Minister for Intergenerational Christian Educ

Reports to: Executive Minister

Department: Education

Date: July 2024

Salary Range: $115-120K

“Any time an organization fails to change at the rate of the world around it, that organization is doomed to failure.”   --Peter Drucker

Who is Riverside Church?

We are an interdenominational, interracial, international, open, welcoming, and affirming church and congregation. The history of The Riverside Church reflects a transformation from a predominantly white Protestant congregation to a multiracial and multicultural church that has been at the vanguard of social justice advocacy, liberation theologies, LGBTQIA ministries and a witness that supports the full flourishing of all people. 

The education and formation ministry at Riverside Church must reflect the diversity of our congregation, city, and world. Love and justice are at the heart of our church and ever present in our service. At Riverside, God is the God of the oppressed who stands with the poor and the outcast. We believe education and formation must transform individuals, communities, and systems, and we want to work collaboratively with a minister to offer our community something educationally amazing.

Who are you?

Riverside seeks a faithful, collaborative, and joyful minister with expansive ideas and a vision for what is possible in this new era of church – someone who can plant God’s call and good news story deep inside our community. In this role, you will have the freedom to imagine what is educationally possible and to stretch the boundaries of the tradition. Your vision of formation will inspire and enhance the congregation’s relationship with God, engage all age levels in a variety of experiences and expressions, and promote education and formation as important parts of personal and corporate spiritual growth. Your vision will invite people inside the church and help take God’s message of love and justice outside the church.

Job Summary:

To work collaboratively and creatively with the Riverside Church education team. To provide administrative and theological leadership, direction, vision, and expression for the entire education program of The Riverside Church. To stretch the community in fulfillment of the church’s mission and commitment to intergenerational education and formation. 

The Minister for Intergenerational Christian Education and Formation at the Riverside Church will lead a culture shifting movement at Riverside Church that is willing to put new ideas into action, fully realizing that the church and the world have changed and the ways that we have always done education and formation may need to shift to better serve God’s people. This leader will give voice to the needs and passions of all ages in ways that support the unification of Riverside’s growing ministry. 

 At the center of this cultural shift is the centrality of children and youth and the true welcome of families that honors the tradition of the church as THE place where all ages gather for education, formation, information, and transformation. The minister will engage in creative destruction, value curiosity and playfulness, and help Riverside to be more a place that welcomes all people even while existing in a neighborhood and culture that does not always welcome all. 

The minister will oversee a comprehensive, intergenerational program of Christian education and formation which teaches the Scriptures of the Christian faith such that attitudes, beliefs, worldview and behaviors are formed, informed, and transformed by the love of Jesus Christ. They will promote both individual, communal, and social transformation at The Riverside Church, in collaboration with the clergy team, guided by the mission of the church and the policies of the Education Commission.

The Minister for Intergenerational Christian Education and Formation reports to the Executive Minister and requires the ability to relate to, and communicate with the diverse membership of a progressive, urban, Christian congregation, local neighbors, other staff members of the Riverside Church and our neighborhood partners.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

1. Supervising the education staff and seminary interns while working collaboratively with the clergy team, senior staff, and lay leaders to plan, organize, administer, implement and evaluate the education and formation programs for all ages at the Riverside Church.
2. Functioning as a full member of the clergy team with general pastoral duties including visitations, weddings, funerals, baptisms and other pastoral/sacramental offices.
3. Attending various meetings, retreats, and trainings as needed.
4. Collaborating with the Education Commission and staff in setting goals and priorities for the ministry that align with the church’s mission and vision.
5. Serving with the Senior Minister in interpreting the educational mission of the church to the larger community.

Experience and Requirements:

• Master of Divinity degree required. 
• Ordination in a denomination, which is a member of the National Council of Churches required.
• Experience in administration, developing budgets, controlling expenditures, and supervising staff required.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal required.
• 5 years of experience in a church setting preferred.
• Education background preferred. 
• Experience with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd preferred.
• Experience in a multi-cultural and intergenerational church setting preferred.
• Experience in inviting systemic change, maintaining administrative coherence, and holding theological integrity preferred.

Our organization offers a wide range of comprehensive benefits, including generous time off and a strong emphasis on achieving a great work-life balance.

TRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No employee or applicant for employment shall be discriminated against in any term or condition of employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are constantly striving to make our organization anti-racist. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values. As an employee, you become part of that mission. 

No relocation or sponsorship provided.