A colleague is making a change in his church staff position. He’s struggling with coming up with a new ministry job title. He says, “While I realize the main thing is how one functions, job titles are suggestive and important.”
He’s moving from a generalist position as Minister of Christian Formation, to a more focused ministry with adults. Here are some titles he’s considering.
- Minister of Adult Education
- Minister of Adult Christian Education
- Minister of Adults
- Minister with Adults
- Minister to Adults
- Minister for adults
- Associate Pastor of Adults
- Pastoral Educator (of, for, with) Adults
- Pastoral Minister (of, for, with ) Adults.
What are your thoughts? Which would be your preference? What titles does your congregation use?
Let me add a couple more . . .
Minister of Adult Formation
Pastoral Educator for Adult Formation
It would be helpful to discover how persons perceive each of the listed titles. For example, “Minister with Adults” conveys to me “along-side-of.” But are not all adult believers (clergy AND laity) ministers with other adults? if we accept the theology that all adult believers are called of God, and that our calling is a personal response to a corporate calling, lay persons are “ministers with adults” as well. There is no clergy/laity distinction in this title that sets apart a special clergy function.
Additionally, what does “to minister” mean? Are the terms “to educate” and “to minister” synonymous?
Idea: Take one title each week and ask persons to post their perceptions of what that title means to them. At the end of that process we all may be a bit more clear on this issue.
It is also helpful to know what the church thinks of the titles as well. Here, my title is Minister of Christian Education. There was a discussion in the beginning of making the title Associate Minister of Christian Education and the church said no, because it sounded like I would be more of an “Associate” role rather than an education specific.
2 years later, I am still titled Minister of CE, however I am doing all the responsibility that comes with being an in a Associate role as well. (and then some…there IS that line in my job description “and all other duties as needed by the senior minister”)
I believe, I think along side Marty, that “Minister of Adults” is a more generalist term. If you compare it with “Minister of Adult Education” – the second seems to convey that the minister would focus specifically on the education side of adult programming. “Minister of Adults” conveys to me that the minister would focus on ALL aspects of Adults – pastoral care, education, etc…
And it definitely depends on the Senior Pastor too. I am currently reading, “Leading From the Second Chair” and it does talk about in the subordinate-leader paradox, the importance of the role of the first chair and how it is the first chair who decides where the line is drawn and you as second chair will need to know where that is. So, as the minister is deciding what the title should be, it is my impression that the “senior” will want to give their input as well.