The Church of St. Paul & the Redeemer seeks a full-time, ordained Assistant Rector to take part in the pastoral leadership of the parish with particular focus on further building exceptional children and youth programming in a dynamic and diverse Episcopal Church in the Hyde Park/Kenwood Neighborhood of Chicago.

The ideal candidate will have these qualities

1. A joyful sense of God's abundant love demonstrated by an open, warm, outgoing and energetic approach to and appreciation of all people, members of the SPR congregation or not.

2. A commitment to engage individuals, in order to develop relationships and nurture spiritual growth.

3. Openness to a sense of worship that is both ancient and innovative; an approach to our worship space as a think tank for exploring how we can use new musical and liturgical forms to reinterpret and reinvigorate the rites and hymns we receive from tradition.

4. A commitment and openness to the welcoming of all to God's table, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or theological conviction.

5. A personal passion for Christian programming for children, youth, and their parents.

6. The desire and ability to develop and nurture an active Christian faith in children and youth by encouraging engagement of scriptural story and Church tradition, through worship, acts of service and the building of hospitable community.

7. An aptitude for and a passion for preaching.

8. A commitment to growth of the church both in numbers and presence.

9. The ability to work collegially and creatively with the senior team and other paid and volunteer staff, including an openness to personal and professional development and to the Rector's mentorship.

10. A strong skill set in organization, administration, and leadership, and competence in using information technology.

The Assistant Rector will excel at the following essential functions:

1. 11:15 Leadership for all child (birth through fifth grade) related programs at SPR:

A. Serve as a catalyst for the overall spiritual growth of the children by envisioning and implementing the Christian formation and fellowship programming for children.

B. Help create a worship environment friendly to and supportive of children.

C. Further develop Godly Play program by recruiting, training and supporting teachers, and taking an individual interest in children and their parents.

D. Oversee children's chapel and nursery.

E. Liaison with Director of music to integrate music and formation process.

F. Run an outstanding Vacation Bible Camp and Christmas Pageant.

2. Leadership for all youth (6th-12th grade) related programs at SPR:

A. Serve as a catalyst for the overall spiritual growth of youth by creating and implementing the Christian formation and fellowship programming for youth.

Assistant Rector The Church of St. Paul & the Redeemer

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B. Creatively work with youth to help them develop and practice active Christian faiths.

C. Lead youth group programming and recruit, train and support adult volunteers.

D. Build a confirmation program that is both rigorous and open to those with varying attitudes towards the process from true believers to real skeptics.

3. Provide Liturgical leadership: Share responsibility for providing spiritual leadership through presiding, preaching and planning liturgies with the Rector and other members of the team, including baptisms, weddings, funerals, and visitation to the sick and homebound.

4. Share in the administration of the church:

A. Be a creative and committed member of the parish team by taking part in the day-to-day administration of the parish (e.g. working with other staff to create weekly bulletin, helping to maintain database, hanging advertisements, sending mailings, etc.).

B. Attend vestry meetings and other meeting which pertains to the position or that the Rector requests.

C. Represent SPR in the greater community with regard to the programming and concerns for children and youth.

D. Serve as a resource and communicator to the parish team and overall congregation, regarding programming, and concerns of children and youth.

5. Participate in senior level decision-making regarding the church's strategy, policy and programs.

About Saint Paul & the Redeemer (we encourage you to check sp-r.org for more.)

We are progressive and rooted in tradition. We are a worshipping community that loves to gather on Sunday to worship God, to celebrate the mystery of Christ's faithful and liberating presence. Inspiring music from many traditions and enhanced by four choirs lifts us heavenward. We use inclusive language at the 9:15 and 11:15 Eucharists, in which you will find both the beauty of traditional Episcopal liturgy and warm spontaneity. Preaching that is lively, thought provoking, and addresses real human concerns is highly valued by the congregation.

We are diverse. Being one of the most racially diverse congregations in Chicago is something we value highly. We are a church of all ages, from infants to nonagenarians. We have an excellent nursery and fine formation programs for children and youth. Gay men and lesbians participate in every aspect of our ministry, and we have been publicly blessing same-gender unions for years. We are diverse in religious backgrounds: most of our parishioners come from a tradition other than the Episcopal Church.

We are a community of fellowship. Every Sunday, we gather around God's Table in Holy Communion; then we gather around brunch tables to share food and fellowship, around classroom tables to share ideas and wisdom, and around meeting tables to lead our community. Many social events mark our life every year, including the Fall Kickoff Ministries Fair, the All Saints Sunday pancake breakfast, the Easter brunch and egg hunt, the Pentecost Jazz Mass and multicultural potluck, and the Parish Picnic in the summer.

We are a community of service. Every Monday, we gather for Pantry Fellowship in the Chapel: there's discussion, prayer, laughter, sharing, coffee, and bags of nonperishable food for those of us who are hungry. Every month, we cook for the Open Kitchen Lunch Program, which feeds up to 200 homeless people every day. At Christmas we partner with the Cathedral Shelter to provide gifts for their residents. We are partners with Shoesmith Elementary, the public school right across the park from SPR, and a member of Southsiders Organizing for Unity and Liberation (SOUL).

Applicants should submit PDF versions of a cover letter, résumé, sermon, and contact information for three references to assistantrectorsearch@sp-r.org

Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2012.

Women and candidates of color are encouraged to apply.

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