Our Church and History
We are the First Congregational Church of Western Springs. Founded in 1887 and now in our third home and second location, we welcome all people as children of God and value that our members come from many traditions. This breadth of theological perspectives allows us to learn from one another and helps us to grow in our own Christian faith in an atmosphere of love and respect. We ask our new members to bring the best of what they have experienced and to acknowledge that all of us have come from a variety of backgrounds and may be in different places on our faith journeys. As a growing and thriving church family, the Church seeks to be a faithful people, to introduce our children to a loving Jesus, and to live out our faith in Christian mission and service.
We are an Open and Affirming (ONA) congregation and welcome people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions to join with us in our worship, mission and service.
The church and its congregation have been in its current location since 1929. Both the Sanctuary where we presently worship and the Education/Community Building were designed by G. Grant Elmslie, a prominent Prairie School architect and highly regarded associate of the renowned Louis Sullivan. The Sanctuary offers an inspirational setting for worship and our Education Building (located directly West of the Sanctuary), is a three-story center for classes, meetings, fellowship and community activities. The Education Building also houses our preschool and Kids’ Day Out programs and the third floor is home to The Western Springs School of Talent Education.
Our church continues to grow spiritually and numerically and is truly blessed with both an engaged congregation and a strong and growing financial commitment by our congregation. We have approximately 1250 members 18 years of age or older, roughly 415 pledging households and have averaged 40+ adult new members and 25 confirmands (a total of ~ 65 new members) a year for the last few decades.
Financially, the church has an annual budget in 2024 of $1,520,000.00 ($170,000 for Mission), that is typically balanced by year’s end and is current on all elements of its annual and long-term capital and maintenance plans (virtually no deferred maintenance).
Lastly, our healthy Second Century Endowment Fund has traditionally contributed significantly to our annual operating budget through the transfer of a percentage of the interest earned to the Church’s operating account.
The Community of Western Springs
The community of Western Springs is an exceptional place to call home. Located 18 miles west of Chicago, Western Springs has some 15,000 residents and is a picturesque mix of historic landmarks, beautiful parks and modern eateries. Western Springs has been named as one of the best places to raise children and the safest city in Illinois. In terms of schools, the village is primarily served by public schools. The original neighborhoods making up Western Springs are served by Western Springs School District 101 (3 elementary schools and one (1) middle school) while LaGrange Highlands School District 106 serves newer neighborhoods (one (1) elementary school and one (1) middle school). All elementary and middle schools in Western Springs feed into the Lyons Township High School District 204. Equally attractive and abutting Western Springs are the villages of LaGrange, LaGrange Park, and Indian Head Park. With additional elementary and middle schools, they, too, feed into Lyons Township High School District 204.
Position Overview
The Director of Youth Ministry /Associate Pastor leads a vibrant and inclusive ministry for youth in grades 6-12. The position works collaboratively with the senior pastoral staff, church staff, mission partners, and volunteers to create and implement an engaging and spiritually nurturing program that meets the needs of the Congregation and its youth. The position requires flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, and the schedule and workload may vary at different times of the year. The Pastor/Director is expected to work on Sundays, as well as other times agreed upon by the senior pastoral staff.
This position is a full time, salaried position.
Key Responsibilities
Faith Formation & Leadership:
- Plan youth group gatherings, including weekly meetings, retreats, community-building events, and other activities designed to encourage growth in their Christian faith and welcome all youth in the First Congo community. *High school gatherings are co-planned with youth leadership.
- Develop and implement creative, engaging activities and discussions that promote spiritual growth and create an inclusive and welcoming environment.
- Implement a framework for youth faith formation, establishing documentation procedures for maintaining, updating, and communicating programmatic essentials to all relevant stakeholders.
- Organize mission trips, service projects, and local outreach programs that encourage spiritual development, teamwork and community service among youth.
- Develop intentional strategies to welcome newcomers and youth from diverse backgrounds into the youth group and other activities, helping them feel connected and integrated into the church community.
- Coordinate program logistics, such as event scheduling, transportation, and preparation of materials.
- Work with pastoral and operations staff to ensure compliance with safety protocols, including obtaining background checks, implementing volunteer training and enforcing safeguarding procedures consistent with the Safe Church policy.
- Organize Confirmation program, including event scheduling, transportation, and preparation of materials. Work closely with senior pastoral staff to ensure a faith-based approach to the Confirmation experience.
- Collaborate with communications staff to promote youth ministry activities through church communications and social media.
- Track program participation and feedback, using data to assess program effectiveness and adjust where needed to better serve youth needs.
- Create, maintain, and adhere to a budget within church-established budgeting processes.
Youth Care & Support:
- Build and maintain meaningful relationships with youth and their families, supporting their faith journeys, fostering their personal development, ministering to their needs, and making appropriate referrals when necessary.
- Serve as a positive role model for youth, encouraging them to live out their faith in all aspects of life.
- Embody our Covenant as an Open and Affirming Church, contributing to and further enriching a culture of inclusion and acceptance of all.
Volunteer Coordination:
- Identify, develop, and disciple youth leaders, creating opportunities for youth to be involved in leadership roles.
- Recruit, train, and support a team of adult volunteers who can assist with youth activities, providing mentorship and guidance to the youth group.
- Ensure that all activities are supervised by staff or volunteers, and that all supervisors are well-prepared to foster an inclusive, supportive environment.
Collaboration & Integration into the Church Community:
- Work closely with the senior pastoral staff to align youth ministry with the broader church mission and vision.
- Serve as staff liaison to the Youth Ministries Committee
- Communicate and collaborate with other ministries, such as children’s and adult programs, to create intergenerational connections and opportunities for service and fellowship.
- Participate in church-wide initiatives and activities, ensuring that the youth are actively involved in the life of the congregation.
- Attend and contribute to regular staff meetings, provide updates on youth ministry happenings and contributing as a thought partner to other topics of relevance.
- Attend continuing education programs, when possible, to stay current on best practices for youth ministry and support.
Other Pastoral Duties (only applicable to Associate Pastor applicants)
- Periodically participate in worship leadership, including preaching and serving as liturgist, especially during the summer months and other times when youth-focused duties slow.
- In addition to organizing and coordinating the Confirmation program, work with senior pastoral staff to refine the Confirmation curriculum and lead Confirmation teaching.
- Provide pastoral care as appropriate.
- Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college or university preferred.
- For Associate Pastor:
- An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ or reciprocal denomination as recognized by the United Church of Christ.
- A Master of Divinity or beyond from an accredited seminary.
Experience
- A minimum of 3 years of experience working for a church, school, or other community organization engaging with groups of youth in a mentoring, teaching, and/or leadership role.
- Proven ability to engage youth in meaningful, positive ways that promote personal growth, relationship-building, and spiritual development.
- Demonstrated ability to create and implement programs that are fun, engaging, and meaningful while fostering an inclusive atmosphere.
- Demonstrated ability to build trust and rapport with youth, families, and volunteers.
Skills:
- The ability to incorporate Christian values and teachings into youth programming in accessible and engaging ways.
- An exceptional understanding of child and adolescent development, cognitively, socially, emotionally, and spiritually and the ability to account for these developmental stages in programming.
- A deep understanding of the unique challenges faced in adolescence, and the increasing complexity of those challenges in a rapidly changing world.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to allocate resources, manage logistics, and adhere to established budgets.
- A commitment to continued professional development and learning.
- Must pass a background check and adhere to the church’s child safety policies and guidelines.
For additional information or to candidate for the role, please send your cover letter and resume to:
The First Congregational Church of Western Springs is an equal opportunity employer.
1106 Chestnut Street, Western Springs, IL 60558