Good Hope Union UMC

Children’s Ministry Coordinator encourages all children in the congregation and community to grow in faith as Christian disciples. The coordinator will work with other church and community leaders to address the needs of children so that all God’s children grow in strength and wisdom.

As Coordinator of Children’s Ministries, you are “responsible for assuring that children are considered and included within the life of the congregation. The coordinator will lead the children’s council, when organized, and will work closely with clergy and other program-related staff. The coordinator will vision, plan, and advocate for children, particularly in the areas of faith development, safety, and discipleship. The coordinator will work with other leaders in the congregation to assure that policies and procedures are in place to help keep all children and the adults who care for and work with them safe.” These policies and procedures include such things as background checks, having at least two adults per group, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid training. “The coordinator will also advocate for mission education for children, including The United Methodist Children’s Fund for Christian Mission” (Discipline,¶ 256.2a).

Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications Helpful for the Job

• A children’s coordinator benefits from having a combination of these spiritual gifts: servanthood, teaching, exhortation (encouragement), leadership, administration, and shepherding. This leader should show evidence of passion for ministry with children and deep commitment to faith formation of children, prior effective ministry leadership, and evidence of active and growing discipleship. This person should demonstrate at least a basic knowledge of child development and understand the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment for children.
• Useful skills for this position are the ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages, the ability to work with other ministry leaders, the ability to delegate responsibility and to follow up to complete tasks.
• This leader should show genuine interest in responding to the hopes, needs, and concerns of children in the community.

Responsibilities of the Position

• The coordinator of children’s ministry will be attentive to the hopes, concerns, and needs of children in the community to determine how the congregation might serve them and their families and how they might serve one another as Christian disciples and good neighbors. The coordinator should identify key people in the congregation and community who are advocates for children’s needs and issues.
• The coordinator needs to be familiar with the congregation’s overall goals and how they are achieved through the congregation’s ministry by, with, and for children and their families. This leader should pray intentionally for children and their families.
• This leader will advocate that all children are welcome and expected to be fully engaged in the ministries of the church.
• The coordinator will work with others to plan and carry out a comprehensive program for children that includes worship, study, fellowship, service experiences, and other experiences that guide children as they grow in faith. The coordinator will advocate for quality leadership and ample funding.
• The coordinator will lead the church in creating and annually updating Safe Sanctuaries policies and guidelines and living into them as a community of nurture.
• The coordinator will regularly and intentionally communicate with parents, families, and children’s ministry leaders in other churches, denominations, and non-profits, so that children have multiple opportunities to thrive.