MINISTRY SUMMARY

Central United Methodist Church of Fayetteville, AR, has forged a unique relationship with the Arkansas Annual Conference to reach and mature students at the U of A as disciples of Jesus Christ. Coming under the umbrella of Central’s programmatic ministry and accountable to its bodies, as well as to Wesley’s Advisory Council and the Arkansas Conference Board of Higher Education, the U of A Wesley College Ministry will be led by Central’s College Pastor, who will also serve as the Director of the U of A Wesley. The purpose of the U of A Wesley College Ministry is to reach out and receive students into a community of faith in Jesus Christ, to strengthen their relationships with God, each other and the church, to nurture them as maturing leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ, and to equip and support their Christian witness and service at the University of Arkansas and beyond.

JOB SUMMARY

The College Pastor at Central UMC and Director of U of A Wesley is responsible for developing, implementing and giving oversight to a college ministry through the U of A Wesley to reach university students, support and further them in the Christian walk during college, and grow them as Christian disciples and leaders who serve in the church, community, and world. As the Director of U of A Wesley, the College Pastor gives oversight to the day-to-day operations of the Wesley House and its residents and to the U of A Wesley staff. The College Pastor will also be available to be in relationship with and of support to any university students attending Central at its downtown or Genesis campus, regardless of their involvement with U of A Wesley, and will also be responsible for any additional college ministry offerings at these two campuses (for example: Sunday school classes).

All employees and volunteers are expected to reflect Central UMC’s core values, to perform at Central UMC’s standards of excellence and live within the employee Staff Covenant.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

COLLEGE PASTOR

• Intentionally seek to connect with college students and build relationships with them in an effort to help them grow in Christ. This includes developing and overseeing intentional and aggressive outreach to freshmen, transfer students, and graduate students coming from across the United Methodist connection and beyond and seeking to connect them to the Wesley ministry and the Central Church family during their time in college.
• Maintain and give oversight to the programmatic offerings of the Wesley ministry and to a student leadership team whose purpose is to implement the mission of the Wesley College Ministry to help students grow in Christian discipleship during their college years. This ministry should include opportunities for fellowship, discipleship (especially through small groups), and Christian outreach and service.
• Provide ministry opportunities specifically designed for graduate and international students, as staffing and resources are available for such ministries.
• Promote summer ministry opportunities to students, including opportunities through Central, across the UM connection, and beyond.
• Give leadership to the worship life of the Wesley ministry, including overseeing associated music leadership. Serve as the primary preacher/teacher at college ministry worship events.
• Provide pastoral counsel and crisis ministry to students as needed. Be available for support and counsel not only to students involved in the college ministry but also to any college students affiliated with the downtown or Genesis campuses, as needed.
• Provide counsel, support, and guidance for students discerning a calling into ministry. Relate to graduated students who are current seminarians from Central or from the college ministry for support and counsel, as requested.
• Maintain an active and visible presence at Central, including its various worship services downtown and at Genesis. Use these venues to welcome college students into the worship life of the Central Church family and to invite involvement with the Wesley College Ministry and in the broader church’s congregational life.
• Assist in worship at the downtown campus and at the Genesis campus as invited.
• Nurture involvement of college students both in the Wesley ministry and in the life of a local church. Create and promote a “bridge” for students from the Wesley ministry to Central’s church campuses and vice versa, so as to encourage and empower students’ active involvement in Sunday morning worship and service opportunities in the church, including children’s and youth ministries, music ministries, and mission projects and trips.
• Communicate with the congregations downtown and at Genesis the needs of the college ministry and enlist support.
• Work with CUMC leadership to ensure uniformity of ministry goals.
• Attend CUMC leadership team meetings weekly and clergy meetings as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

U OF A WESLEY DIRECTOR

• Hire, supervise and mentor staff to support and carry out the mission of the U of A Wesley to help students grow in Christian discipleship during the college years.
• Recruit a broadly-representative Wesley Advisory Council to give oversight and support to the programmatic and financial life of the ministry, as well as to its staff.
• Give oversight to the preparation and administration of the operating budget of the Wesley College Ministry and, with the support of CUMC’s financial team, to the financial health and obligations of the Wesley ministry.
• Give oversight to the Wesley House, its daily operations and its management, with the support of Central’s maintenance team, Central’s Executive Director and the Wesley Director of Operations.
• Give oversight to the Wesley dormitory and its student residents, including its annual application and selection process.
• Develop relationships with the broad array of stakeholders whose investment benefits and forwards the Wesley ministry, including alumni, friends, parents of students, local churches, pastors, and youth directors. Communicate the needs of the college ministry and enlist support.
• Nurture ongoing relationships with Wesley alumni to strengthen their ongoing interest and investment in the ministry. Ensure the re-creation and maintenance of an alumni database.
• Work with the staff to develop a multi-stream donor base for the college ministry, including alumni, parents, friends, the Conference, Central UMC, and other UM churches.
• Forward the ministry’s image and stakeholders’ investment through ensuring that the story of the ministry is regularly communicated through Central, District, and Conference publications and through the U of A Wesley website and social media outlets. This may include producing a ministry newsletter.
• Relate to the Arkansas Conference Board of Higher Education and work alongside its membership to forward the greater cause of college ministry in the Arkansas Conference.
• Relate to the U of A Council of Religious Organizations and U of A faculty and staff to ensure good relationships with the university and its entities and work with the Wesley President to maintain U of A Wesley’s Registered Student Organization status. Nurture the investment of United Methodist U of A faculty and staff in the Wesley ministry.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position will provide direction, support, and supervision to students and their families, as well as to volunteers in a leadership capacity. This position supervises the Wesley Staff.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

A bachelor’s degree is required. A seminary degree and/or training in Christian education or related field is highly desirable. A minimum of two years experience working with a college-aged ministry group in either a lay or paid staff capacity is necessary.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Must possess a knowledge and profession of the Christian Faith
• Must possess interest in and love for college-aged students
• Must possess a professional and courteous demeanor
• Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills
• Must possess excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to collaborate and work effectively with groups and individuals and to manage conflict
• Must possess the ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate programs and ministries
• Must possess the ability to build and maintain strong teams of volunteers through participatory management
• Must possess the ability to manage a dynamic and fluid work environment featuring multiple projects
• Must possess the ability to identify the actions necessary to complete tasks and obtain results
• Must serve as a positive Christian role model

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Experience in the use of standard office equipment and technology.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as curriculum guidelines, applicable State /Federal Regulations and procedures manuals. Ability to write schedules, curriculum and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of students, parents, committees and employees of the church. Ability to effectively communicate one-on-one or in small group settings with students and parents is essential.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to move freely in and out of different group settings (homes, the church facilities, hospitals, businesses). Must have excellent command of English language and grammar, both verbal and written. Must be able to manually operate and use a computer and other standard office equipment. Must be able to clearly hear and understand telephone conversations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.