Job Description

Pastor/Director of Discipleship and Student Ministry

Job Type: Associate Pastor, Discipleship Pastor, Family Pastor, Senior Ministry Director, Youth Director

West Side, a neighborhood church that began as a Presbyterian mission branch in 1907, remains committed to the gospel, to West Seattle and to one another. God’s extended faithfulness to us provides the stability to extend the challenge and comfort of the gospel to others.

We are revisioning our traditionally strong youth outreach so that we befriend, equip and launch leaders of gospel movements from within an intergenerational church family. The Discipleship pastor, working in close collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, is entrusted with cultivating a discipleship culture within West Side that equips every believer, and especially those between the ages of 12-27, to Follow Jesus, Create Belonging and Do Justice.

As a congregation that has worshiped God for over a century in this place we have some enduring characteristics. Here is our love language:

• Love for the gospel – Love for the gospel means love for our community. We are committed to remaining humble, curious and connected to a cultural context that can be proud, loud and polarized.
• Love for God’s voice in His word – We believe that God, fully revealed in Jesus, speaks through the Bible. We know from experience that Scripture addresses every issue of the age and that the Holy Spirit calls everyone back to faith through these words. We’re committed to listening, with a deep devotion to engaging life’s tough questions with scriptural fidelity and curiosity.
• Love for one another – At West Side we are all about community — moving from strangers to friends, from friends to family. We also believe that God’s family is multiethnic, and we are committed to extending our family relationships to reflect the beautiful diversity of West Seattle.
• Love for every generation – West Side has a legacy of investing in every generation, especially in those youth and young adults ages 12-27 who are navigating multiple life transitions. We are committed to a vision of befriending, equipping, and sending leaders of gospel movements.
• Love for our neighbors in West Seattle – most of our congregation lives in West Seattle. The legacy of serving outside our four walls is reflected in our Bless Big Local initiative that challenges members to generosity of money and time invested with local mission partners that are seeking the peace of our city.
• Love for our global neighbors – Each year, 10% of our core income is allocated to Missionaries involved in evangelism, Bible translation, or leadership training. Since 2022 our Bless Big Global initiative has extended this legacy of generous giving to include partner agencies and organizations serving Christ in other nations.

About the Pastor/Director of Discipleship and Student Ministry

What if an intergenerational, multiethnic congregation measured success by how well they befriended, empowered, and launched leaders of gospel movements? This central question defines the Discipleship Pastor role. The Pastor of Discipleship and Student Ministry understands, embraces and is committed to the mission and vision of West Side. Our incoming Discipleship Pastor will be enthusiastic about the opportunity to cultivate an intergenerational and multiethnic congregation dedicated to befriending, equipping, and launching leaders of gospel movements.

We seek a passionate and energetic person with experience leading youth and young adult ministries that is ready to branch out and engage discipleship across the entire congregation. This role is crucial to equipping individuals of all ages to follow Jesus, create belonging and do justice. West Side especially aims to support believers during significant life transitions that happen between the ages of 12-27, grounding them in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you have a heart for discipleship, a passion for working with students and their families, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to reaching students and their families beyond the wall of the church then this call may be for you.

Key priorities include:

• Enhancing Discipleship Junctions for all ages to grow in following Jesus, creating belonging, and doing justice (the three movements on our discipleship pathway).
• Prioritizing experiences that foster an intergenerational and multiethnic culture at West Side.
• Redeveloping a youth and young adult ministry integrated into West Side’s worship and discipleship.
• Aligning all ministries with the church’s vision and mission.
• Collaborating with the Lead Pastor to ensure discipleship programs reflect the gospel and strategic vision.
• Expanding the gospel’s reach through member training in evangelism and developing digital engagement platforms.
• Supporting and equipping Discipleship staff as their supervisor and colleague.

The Pastor/Director of Discipleship and Student Ministry responsibilities include:

Discipleship Ministries (Adults & All Ages):

• Develop and implement a comprehensive discipleship strategy that encompasses various avenues for spiritual growth, including small groups, Bible studies, workshops, retreats, and mentoring programs.
• Recruit, train, and support leaders for small groups and other discipleship initiatives.
• Oversee the selection and development of curriculum and resources for discipleship programs.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of discipleship programs and make adjustments as needed.
• Collaborate with other staff members to integrate discipleship into all aspects of church life.
• Provide pastoral care and guidance to individuals seeking spiritual growth.

Student Ministries (Middle School & High School):

• Develop and implement a dynamic and engaging student ministry program that fosters spiritual growth, community building, and missional outreach.
• Recruit, train, and mentor adult volunteers to serve in student ministries.
• Plan and lead weekly student gatherings, including worship, teaching, small groups, and fellowship activities.
• Organize and lead student retreats, mission trips, and other special events.
• Build relationships with students and their families and provide pastoral care and guidance.
• Partner with parents to support the spiritual development of their students.
• Collaborate with other churches and organizations in the community to reach and serve students.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Sunday worship and fellowship leadership.
• Preaching and worship leadership as invited by the Senior Pastor.
• Be a colleague in ministry among your peers and alongside partners in the gospel at other churches in West Seattle.
• Energy and enthusiasm for a varied work schedule including periodic late nights, early mornings, or Saturday meetings. Maintain a rhythm of rest and renewal.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Pastor/Director of Discipleship and Student Ministry:

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Theology, Christian Education, or a related field preferred. M.Div is preferred but not required.
• 3-5 years of experience leading in a student’s ministry.
• Demonstrated experience in leading discipleship strategies at some level in the local church.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in discipleship and/or student ministry leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective discipleship programs.

Personal characteristics and qualifications

• A mature and compelling relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Personal characteristics that foster the peace, unity, and purity of the church – especially humility, grace, integrity, courage, and humor.
• Excellent communication skills, both interpersonal and preaching/teaching.
• Demonstrated experience as a relationship builder in intergenerational community, and in diverse socio-economic and cultural contexts.
• Affirmation of the Essential Tenets of the Fellowship of Presbyterians as reliable expositions of the Scriptures in the faith and practice of the church.

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