News
We Are Hiring a Godly Play Facilitator!
Godly Play Facilitator
Job Summary
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is looking for a part-time Godly Play Facilitator to provide programmatic and administrative support to our Godly Play program. The facilitator will work to support the Rector’s vision and mission for the community within the context of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries at St. Paul’s. The Godly Play Facilitator reports directly to the Assistant Rector.
The position will require an average of 5 to 10 hours per week for 35 weeks during the program year plus additional hours for training, projects, and special events.
About Godly Play
Godly Play is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance built on a Montessori foundation backed by over forty years of research and practice. It values process, openness, discovery, community, and relationships as it models the worship life, stories, symbols, and rituals of the Christian faith. In doing so, it empowers children to make relevant theological meaning within the larger dimensions of faith and life through wondering and play. You can read more about it on the Godly Play Foundation’s website, www.godlyplayfoundation.org.
Responsibilities and Duties
While the nature of work in the Church requires flexibility, the basic responsibilities of this role are as follows:
- Create a safe, welcoming atmosphere for children and their families.
- Lead a one-hour Godly Play session each week as Storyteller during the program year (approximately mid-September through early June).
- In collaboration with the Assistant Rector, staff, and lay leadership, plan and manage the story schedule for the Godly Play classrooms.
- Coordinate scheduling, recruitment, and training for lay leaders serving in this ministry.
- Ensure the children’s attendance is recorded electronically each week.
- Support all Godly play classrooms in managing supply inventory, including classroom items and feast supplies.
- Coordinate with the Assistant Rector and lay leaders to put the rooms to bed each June and prepare them for the coming year each September.
Education, Skills, and Experience
The ideal candidate will exhibit a passion for the spiritual lives of children and have experience working with children in a faith-based context. Candidates should have familiarity with Godly Play as described in Jerome W. Berryman, Teaching Godly Play: How to Mentor the Spiritual Development of Children (Denver: Morehouse, 2009). St. Paul’s will provide training if the candidate has not had Godly Play Core Training.
Flexibility and a willingness to learn are essential for this role. Reliable attendance is essential for this role. Membership in the Episcopal Church is not a requirement. Candidates with a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant area will receive priority consideration. Candidates must be 21 years of age or older.
Compensation and Hours
The position will typically require 5 to 10 hours per week for 35 weeks during the program year, plus 18 hours for training and about 32 hours for other projects, meetings, and special events. The estimated time allotted for the year is 300 to 400 hours.
During the program year, the Godly Play Facilitator will be required to be present on Sundays from 9:30 am to 11:00 am to facilitate the program with the children. There may also be occasional meetings and events that require specific time commitments. Most other hours will be flexible regarding when they are worked. Most of the work will occur during the program year, with limited hours possibly required during the summer months for responsibilities such as preparing for the new program year.
Compensation is $20 to $25 per hour, depending upon experience.
About St. Paul’s
St. Paul’s is a vibrant community committed to proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ through its worship, ministry, and outreach. As an Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Pennsylvania, we are deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of the Christian faith as interpreted through the Book of Common Prayer. We are equally committed to attending to the Holy Spirit’s leading in our present time. We are a church of approximately 500 members with an average Sunday attendance of 150. Full-time staff include the Rector, Assistant Rector, Music Director, and Parish Administrator. The Godly Play Facilitator will report to the Assistant Rector and work collegially with other staff, lay leaders, and parents.
To apply, please email your resume to Joanne Knudson, Interim Associate for Communications, at jknudson@stpaulschestnuthill.org.
