Job Description

Associate Family Pastor

Founded in 1873, Menlo Church has a rich history of serving the spiritual needs of our community and is a vibrant spiritual and social center in Menlo Park. Our journey has led us to expand across the Bay Area, with campuses in San Mateo, Mountain View, Menlo Park, and Saratoga.

Menlo's mission is to bring hope to everyone by living out our identity in Christ every day. As we navigate the unique challenges of today's culture, we are committed to being an endearing gospel presence in a region where many are skeptical. With a talented & dedicated staff, we envision a Bay Area that awakens to the freedom found in Christ, through meaningful and practical support.

Join us as we strive to equip our community to bring the gospel into every aspect of life. Together, we can make a lasting impact in the Bay Area and beyond.

Position Summary

The Associate Family Pastor (AFP) will lead an integrated ministry that partners with parents, volunteers, and the broader church family to successfully launch kids and students (infants through high school) into a lifetime of faith in Jesus Christ. Your priority will be driving the mission and vision for Menlo Church through NextGen by equipping the saints for ministry at your campus: Recruiting, training, shepherding, and developing volunteers, teams, and leaders who provide hands-on leadership for weekends and special events. The Associate Family Pastor will also provide pastoral support and guidance for families as they raise kids and students to love and follow Jesus in today's world. As part of our dynamic NextGen team, the Associate Family Pastor will have a vital role in welcoming, connecting, and engaging the growing number of young families in the area.

A vibrant and authentic faith in Jesus is essential as you provide spiritual leadership to our volunteers, children, and families. You must be highly relational, organized, and passionate about developing others. As part of a multisite church, the Associate Family Pastor will have a strong collaborative nature. You will work closely with the campus staff team, reporting directly to the Campus Pastor. In addition, you'll collaborate strategically with our Central NextGen Team (Director of NextGen, Events & Curriculum Coordinator and Central Ministries Admin) while strategically leading at your local campus.

Essential Functions

• Work as a cohesive unit with our campus team, shaping the future of our campus.
• Implement a Menlo Kids, Middle School and High School strategy that draws families into the church and launches kids and students into a lifetime of faith in Jesus Christ.
• Responsible for galvanizing high-capacity volunteers and equipping them for ministry in the church and beyond.
• Develop healthy volunteer pipelines, anticipating for church and maximizing retention as you recognize talents and gifts and guide people through the leadership pipeline.
• Lead, encourage, and develop volunteers through 1:1 or large group interactions.
• Shepherd, build community, and care for the spiritual health of volunteer teams.
• Proactively reach out to parents and families. Provide support, care, and resources as needed.
• Ensure adequate support for all Kids and Students programs; be able to step into any area of ministry, including welcoming families, checking children in, facilitating large or small groups, coaching, or providing creative support with music, design, or tech.
• Be responsible for the safety of all kids and students by ensuring adult and teen leaders are screened, participate in mandated training, and maintain healthy boundaries in accordance with Menlo's child safety policies.
• Collaborate with the Central NextGen team, your local campus Kids & Students NextGen Coordinators, and fellow NextGen Associate Family Pastors to plan, strategize, and provide essential feedback and work to create irresistible environments for worship, groups, and events.
• Coordinate with Central Kids and volunteers to ensure all elements and supplies pertaining to the elementary weekend services are prepared and ready ahead of time.
• Work with campus staff to support events and services to reach our neighborhood (including Easter, Christmas Eve, For The Bay projects, and other events).
• Assisting in the success of church-wide events throughout the year.
• If approved for Menlo ministerial licensing, participate in required training.
• Additional duties and special projects as assigned by the Campus Pastor.

Qualifications

Required Education and/or relevant experience

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) or equivalent in Theology, Ministry, Education, or related field
• Master's degree or theological training preferred Minimum of 5 years of experience in NextGen, Family Ministry, Children's or Student Ministry, or related pastoral role.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep understanding of spiritual formation for children, students, and families across developmental stages
• Strong theological grounding and ability to effectively communicate the gospel.
• High relational intelligence; skilled at building trust, mentoring, and shepherding others
• Strategic thinker with a demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and implement effective ministry initiatives
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills; experience cultivating healthy, high-capacity volunteer teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; confident in speaking to small and large groups
• Creative and adaptable; able to design engaging, age-appropriate programming and worship environments
• Proficiency with or willingness to learn church management systems & tools (e.g., PCO, Google Suite, Asana)
• Collaborative and flexible; thrives in a team-based, multisite church model
• Able to balance pastoral care, administrative tasks, and vision implementation effectively

Work Conditions

• This job regularly operates in a church setting with office equipment, storage containers, classrooms, & machine shop.
• Hand/eye coordination and dexterity for small objects, office & computer equipment and those movements that would be experienced while working with children. Light to moderate lifting may be required.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required to meet with the public and team as business demands dictate.
• Days and hours of work are Sunday-Thursday/Mon-Fri with an occasional Friday, Saturday, or evening as needed.

Menlo Church Spiritual Requirements

• Live out their personal relationship with Jesus Christ by growing more in His likeness, eager to share and see others come to know true hope.
• Demonstrate active engagement as a member of Menlo Church by: Regularly attending and inviting others to services, connecting in community through groups, volunteering in a ministry, and committing to giving to the mission and vision of Menlo Church.
• Holds themself and others accountable to live and love others with integrity and diligence in light of their identity in Christ.
• Hold compatible theological beliefs in alignment with the essential tenets of ECO, as outlined on their website.

The position described in this posting represents that a staff member must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions. All offers for employment with Menlo Church are contingent upon the candidate having successfully completed the required background checks.

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