Family Life Pastor Job Description
A family life pastor is the member of a church or place of worship's staff whose primary responsibility is to minister to children and their families within that church's congregation by identifying their needs, educating and spiritually guiding them. The pastor leads classes, organizes events and plans programs that specifically cater to children and families.
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Function
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The family life pastor is responsible for caring for and counselling young people and their families. One of her main tasks will be planning and implementing a program of pastoral care and guidance, usually in cooperation with other church staff members.
Some churches have dedicated youth groups; if so, the family life pastor will be in charge of the successful running of such groups and will develop activities within that group such as Bible study classes. The family life pastor will also organize events in the community such as activity days or family outings.
Depending upon the church involved, the family pastor may be in charge of putting together a team dedicated to reaching out to the local youth community and attracting new congregation members.
Expectations
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The family life pastor will be expected to lead and strengthen relationships between young congregation members, their families and the church and to integrate children and their families into the church as a whole. He will be expected to frequently liaison with other church staff, attending meetings and keeping other staff aware of key dates and events relating to youth and their families.
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Qualifications
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A strong faith and desire to work with young people and families is essential to the family life pastor. She must be theologically aligned with her place of work and be able to work successfully with other church staff members and key figures within the community.
The family life pastor will have excellent organizational and developmental skills, have a caring nature and be able to listen to, and communicate successfully with, a range of people but particularly with young people. He will preferably have some experience working within a youth ministry.
Position
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The person or people a family life pastor reports to will vary based on her place of work, but generally she will be answerable to a church council or committee and, ultimately, to the most senior pastor within a church. The family life pastor will also need to keep the church's secretary informed of any planned events.
Workday
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A family life pastor's working hours will vary from church to church, but the role is a full-time position, with extra hours being required in the case of special events and programs.
Salary
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A family pastor's salary is affected by his level of experience, region of work and considerably by the size of the church he works for. According to the 2008 Salary Survey at Children's Ministry.com, a minister working specifically with children can expect to earn between $17,000 and $23,000 a year, though this can increase for larger churches.
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References
- Photo Credit church. Entrance of a church image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com
