Open Positions

Director/Associate Minister
of Faith Formation 

Pilgrim United Church of Christ

3011 Academy Road

Durham, NC 27707

Who We Are

Pilgrim United Church of Christ is a congregation that seeks to live God’s shalom by working for justice and building an inclusive community. We are holy boundary pushers, reflecting Jesus’ love for all, compassion for the hurting, and advocacy for the oppressed. We are open and affirming, racial justice-seeking, and creation-loving.

We believe that for as long as God has been speaking, God’s command to love is at their center. We believe Jesus said many things, but nothing more than this: love our neighbors. Even when he’s telling us to love our enemies, he’s really saying, see your enemies as your neighbors—and love them. Love is action. Love is living into Jesus’ words in concrete ways by–

…not fearing… …ushering justice… …protecting the oppressed… …healing people…


Doing this, we become God’s heartbeat in the world. We do not do this work alone. We minister with covenantal partners, near and far, to have an impact and transform the world—united in a common purpose, vision, and mission. We believe living out God’s love will lead us to creating a just world for all.


Who We Seek

We believe a Director and/or Associate Minister of Faith Formation is an essential element for the success of Pilgrim’s witness and ministry. We seek an energetic candidate to be a part of a team. A successful candidate will lead an array of programs under the direction of the Pastor. It is Pilgrim’s mission to provide and promote a wide range of educational and outreach opportunities for our community to engage. The heartbeat of the Minister/Director’s position is to imagine, execute, and foster opportunities in which Pilgrims of all ages can grow in their faith through word and action. The Minister/Director plays a key role in Pilgrim’s communal witness. The Director/Minister works in coordination and collaboration with the Boards of Christian Education, Christian Service, and Deacons.  


What We Are Looking For

Pilgrim seeks a candidate to bring creativity, energy, and focus to our ministries, including:

  • Engaging Children’s Moments for Sunday Worship

  • Fun, safe child care during services for infants through pre-K years

  • Creative, dynamic, age-appropriate Sunday school activities for grades pre-K-6

  • To work collaboratively with Pilgrim’s Youth Director to offer meaningful youth programs, including fellowship, worship, and service opportunities, for grades 9-12

  • Confirmation classes for grades 6-8

  • Directs Pilgrim’s OWL (Our Whole Lives) curriculum for all ages

  • Adult educational opportunities, including study groups and programs


Qualifications Needed

  • A commitment to Christ and a calling to ministry through a local congregation

  • If the candidate seeks the title “Minister,” they will have (or be working toward an) MDiv, MA in Christian Practice, Masters and/or Certificate in Christian Education

  • As Director, a Bachelor’s degree with educational experience is required 

  • Experience in leadership roles in Faith Formation through a local congregation

  • Ecumenical, interfaith, and inclusive outlook, in an open and affirming, racial and creation justice congregation

  • Creative, organized, able to maintain confidentiality

  • A commitment to being a team player

  • Strong oral and written communication skills, including active listening, problem solving, conflict resolution, and de-escalation

  • Successful completion of a pre-employment background check

 

Describing the Ministry

  • Working with appropriate church leaders to set goals, determine priorities, establish programs, and coordinate calendars

  • Providing leadership to the educational ministry of the church, including identifying gifts of leaders and promoting their involvement in Sunday School, Youth, and Adult activities.

  • Work cooperatively with the pastor to offer Sundays’ Children’s Message and confirmation class instruction

  • Participate in regularly scheduled Church Staff meetings, Board of Christian Education meetings, and other Board Meetings, as needed, to help coordinate church activities and events

  • Develop and provide staff leadership for adult education programs

  • Develop and provide staff leadership for seasonal, topical and/or liturgical adult classes

  • Develop Sunday school and confirmation curriculum in conjunction with the Board of Christian Education

  • Overseeing that all areas of Children and Youth Ministries are implemented, including curriculum, programs, and music (in conjunction with the Director of Music).

  • Encourage and empower parents to be involved with the faith development of their children

  • Recruit teachers and assistants for Sunday school

  • Manage childcare staff

  • Follow Safe Sanctuary policies

  • Keeping current with the latest trends, methods, and materials as related to religious education, providing guidance to the Board of Christian Education

  • Order supplies

  • Write and submit regular reports as needed

  • Other duties and activities as required, including special programs


Position details: 

Full time (32-35 hours), salaried, including Sunday mornings 9:30 AM-1:30 PM. Director/Associate Minister of Faith Formation will attend regularly scheduled staff team meetings and monthly meetings of the Board of Christian Education, in coordination with the Pastor. As Pilgrim UCC follows a school year/summer break schedule (June 1- September 1), the Director/Associate Minister will use summer months for special church programs for our youngest worshippers. 


Compensation commensurate with background and experience.

Interested candidates should submit a cover video (3-5 minutes) and resume to: Search Committee, Pilgrim United Church of Christ at Puccdurham@gmail.com


Close date for application submission: May 31, 2025

Nursery School Teacher

3011 Academy Road

Durham, NC 27707

Are you someone who…

  • Has experience with (& loves!) working with young children?

  • Could embrace an LGBTQ open & affirming faith community that believes in a deeply loving God?

  • Is looking for a delightful side hustle in Durham?

We’d love to meet you! Please send your resumé to puccdurham@gmail.com.

Position starts mid-September 2025.

Sunday mornings, 9:30 am-12:30 pm, $15/hr.