship, while encouraging and directing them toward a committed relationship with Jesus (1v1, school lunches, games/plays, etc.)
- Aid in shepherding and growing a community of volunteers to invest in the lives of students and lead in the various programs of the youth ministry (fellowship, coaching, care, accountability, etc.)
- Meet regularly with parents developing intentional relationships
Communication and Events
- Aid in executing regular communication to senior high leaders, students and families, including social media
- Contribute to design, marketing and communication of all senior high events and ministry components
- Aid in developing, organizing and executing parent resource communication plan, including Sunday school and small group curriculum material
- Communicate regularly with parents developing and maintaining healthy relationships with families
- Lead in the development, organization and execution of all senior high special events, such as, winter and summer camps, mission trips and other events that foster relationship building, spiritual maturity, and advancement of the kingdom
- Aid in the development, communication and execution of ministry related forums designed to equip youth families
Maintenance
- Oversee and manage regular maintenance tasks associated with a growing youth ministry (stocking hospitality supplies, gathering ministry supplies, etc.)
- Oversee and manage effective execution of administrative duties as required
Qualifications and Requirements:
Education
- A bachelor’s degree is required
- 1-3+ years of ministry experience is desirable
- Proven capability of leading a discipleship ministry
- Track record of developing personal relationships and building ministry structure
Experience and Skills
- Excellent time management, communication, organizational, and execution skills
- Gift of gospel-centered teaching in an engaging manner to all students of the ministry
- Ability to work cooperatively with others, maintain a positive disposition and flexibility in solving problems
- Excellent communication and relational skills
- Desire and ability to work effectively with diverse staff, volunteers, students and parents
- Possesses effective organizational, coaching and networking abilities and gifts
- Is enthusiastic, energetic, a self-starter, and a collaborator
- Willing to face difficulties and conflict with humility
- Commitment to timeliness, reliability, and excellence in all things
- Takes initiative in accessing, meeting and completing needs
- Basic lay-counseling and listening skills appropriate for youth ministry
Requirements
- All employees must commit to performing their duties in accordance with the mission and vision of the church,
West End Policies and Procedures Manual, and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Diocesan Youth Minster, full-time, Episcopal: Indianapolis, IN
Shortened Version
The Diocese of Indianapolis, in Indianapolis, IN, is seeking a full-time Diocesan Youth Minister position. All resumes and inquiries can be directed to martha.whitesides@ministryarchitects.com by 1/31/23.
Full Job Description
The Diocese of Indianapolis is seeking a Diocesan Youth Minister to be called to unabashedly promote and celebrate the faith formation of young people in the diocese.
This inclusive and innovative diocese spans 200 miles in southern and central Indiana including 47 churches.
The Diocesan Youth Minister will be charged with equipping and encouraging parish-level leaders through community, connection, and trainings;
visioning and leading meaningful initiatives and events with youth alongside a leadership team,
and managing the administrative aspects of the diocesan youth ministry. Follow this link to learn more and apply.
BUSTH Hosts Fall 2022 Bi-Annual Lowell Lecture
On November 2, 2022, the Boston University School of Theology with the generous support of the Lowell Institute was proud to sponsor the bi-annual Lowell Lecture in the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. The lecture by Dr. Emmett G. Price III, entitled “The Sacred Sounds of Black Disinherited Creatives,” sought to demonstrate how the Black/African-American experience has been shaped by and expressed through spirituality and the creative, transcendent power of music. Following the lecture, guest respondents Assistant Professor of New Testament Shively T.J. Smith and Rev. Joshua Lazard (STH’25) insightfully remarked on the engaging talk along with Greg Groover, Jr., Assistant Chair of Ensemble at Berklee College of Music, who responded musically by playing his tenor saxophone. The responsive panel was moderated by Professor of Music Andrew Shenton.
Watch the full lecture below, courtesy of the Lowell Institute and GBH Forum Network.
The Lowell Lecture is made possible by the generous support from the Lowell Institute.
