Student Pastor

Job Details

This is a pastoral leadership role with real ownership. The Student Pastor will cultivate a ministry where students are known, encounter Jesus, grow in faith, and are equipped to live and lead with purpose.

McDowell is a community following Jesus, learning to love. We exist to see people find new life in Christ and learn to love everyone, everywhere, in every situation. The Student Pastor advances that mission by leading a joyful, relational, and spiritually formative ministry for students in grades 6–12 and their families.

As a pastor and integrated member of McDowell's staff, this leader sets vision, builds healthy teams, develops students and adult leaders, partners with parents and guardians, and oversees the ministry's teaching, gatherings, events, care, communication, and operations. The role combines visible ministry leadership with the quiet, consistent work of knowing people, developing leaders, and creating environments where students can take meaningful next steps with Jesus.

• Vision + culture:
  Set a clear direction for McDowell Students that aligns with the mission, theology, and values of the church.
• Pastoral presence:
  Know students and families, offer wise care, and build a culture marked by truth, grace, belonging, and joy.
• Discipleship:
  Create clear pathways for students to encounter Jesus, grow spiritually, serve others, and live their faith.
• Team building:
  Recruit, develop, empower, and care for volunteers, student leaders, interns, and residents.
• Excellence + stewardship:
  Lead programs, budgets, systems, and events with creativity, safety, and wise stewardship.
• Whole-church leadership:
  Collaborate across teams and contribute to McDowell's pastoral and organizational life.

• Set and implement vision and strategy for a growing ministry to students in grades 6–12.
• Oversee regular gatherings, small groups, and a clear front-door pathway that welcomes and follows up with new students.
• Shape biblically grounded teaching, relational environments, and next steps for students at every place in their faith journey.
• Plan and lead camps, retreats, mission and service opportunities, and special events.

• Build relationships with students and help them grow in prayer, biblical understanding, community, service, and everyday faith.
• Develop a clear student leadership pathway that gives students coaching, responsibility, and meaningful opportunities to lead.
• Maintain an appropriate presence in local schools, student activities, and community spaces.
• Provide pastoral care and follow-up for students and families with wisdom, confidentiality, and healthy boundaries.

• Recruit, screen, onboard, schedule, train, empower, and care for adult volunteers and small-group leaders.
• Create clear roles, expectations, training, encouragement, feedback, and accountability for every leader.
• Recruit and develop interns and emerging leaders, helping others discover and use their gifts.
• Build a healthy, collaborative team culture that multiplies ministry beyond the pastor.

• Communicate consistently with parents and guardians about vision, programming, events, and student care.
• Equip and encourage families as the primary spiritual influence in a student's life.
• Build trusted partnerships with schools, community leaders, and organizations that serve students.
• Guide student ministry communication, social media, promotion, and storytelling with McDowell's communications team.

• Oversee calendars, registrations, rosters, volunteer schedules, budgets, supplies, setup, transportation, and safety systems.
• Collabo…