Job Description - Adult Ministries Coordinator

Result Expected

An effective coordinator will work with church and community leaders of all ages to address the needs of adults and opportunities for growing as Christian disciples. Adult ministry shall be for, with, and by adults at all stages of adulthood. Adults in the congregation and community will grow in faith as Christian disciples.

Spiritual Gifts and Qualifications helpful for the Job

• The adult ministry coordinator benefits from having one or more of these spiritual gifts: servanthood, teaching, exhortation (encouragement), leadership, administration, helping, and shepherding.
• This leader should show evidence of passion for adult ministry, prior effective ministry leadership, and active and growing discipleship.
• Useful skills for this position are the ability to listen to and communicate with people of all ages and the ability to work with other ministry leaders, delegate responsibility, and follow up to complete tasks.
• This leader should show genuine interest in responding to the hopes and concerns of adults in various stages of adulthood in the community and congregation.

Responsibilities of the Position

• The coordinator of adult ministry will be attentive to the hopes, concerns, and needs of adults in the community to determine how the congregation might serve them and how they might serve one another as Christian disciples and good neighbors. The coordinator will identify key people in the community and congregation for collaboration and expansion of opportunities for all adults.
• The coordinator needs to be familiar with the congregation’s overall goals and how they are achieved through the congregation’s ministry with adults.
• This leader will advocate that all adults are welcome and expected to be vital participants in all aspects of the ministry of the congregation. The coordinator will raise congregational awareness of the needs and contributions of adults at all stages of adulthood in the community and the world.
• The coordinator will work with others to plan and carry out ministry with all adults in a varied and wide-ranging program that includes worship, study, fellowship, service opportunities, and so forth.
• The coordinator will promote understanding of Christian vocation in daily life as a response to God’s call for all Christians.
• The coordinator will intentionally communicate with organizations, people and resources in the community that relate to adults and will seek to connect the congregation with the community.
• The coordinator will guide the work of the adult council (if organized) throughout the year, including planning its agendas and presiding at its meetings.
• The coordinator will work with other leaders to learn about curriculum and other resources available for adults in order to help teachers and group leaders select appropriate resources for study and growth.
• The coordinator is accountable to the charge conference through the church council.

Getting Started

1. Learn about the issues and opportunities for all adults in your community, including the different stages of adulthood. It is not necessary to duplicate or copy other programs, but seek to identify gaps where your congregation can lead the way in making a positive difference in the lives of adults.
2. Soon after you are elected, convene the adult council (if organized) to evaluate adult ministry, share hopes and concerns, and plan for your work. Or ask a group of interested adults to help you plan. Share the ministry with others by delegating projects to people in the church or community who have passion.
3. Study Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2017-2020: Adult Ministries.

People and Agencies That Can Help

• Your pastor, active laypeople in your congregation, people who live in your community, and district and conference leaders of adult ministries in other congregations. As you travel, visit other congregations to observe adult ministry opportunities.
• Discipleship Ministries, www.umcdiscipleship.org.
• InfoServ, the information service for the church, provides current information about United Methodist resources, programs, and staff services. Email: [email protected]; Website: infoserv.umc.org.

Web and Print Resources

• Adult Ministry, www.umcdiscipleship.org/leadership-resources/adults
• Adult Ministry Webinars, www.umcdiscipleship.org/webinars
• Apprenticed to Jesus: Discipleship Practices for Growing Christians by Thomas R. Hawkins (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2014)
• The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, 2016 (Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 2016)
• The Christian Small-Group Leader by Thomas R. Hawkins (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2001)
• The Class Meeting: Reclaiming a Forgotten (and Essential) Small-Group Experience by Kevin Watson (Asbury Seedbed Publishing, 2013)
• Courageous Conversations, www.umcdiscipleship.org/topics/courageous-conversations
• Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, 2017-2020: Adult Ministries (Cokesbury, 2016)
• Interpreter, www.interpretermagazine.org
• Older-Adult Ministry, www.umcdiscipleship.org/leadership-resources/older-adults
• Start Here: Teaching & Learning with Adults by Barbara Bruce (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2000)