Pastoral Assistant

The Pastoral Assistant shall be an Orthodox Christian in good standing who is actively living out his/her faith commitment to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Pastoral Assistant will be under the direct supervision of the Presiding Priest and assist him as an extension of his non-liturgical ministry in the parish.  The Pastoral Assistant’s (PA) primary responsibility is the youth ministry in the parish along with any responsibilities assigned by the Presiding Priest in areas of worship and parish ministries. 

The role of the Pastoral Assistant is to continuously bring our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into the lives of both children and adults of the parish by example and through Christ-centered activities and teaching opportunities.  In addition, the Pastoral Assistant will develop strategic plans to lead and advance the youth ministries of the church.  

This position provides the leadership required to assist the Presiding Priest:

  • To develop Orthodox Christian fellowship (Koinonia) among our young people
  • To involve them in Liturgical Sacramental life of the Church (Litourgia)
  • To encourage the sharing of their Orthodox Faith with others (Martyria)
  • To provide opportunities for serving the Church and the Society at Large (Diakonia)
  • To solidify Orthodox Christian beliefs in lives of parents and children

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

Examples include the following (other duties may be assigned):

  • Attend all parish worship services, its fellowships and events, its youth events and outings, and any aspect of parish administration required by the Presiding Priest.
  • Assistance as required by the Presiding Priest in worship services.
  • At the direction of the Presiding Priest, the Pastoral Assistant may deliver sermonettes, write articles, assist with visitation and outreach, chant, and perform other similar duties.
  • Attend youth minister/pastoral assistant seminars and retreats as requested.
  • Design and develop a strategic plan to improve youth ministry programs including, but not limited to, Hope, Joy, GOYA, and YAL.
  • Develop an annual calendar schedule of meetings and activities for the youth groups such as Bible Study, etc.  
  • Establish, build and strengthen relationships with the directors of the Sunday School, Cathedral Summer Youth Day Camp and the Greek School.
  • Develop a program to stay in contact with youth as they go to colleges and universities and help them stay connected with the Orthodox faith
  • Incorporate technology familiar to youth in ministry outreach via website, email, etc.
  • Develop an on-going program of missionary work and philanthropic work for both youth and adults; partner with Sunday School to teach the importance of stewardship
  • Develop and maintain records used to report on measurable outcomes achieved to demonstrate the success of the youth ministry programs

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  The individual must be a member in good standing of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Education:  

  • Bachelor's Degree in Education, Psychology or Social Work or equivalent work experience. 
  • Master’s Degree in Divinity or Theology from an accredited Orthodox Seminary is desirable.

Experience:  

  • Minimum of one year or two summers of experience in youth ministry.

 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are required. 
  • Ability to lead and engage youth with age appropriate topics.
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage time effectively.
  • Proven ability to direct multiple projects effectively and work with members from other organizations. 
  • Ability to plan and organize work processes and manage multiple priorities. 
  • Demonstrated ability to create and sustain excellent working relationships with others. 
  • Comfortable working in an unstructured environment.

Reporting Structure:

The Pastoral Assistant reports direct­ly to the Presiding Priest on all spiritual matters and program develop­ment.

  • Meeting with the Presiding Priest before and after all youth activities/programs.
  • Monthly written report to the Parish Council. Attend meet­ings as requested.
  • Written report and presentation to the General Assembly at least annually.
  • Meeting regularly with youth advisory groups within the parish.

Posted by

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

7220 Granby St.Norfolk, VA 23505

Web: annunciationva.org
Email: frgeorge@annunciationva.org
Phone: 757-440-0500

Posted on: August 24, 2023