Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Job Description

Fountain City United Methodist Church

Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries

Full-time Ministry Position in Knoxville, TN

Compensation: Starting at $50,000, pay is commensurate with experience

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package; health insurance and/or stipend for employee

Location: 212 Hotel Rd, Knoxville, TN 37918

Contact: FCUMC@fountaincityumc.org or 865-689-5175

Submit your application here

About Fountain City UMC:

Fountain City United Methodist Church is a vibrant, mission-focused community in North Knoxville that draws more than 500 people each week across four distinct worship experiences. We are rooted in God’s love and committed to transforming lives. As a congregation of The United Methodist Church and the Holston Annual Conference, we share in the denomination’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Our ministries include age-level discipleship, intergenerational small groups, Sunday School, a large Celebrate Recovery program, and hands-on local and global mission. We believe faith comes alive in action.

Fountain City UMC is uniquely positioned to help students and young adults discover a relationship with God and understand their place in the world. We are not simply a church with youth programs. We are a community where every generation is seen, loved, and equipped to make a meaningful difference.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a dedicated, relational leader to serve as Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries. This role carries real weight and real reward. Our student community is very diverse in terms of socioeconomic status and culture. Many of our youth navigate complex family situations and they have already placed their trust in this ministry. They need a leader who meets them with both consistency and grace.

In addition to youth ministry (6th–12th grade), this role carries a vision for young adult engagement that is ready to be built. The foundation has been laid and the congregation is eager to see college age students connecting in faith and relationship. This is an opportunity to shape both ministries simultaneously, with the full support of staff and leadership.

Who You Are

• A follower of Jesus Christ with a growing, visible faith, who can wholeheartedly support the theology, structure, and direction of The United Methodist Church and the mission and vision of Fountain City UMC.
• A relational leader who earns trust by showing up consistently including: at events, at games, at open gym nights, and in ordinary moments.
• Someone who genuinely listens to students. A key value of this ministry is that the summer calendar is built from what missions inspire the student to a service centered summer.
• Humble about their gifts, but confident enough to lead youth, young adults, families, and a dedicated team of volunteers.
• Creative, organized, and innovative. Someone who can hold structure and spontaneity at the same time.
• Passionate about spiritual growth for people exploring faith, those who are unchurched, and those deeply rooted in tradition.
• Someone who sees every student as a whole person worthy of care including students with special needs. Our group's inclusivity has been a defining strength, and any experience in this area is a significant plus.

What You've Done

• Led student or young adult ministry in a church or similar setting.
• Built genuine relational trust with adolescents and young adults over time through being present in life not just church events.
• Recruited, trained, and sustained volunteers.
• Worked within Safe Sanctuaries or equivalent youth protection guidelines.
• Navigated digital communication and social media

Ministry Rhythms & Programming

This role oversees a meaningful and varied portfolio of ministry programming. Here's what the regular cadence looks like:

Crosswalk (Tuesday Nights): Crosswalk is FCUMC's Celebrate Recovery ministry for students, held every Tuesday evening. The director supervises the Crosswalk staff, two licensed clinical social workers, and helps coordinate their needs and support. This is a unique and vital part of what makes this ministry distinct.

Wednesday Nights (Traditional Youth Group): Wednesday evenings are the heart of the weekly student gathering, currently bringing junior high and senior high together. There is genuine interest from parents and older students in developing a separate experience for high schoolers, and this role will have the creative space to explore what that could look like over time.

Sunday Morning Discipleship: Sunday School and discipleship programming run each week with the support of a wonderful team of volunteers. The director works alongside and equips these volunteers.

Open Gym: Informal open gym time is a key relational touchpoint. The director provides primary leadership and presence during these drop-in gatherings.

Beyond the weekly rhythm, a few anchor events shape the ministry year:

Resurrection: An annual weekend retreat held each January. This is a cornerstone event for spiritual formation and community-building among students.

Summer Mission Trips: Hands-on mission experiences that put faith into action. The summer calendar is shaped significantly by what students themselves ask for, that ownership is central to how trust is built here.

Student Voice & Listening Sessions: An annual or semi-annual listening session with students is a built-in expectation of this role. What students share shapes what we do as part of listening to this generation of leaders and Christ followers.

Additional events, service opportunities, and student-led experiences throughout the year.

Young Adult Ministry:

Young adult engagement is a growing vision at FCUMC. The groundwork has been laid; this role will take that vision from intention to reality. Expect to invest in relationship-building and discern what structures best serve this demographic in this season.

Staff Collaboration:

This position works in genuine partnership with the full staff of the church. Your direct supervisor is the Pastor of Discipleship. You will work closely with the social media coordinator on the ministry’s social media and web presence. Staff work as a team by design.

Whole Church Participation:

As a member of the broader staff team, this role includes pitching in on the overall life of the church including: occasional physical tasks during events, setups, and community gatherings. We are a community that takes care of each other.

Our United Methodist Commitment:

Fountain City UMC is a connectional church. We are part of a worldwide United Methodist family, grounded in the Wesleyan tradition of grace, holy living, and faith that works itself out in love. The Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministries is expected to lead, teach, and model faith in a manner consistent with the doctrinal standards and polity of The United Methodist Church as set forth in The Book of Discipline, to support the Holston Annual Conference and the direction of the denomination, and to embrace and advance the mission and vision of Fountain City UMC. Curriculum, speakers, and resources are selected with these commitments in mind and in consultation with the supervisor. The selected candidate will be asked to affirm these commitments as part of the position description.

Employment Requirements:

• Successful completion of a background screening prior to employment.
• Completion of Safe Sanctuaries training and ongoing compliance with FCUMC’s Safe Sanctuaries policy.
• A signed position description, including the Statement of Alignment and Acknowledgment.
• Reliable transportation and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and overnight retreats and mission trips.

Fountain City United Methodist Church is a religious organization. As permitted by law, we may consider an applicant’s religious commitments and alignment with our faith and mission in employment decisions for this ministry position.

Come Lead with Us:

If you feel called to walk alongside Gen Z and Gen Alpha, to help them encounter the Creator God, Resurrected Christ and companion of the Holy Spirit, guide them in understanding their place in the world, and experience a community that cares about what young people have to say, and then acts on it, we want to hear from you.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To ask questions or start a conversation before applying, reach out at any time:

• Email: fcumc@fountaincityumc.org
• Phone: 865-689-5175
• Mail: 212 Hotel Rd, Knoxville, TN 37918
• Submit your application here

We are excited to hear your story and explore what this journey could look like together!