Prof. James McCarty Featured in BU Today
The following is an excerpt from BU Today’s article “Why We Need More MLK in Schools” by Steve Holt, featuring Assistant Clinical Professor of Religion and Conflict Transformation James McCarty, published on November 29, 2022. Click here to read the full article.
BU Today: As a King scholar, what was your first reaction to hearing that initial drafts of Virginia’s public school curriculum mostly erased King from its K-5 history and social sciences requirements?
McCarty: My initial thoughts are that it is truly incredible to think that King, perhaps the most recent addition to the pantheon of American democratic heroes (if the Washington Mall is any indication), is not appropriate for students preparing to become citizens. King was a Christian pastor, a champion of democracy who secured voting rights for millions, quoted Thomas Jefferson regularly, and is an internationally influential voice for peace—but he’s too dangerous for youth to learn about? It raises the question of what is actually so dangerous about King. The most likely answer to that is his firm stance on behalf of racial justice, economic restructuring, and critiques of America’s militarism. In the era of critical race theory panic, all of these, especially the concern for racial justice, come to mind.
Prof. Steven Sandage quoted in Boston Globe
The following is an excerpt from the Boston Globe’s article “‘Gray divorce’ brings struggles and a possibility of late-in-life reinvention” by Robert Weisman, featuring quotes by Professor Steven Sandage, published on November 19, 2022. Click here to read the full article.
Some who’ve worked with couples contemplating a breakup during the past three years say the couples’ experiences are marked by upheaval, from the virus to racial tension and climate degradation — even as rising prices and economic slowdown hit them in the wallets.
“People are certainly feeing financial stress,” said Steven Sandage, a couples and family therapist who is research director at Boston University’s Danielsen Institute, a mental health clinic. “Two people of color may be encountering racism but choosing to cope with it differently. We’re also seeing existential anxiety about the planet.”
BUSTH Welcomes New Congregations for Trauma-Responsive Congregations Project
November 2022 – Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to welcome eight additional congregations to the “Trauma-Responsive Congregations” program, part of a grant funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Thriving Congregations Initiative. The four-year project is entering its third year. It is designed to help urban congregations respond to trauma from theologically-informed and spiritually-integrative perspectives.
Starting a trauma-responsive grant in the midst of COVID-19 was challenging, but the five congregations who began with the program last year were motivated to respond to the specific needs in their community. They developed projects to support existing ministries and to lay the groundwork for more robust trauma-care, whether through supporting staff doing front-line care for vulnerable populations, investing in youth leaders, or training facilitators to run trauma-healing circles for unhoused congregational members.
Partnering with trauma experts from across Boston University and at the Danielsen Institute, project leaders have been building online learning modules tailored for congregational leaders. With the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, the BU leadership team plans to build more interactive trauma education into the second phase. The program’s partnership with Chaplaincy Innovation Lab provides a national network of spiritual care professionals to support the program efforts, and the Lab hosts the Trauma-Responsive Congregations public webinars.
Associate Professor of Theology Shelly Rambo, who directs the program, identifies several thread that connect the next cohort of congregations: “First, these congregations are culturally diverse with members coming from various parts of the world. Several congregations are responding to challenges facing refugee communities. Second, housing and food insecurity are major issues in their neighborhoods, given the cost of living in Boston and San Diego. Harbor Online Community is exploring what it means to support those seeking a faith home who have experienced religious trauma. And how do they do this virtually? Another is a church without walls; Border Church, recently featured in a Boston Globe article, provides spiritual care and the sacraments at the border wall dividing San Diego county and Tijuana.”
In addition to Prof. Rambo as director, STH alum Ylisse Bess (‘17) serves as the program director. Dayna Olson-Gerry serves as program coordinator. A number of BUSTH administrators, graduate students, and alumni provide support: Nataly Romero (‘23), Martha Schick (‘22), Andrew Kimble (‘19), Megan Strouse (‘23), Mary Page Wilson-Lyons (‘25), Jeehyun Baek (‘23), Shelby Hall (‘27), and Montague Williams (‘18). The program also welcomes several skilled consultants, including Assistant Professor of Spiritual Care and Counseling Eunil David Cho and Dr. Eric Brown. Michelle Shoemaker from Fuller Seminary and Kate Davis, a Lilly grant recipient from Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, will join the team as project advisors.
