Position Overview:

The Pastor of Faith Formation is called to provide supportive leadership to the education, spiritual care, and formation activities of the congregation, with particular attention to younger members and their families. The Pastor gives direct leadership to the children and youth programs of Seattle Mennonite Church, including administering Sunday School and youth activities. The Pastor collaborates with the Lead Pastor and others in leadership of worship, the church’s ministries, and congregational life.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Faith Formation (60%)

• Provide support and guidance for education and other spiritual formation, in collaboration with the Lead Pastor; direct particular attention toward children, youth, and their families
• Attend monthly Joint Council meetings, collaborating with Lead Pastor and/or Council chairs to provide support to Councils as requested and needed
• Support the ministry teams commissioned by the Councils, in collaboration with Lead Pastor; assist teams in setting goals, planning and implementing quality programming, and foster communication between ministries and the congregation
• Provide leadership in Anabaptist-Mennonite faith formation and community-building for children and youth; oversee our Sunday School program, youth activities, and other programs and events; coordinate and equip Sunday School teachers, classroom helpers, mentors, and youth leaders; teach and provide instruction, particularly with youth
• Be present at events and activities; participate in congregational and small group fellowship events and activities; support young people in their individual events and activities
• Provide pastoral care as needs arise in the course of ministry; build relationships particularly with children, youth, and their families; draw young people into the life and vision of the congregation

Worship and Congregational Life (30%)

• Work collaboratively with the Lead Pastor, Discipleship Council, and the congregation to plan for, prepare, and lead worship, both seasonal planning and weekly worship
• Participate in the full life of the congregation; be present and provide leadership for the variety of worship services and events through the church year; encourage the participation of others
• Participate in the Spiritual Leadership Team and prepare a pastor report for each regular, quarterly meeting
• Officiate for special events in congregational worship life; in collaboration with Lead Pastor, work with persons seeking marriage, baptism, memorial services, or other blessings and rituals
• Preach approximately monthly and regularly lead worship
• Nurture the gifts of lay leaders and equip them for worship leadership, with particular attention to youth and children

Other Pastoral Duties and Responsibilities (10%)

• Engage with the larger church (Washington Mennonite Fellowship, Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Church USA, ecumenical collaboration); represent the congregation at church-wide gatherings and to its agencies and ministries; coordinate and accompany the youth to national youth conferences
• Seek local opportunities to build ecumenical / interfaith relationships for shared ministry and witness
• Gather weekly with the Lead Pastor for collaboration and spiritual formation
• Meet monthly with the Lead Pastor for supervision, receiving oversight, guidance, and support
• Pursue continuing education to enhance pastoral ministry through workshops, classes, conferences
• Nurture wellbeing through spiritual disciplines, e.g. spiritual direction, prayer, sabbath, retreat
• Attend to the variety of administrative tasks that ministry requires

Desired Qualifications:

• Theological education; MDiv preferred
• Experience in ministry
• Demonstrated commitment to Anabaptist-Mennonite understandings of Scripture, church, and life
• Commitment to radical hospitality and spiritual discernment
• Energized by collaborative work with other pastors, staff, congregational leaders, volunteers, neighbors; AND self-motivated and able to work independently
• Readiness to commit to the SMC congregational covenant

Seattle Mennonite Church’s hiring documents, through Mennonite Church USA:

• Congregational Information Form
• Congregational Priorities worksheet

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact the Executive Conference Minister of Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference, Eric Massanari – eric@pnmc.org.