FIRST PRESBYERIAN CHURCH OF ALLENTOWN
Position Description

TITLE: DIRECTOR OF HIGH SCHOOL

NEXT GEN MINISTRIES

JOB CODE: PT PS NE

REPORTS TO:ASSOCIATE PASTOR

FOR DISCIPLESHIP

INCUMBENT: NONE

JOB SUMMARY: Leader, caregiver, teacher, spiritual guide, disciple-maker and advisor team leader for High School Next Gen Fellowship (normally meets Sunday evenings). Co-teacher, co-leader and guide to high school weekly Church school classes (Sunday mornings). Leader of high school retreats, conferences and other special events. As a member of the Discipleship Staff and Ministry Team, report about high school activities, and coordinate efforts with the other staff and team efforts.

QUALIFICATIONS/CHARACTERISTICS:

  • A deep, personal, and contagious faith and commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior;
  • A heart and passion for forming disciples of Jesus Christ;
  • An unwavering commitment to support of First Presbyterian Church Allentown;
  • A winsome, gregarious magnetism towards high school students;
  • A comprehensive and holistic view of faith-and-values formation for high school students, with a view toward passing on a “sticky faith”;
  • A fearless advocate for high schoolers within the life of the church;
  • Awareness of developmental patterns and educational theory/methods that guide both the work with the students and counsel/training of their parents;
  • Ability to communicate effectively and work well with people and groups;
  • A team-player, happy to engage with other staff and member-leaders in other aspects of the congregation’s life together;
  • Cultural competence (analytically, intuitively and imaginatively), both of the students’ familiar culture(s) and those of other cultures with which they may engage in friendships, intercultural learning and missional partnership;
  • Eagerness to reach out to other people-groups in the region;
  • Tech-savvy in connecting with digital natives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Recruit, train and empower a team of youth leaders;
  • Research, adapt and implement curriculum of study for high school church school class and high school youth fellowship (both meeting weekly) and periodic retreats, lock-ins, etc.;
  • Make regular contact with students and their parents (concurrently) outside of the youth events themselves;
  • Coordinate with other church leaders especially wherever their work in the church could overlap and enhance the faith formation of the high school youth;
  • Partner and coordinate with the Associate Pastor for Discipleship the Confirmation Class;
  • Develop social network communications tools with which to communicate honorably with students and their parents, consistent with the church’s internet communications policy;
  • Develop and curate online resources for the faith, discipleship and inter-relational formation of students and their parents;
  • Share with the Children and Family Ministries Directorand Associate Pastor for Discipleshipin the task of utilizing and supervising summer NextGen interns (normally two college students per summer).
  • Put extra effort into preparing graduating seniors for life in college, the military and/or other next steps beyond high school.

OTHER MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Coordinate efforts with Youth Choir Director, Children and Family Ministries Director, Middle School Next Gen Ministries Director, Associate Pastor for Discipleship, Lead Pastor and other staff;
  • Other jobs as assigned by Associate Pastor for Discipleship.

PHYSICAL QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Possess sufficient mobility and dexterity to fulfill the responsibilities as outlined above.

EXPERIENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Demonstrates a sincere, informed, enthusiastic and contagious faith in Jesus Christ and the Christian gospel;
  • Demonstrated competency in secondary education;
  • Additional related education or experience preferred.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • Schedule approximately 12-15 hours per week during school weeks;
  • Schedule approximately 30-40 hours per week during summer (some extra hours on some holiday weekends, to be negotiated);
  • Planning and organizational support will be provided by Family Ministries Director, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and summer interns;
  • Salary, benefits, and other terms of employment will be administered in accordance with the policies contained in the First Presbyterian Church of Allentown Personnel Manual, a copy of which will be provided to each employee;
  • Successfully pass a criminal background check in accordance with the congregation’s Safe Sanctuaries policy.

NOTE:This description contains the information and facts considered necessary to describe and evaluate the duties of this position fairly and equitably. It should not be considered an exhaustive description of all the work requirements to be performed, but indicates the kinds of duties and levels of responsibility required by the position. The Pastor or his/her designee will have the prerogative of adding or deleting responsibilities as occasion may require.