DIRECTOR/PASTOR OF NEXT GEN MINISTRIES

About the role

The Director / Pastor of Next Gen Ministries provides strategic, pastoral, and organizational leadership for Anchor Bay’s ministry with children, youth, and their families (birth through high school).

This role exists to help cultivate environments where young people can encounter God, grow in faith at their own pace, and feel known, valued, and seen - while also equipping parents, caregivers, and volunteers as essential partners in that work.

This is a senior leadership role that requires systems thinking, relational depth, and the ability to hold complexity with clarity. Because the scope of Next Gen ministry is broad and relationally rich, this role is intentionally designed to be volunteer-led and staff-guided.

Responsibilities

• Ensure ministry alignment with Anchor Bay’s mission, values, and congregational rhythms
• Maintain, further develop, and steward a mission-aligned, multi-year vision and discipleship pathway for children, youth, and their parents/caregivers (birth–18)
• Help discern and shape the future direction of our kids and youth ministries in a changing world, including pastoral care, outreach, and developmental structure (with distinct developmental approaches for middle and high school)
• Maintain, establish, and participate in meaningful milestone moments (e.g., dedications, baptisms, family life transitions, confirmation, senior commissioning, etc.) that help children and youth remain connected to the life of the church across key transitions and into young adulthood
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and support volunteer leaders
• Invest in the development of volunteers as whole people, attending not only to skills and logistics but also to formation, confidence, and sustainability, so that leaders feel supported and equipped for the long term
• Maintain and further develop systems that foster ownership, creativity, and shared leadership among families, kids, teens, and volunteers, creating ministry environments that are collaborative and people-focused rather than staff-centric or program-focused
• Champion children’s and youth ministry as a shared responsibility of the whole church, helping volunteers, parents, church members, and staff understand their role in the faith formation of the next generation
• Partner with the pastoral and lay-led congregational care teams to support families through transitions and life seasons with care support and referrals where helpful
• Equip parents and caregivers with resources, encouragement, and opportunities for connection in partnership with volunteer parent connections team
• Engage relationally with children, youth, parents/caregivers, and volunteers through sustainable rhythms of presence and shared leadership
• Represent Next Gen ministry in staff leadership team and planning
• Support the church in integrating family ministry into the broader life of the church (worship, community life, service)
• Select, adapt, or develop age-appropriate curriculum that reflects Anchor Bay’s theological posture
• Oversee the quality of ministry environments, including physical and emotional safety, accessibility and inclusion, consistency and reliability of programming, and alignment with Anchor Bay’s theological and formation-centered values
• Regularly evaluate and iterate programs based on feedback, participation, and ministry goals
• May be invited to preach or teach as needed and as there is interest and gifting in the candidate
• Lead with a commitment to disability inclusion and neurodiversity-affirming practices
• Collaborate with families, volunteers, and accessibility team to provide meaningful accommodations when helpful
• Demonstrate cultural competence and justice awareness, recognizing how culture, identity, and family context shape spiritual formation
• Demonstrate comfort engaging faithfully in a church that is committed to a third way approach to sexuality and a pastoral posture rooted in humility, care, and respect for human dignity of all people - especially children and youth navigating vulnerable questions
• Approach inclusion and accessibility as an ongoing learning process rather than as fixed expertise
• Manage budgets, calendars, communication, and coordination with church operations
• Oversee safety policies and procedures (training, background checks, child protection)
• Track and reflect on metrics such as engagement, volunteer sustainability, and program health

Qualifications

• A vibrant, growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and passion for the spiritual formation of children, youth, and families
• Demonstrated leadership experience with staff and volunteers, ideally in children / youth / family ministries (5+ years experience preferred)
• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred, in education, theology, ministry, biblical studies, counseling, child/adolescent development, or other related field
• Strong relational, organizational, communication, and coaching skills
• Ability to think strategically and manage complexity (systems, calendar, budget)
• Experience with disciple-making and family ministry models
• Pastoral heart: able to provide care, connection, presence, and mentorship
• Ability and willingness to work Sundays, and occasional weekends and evenings (with comp time provided)
• Agreement with the vision, values, mission, and theological commitments of Anchor Bay

Benefits

Competitive salary range: $62,000 - $75,000