Position Description

Overview: St. James is an Anglican parish in the Diocese of Calgary. Over the years the parish has described its character as scriptural, evangelical, liturgical, charismatic, traditional and contemporary. Our worship services express these elements through the Anglican tradition of worship. It is our hope and prayer that the ministry of our parish will witness to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and to his love and service to the world.

We average over 300 worshippers each Sunday, across 3 services: 8am, 10am and 7pm. We have over 30 active ministries in the parish, led by faithful and committed lay leaders. Our children’s ministry serves between 40 and 60 children.

We are seeking a Children’s Pastor who is committed to the Christian faith and to nurturing the spiritual formation and growth of children and families within the Anglican tradition. We hope to find an individual who will continue to build this vital ministry with a joyful spirit, rooted in the love and goodness of Jesus Christ.

Position Description:  The Children’s Pastor oversees and coordinates ministries for children from birth through Grade 6. Children’s ministry is a vital part of life at St. James that seeks to build strong spiritual foundations for children and to strengthen relationships among families and the wider congregation as we follow Jesus together.

Major Areas of Responsibility:

Leadership and Vision

• Prayerfully discern, in consultation with St. James leadership and families, a vision and strategy for Children’s Ministry.
• Work collaboratively with the staff team and leadership structures of the parish.

Sunday Morning Programs

• Select curriculum materials for all groups and review annually with the Incumbent.
• Create volunteer schedule for Nursery and Sunday School.

Vacation Bible School or Summer Camp Program

• Select curriculum and recruit and train volunteers.
• Plan, coordinate and oversee all aspects of the program from set-up through completion.

Team Building

• Develop and encourage leaders in Children’s Ministry
• Support volunteers and parents on Sunday mornings.
• Assist with implementing Diocesan Safe Church policies.

456 Club

• Plan and prepare monthly events for students in Grades 4-6
• Collaborate with the Youth Pastor to plan joint events annually with the Youth Group.

Special Children’s Services

• Plan and coordinate the Good Friday Children’s Service and Christmas Eve Pageant.
• Work with the Incumbent to support children’s participation in other services and special events.

Family Ministry

• Plan and coordinate several family-focused events throughout the year to foster relationships and build community.
• Consider additional ways to support families in their life of faith and discipleship. Collaborate with other ministries in the parish to further this goal.

Other Responsibilities:

• Perform other duties as requested by the Incumbent and/or Corporation.
• Explore opportunities for children to participate in mission and community service.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Passion for helping children know, love, and follow Jesus.
• Committed to the vision, values, and beliefs of the church.
• Experience with, or a willingness to learn about, Christian formation in the Anglican tradition.
• Strong communication, organizational, and administrative skills.
• Servant heart. Works well with others.
• Interest in leading and engaging children in outdoor activities.

Must be willing to obtain and maintain a current Police Information Check and Vulnerable Sector Check and comply with Diocesan Safe Church requirements.

The successful candidate must be legally entitled to work in Canada.

Education & Experience:

• Post-secondary education or equivalent experience; theological education is an asset.
• Minimum 2-4 years of experience working with children, preferably in a church or ministry setting.

Reporting Relationship

• The Children’s Pastor reports to the Incumbent.

Hours of Work and Compensation

This is a full-time position offering a competitive annual salary. Evening and weekend work will be required based on parish programming and events.

The application period for this position will remain open until September 18th. All resumes and enquiries can be sent to jenni@stjamescalgary.com