Position Description

Are you passionate about helping people feel seen, known, cared for, and connected to Jesus and community?

Do you love building systems that help people take meaningful next steps while also caring deeply for people in moments of need?

At Forward Church, we are looking for a relational, strategic, and spiritually mature leader to serve as our next Director of Connections & Care.

This is a full time opportunity to help shape how people experience belonging and pastoral care in a growing, multi-site church committed to helping people find and follow Jesus.

About Forward Church

Forward Church is a growing multi-site church with four congregations and a heart to see people transformed by Jesus. We are passionate about people knowing how deeply they are loved by God, and making disciples of Jesus who love God, love others, and serve the world.

The Opportunity

The Director of Connections & Care will provide leadership to two key areas of ministry:

Connections

You will help people move from attending to belonging by creating clear pathways into community, serving, discipleship, and church life.

• Create welcoming environments and follow-up systems for newcomers
• Recruit, train, and encourage serve teams focused on hospitality.
• Help people connect into groups, serving teams, and discipleship opportunities
• Oversee our Discipleship Groups as a primary place for people to experience care and connection from within the church family.
• Use data and feedback to improve connection and engagement

Care

You will oversee and strengthen the church’s care ministries so people are supported spiritually, emotionally, and practically during seasons of crisis, grief, transition, and need.

This role combines relational ministry with leadership, systems, volunteer development, and pastoral care.

• Oversee pastoral care systems and care response processes
• Coordinate care for individuals and families facing crisis, illness, grief, or hardship. Currently, this would include overseeing our Freedom Session, Grief Share, and Seniors Care ministries.
• Develop ministries related to visitation and biblical counselling.
• Collaborate with pastoral staff on shepherding and congregational care.
• Provide some biblical counselling as required.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with pastors and ministry leaders to help connect people with their best steps in discipleship.
• Build healthy ministry systems that are scalable and sustainable
• Develop leaders and empower people for the work of ministry.
• Help foster a culture of warmth, belonging, generosity, and spiritual growth

Who You Are

• Passionate about helping people take next steps in their faith
• A strong relational leader who also values organization and systems
• Gifted in shepherding, leadership, and volunteer development
• Emotionally healthy, spiritually mature, and team-oriented
• Able to balance compassion with strategic thinking
• Excited about ministry in a growing, multi-site environment

Qualifications

• A growing and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ
• Alignment with the mission, values, and theology of Forward Church
• Experience leading teams, volunteers, or ministry environments
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience in pastoral care, connections ministry, or church leadership preferred
• Ministry training or theological education is considered an asset

Why Join Forward Church?

• Be part of a healthy and growing church with a strong mission
• Work alongside a collaborative and supportive staff team
• Help shape ministries that have lasting spiritual impact
• Invest in people at every stage of their faith journey
• Serve in a church that values innovation, discipleship, and community engagement

Position Details

• Full-time position
• Based in Cambridge, Ontario
• Some evening and weekend responsibilities required

Apply

Interested?

We would love to hear your story and explore how God may be leading you to serve at Forward Church.

Please submit:

• A resume
• A brief cover letter
• To Kirk Giles – Co Lead Pastor at kirkg@forwardchurch.ca

Join us as we help people find and follow Jesus.

Note: Candidates must be able to agree in belief and practice with the Articles of Faith, Covenant of Membership, and Lifestyle Statement of Forward Church. We are committed to providing accommodations for people with disabilities. If you require accommodation, please notify us, and we will work with you to meet your needs.