New participating congregations are as follows:
- Calvary Baptist Church, Lowell, Boston: They hope the program will grant them access to emotional, social, cultural, academic, and spiritual resources appropriate for supporting the first and second generation immigrant preteens and teens in their congregation. They will further develop and bolster their TeensAlive ministry program, which supports young people from four different congregations from Cambodia, Burma, and Africa.
- Hyde Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Hyde Park, Boston: They hope to build partnerships to help facilitate their commitment to serving folks in their local community who are facing food and housing insecurities, as well as substance abuse struggles. They will provide more specialized care and services to unhoused individuals and be able to enhance the holistic aim of their mission.
- Common Cathedral, downtown Boston: For over 26 years, Common Cathedral has built community between unhoused and housed people through a variety of public programming. This program allows them to build and implement a “healing institute” that will create equip emerging leaders to engage in trauma-informed spiritual care, as well as create a storytelling program that will encourage healing through the sharing of personal narratives.
- Brighton-Allston UCC, Brighton, Boston: As their congregation becomes a supportive sanctuary for unhoused guests, they will focus on assisting their leaders to live into a covenant of mutual support and be in loving community with their neighbors. They hope this program will assist them to become trauma-informed and work with persons experiencing acute and chronic trauma.
- Harbor Online: They aim to focus on forming a restorative and healing space for the leaders of this progressive, LGBTQIA+-affirming congregation to take rest and practice self-care. They will have an opportunity to process and work through their own religious trauma and better serve their online community.
- St. Luke’s North Park, San Diego: They hope to provide more assistance to congregational members who are former refugees from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They hope to launch a spiritual friendship program to create structured spaces of interpersonal, faith-based support for all of their congregants.
- New Vision, San Diego: Through this program, they hope to expand the impact of their Urban Mission program which supports people experiencing homelessness and those transitioning from homelessness to permanent supportive housing. They want to expand their street and hotel ministries by collaborating with multiple local partners in ministry.
- The Border Church, at the San Diego-Tijuana border: They hope to provide trauma training to those who live and work in the borderlands community. They hope to build support for the faith and justice workers who serve displaced persons along and across the San Diego-Tijuana border.
The program continues to support Living Water Church of the Nazarene (downtown San Diego) as it pilots its trauma-responsive curriculum, designed in collaboration with expressive arts therapists, Sook Kyoung Kwon and Jamie Harris Rosen. Pastor Chris Nafis and Justina Kimball had a vision for leading healing circles in their community over five years ago, and the support of this program is bringing it to life.
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Since 1839, Boston University School of Theology has been preparing leaders to do good. A seminary of the United Methodist Church, Boston University School of Theology is a robustly ecumenical institution that welcomes students from diverse faith traditions who are pursuing a wide range of vocations – parish ministry, conflict transformation, chaplaincy, campus ministry, administration, non-profit management, social work, teaching, justice advocacy, peacemaking, interfaith dialogue, and more. Our world-renowned faculty and strong heritage help students nurture their academic goals and realize any ministry imaginable. For more information, please visit www.bu.edu/sth.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a national private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by three members of the Lilly family – J. K. Lilly Sr. and sons J.K. Jr and Eli – through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Co. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, the Endowment is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s grantmaking in religion is to deepen and enrich the lives of American Christians, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.
Minister to Children and Youth, full-time, United Congregational Church: Compton, RI
Ministries to children, youth, and families are at the heart of our mission at the United Congregational Church of Little Compton, Rhode Island. Our church has created this full-time position with generous compensation and benefits because we believe in this mission.
We are seeking someone who connects easily with kids and youth, is highly organized and adaptive, and who is able to authentically share their Christian faith in a way that encourages the faith of others. They must be able to embody the warm welcome and inclusivity that is central to our mission. This role can be adapted for either lay or ordained candidates. The full Job Description is available on our website here: