Senior Director of Discipleship

Independent Methodist

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE: 600

Meet St. John’s Methodist Church

St. John’s Methodist Church is known for honoring the past while being poised for the future. We were founded in 1856 as a mission church to a new community and that attitude of welcoming change is still with us. When the Department of Energy chose Aiken as the location of the Savannah River National Laboratory back during the Cold War, St. John’s decided to tear down its historic sanctuary and build a bigger one to house the influx of thousands of newcomers. That says a lot! We have been adding on ever since. We have three Sunday morning services, with two that are traditional, and we have a state-of-the-art building for a large contemporary service with an excellent praise band. St. John’s has adapted to the needs of the community and congregation with vision and enthusiasm throughout its history. Our facilities are excellent and debt-free which frees up abundant resources for ministry!

The church occupies a whole city block in downtown Aiken, South Carolina, a city that has been voted by Southern Living magazine as one of “The Top Ten Small Towns in the South.” The public has voted St. John’s, three out of the last 4 years, as “Aiken’s Best Place to Worship.” With 2,300 members, we’re known as “The Smallest Big Church in America” through the warmth and friendliness of the congregation. We are the place that community groups use for their many programs. We welcome people through our Recovery Programs, multiple indoor pickleball courts, use of our gym for AAU Basketball, practices for the annual Aiken Heart Board Show which have been held for 40 years running, and two Lions Clubs plus two D.A.R. chapters meet here. We host Red Cross Drives, and the Community July Fourth Extravaganza at which we offer a picnic for the city! We are the go-to place for All-County Chorus presentations as well as high school and community concerts featuring the Julliard School, The University of South Carolina Chorus and Symphony, and our Chancel Choir has just received an auditioned invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in January 2026 in tribute to Sir Karl Jenkins and his Stabat Mater. 

St. John’s is a vibrant church. We are a creedal orthodox Arminian church that believes that the “method” in Methodism is a personal relationship with Jesus that works itself out in mutual love and accountability. Our proclamation and teaching reflect a practical application of the Wesleyan emphasis on sanctifying grace as our most distinctive doctrine; i.e., “We don’t believe God saved us through Jesus to leave us the way He found us but to transform us and the world.” We live into this orthodox faith as an independent Methodist congregation. St. John’s voted in 2024 to separate from the UMC by a vote of 88% to 12% and have been thriving.

We are hugely missional. St. John’s has many mission-partners around the world and dozens locally. Between our Methodist Men and their wheelchair-ramp ministry and the Methodist Women’s Apple Fest plus our Mission Impact Celebration we give close to $500,000 above and beyond our budget to missions! We also host Grace Kitchen every Saturday to minister to our homeless population. We also host and manage a large teen summer program for rehabbing homes that draws people state-wide. We are like a church mall with a few anchor stores and numerous boutiques. Anchors would be Worship, Missions, Music and Discipleship Ministries. Ancillary boutiques would be Sunday School, Discipleship Groups (D-Groups), Children, Youth, Young Adults, Senior Adults, Stephen Ministry, Shepherd of Love visitation ministry, Methodist Women, Methodist Men, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Kairos Prison Ministry, Joseph’s Coat Ministry, Guy’s Night Out, GriefShare, Dementia Support, Youth Band, Handbells, Youth and Children’s Choirs, Sunday Morning Bus Ministry, as well as numerous Bible Studies. Between anchor store and boutique is a superb pre-school that ministers to 138 students, six weeks to Kindergarten. We want you to help us grow and expand all our ministries!

About the Senior Director of Discipleship

Responsible for the Discipleship Programs of the church from birth until the church triumphant.

The Senior Director of Discipleship will manage the discipleship programs for St. John’s. This includes supervising the Children’s and Youth Directors, and Nursery staff. They will also be responsible for selecting all Christian Education Curriculum as well as teaching and training teachers. Additionally, they will manage and implement spiritual growth programs, which include New Member Classes, Confirmation, Methodist Men and Women, all Sunday School Classes, and Discipleship (D-Groups).

The Senior Director of Discipleship responsibilities include:

• Direct, plan, implement, and supervise the overall Discipleship Ministries of the church.
• Responsible for the development and delivery of engaging lessons and activities tailored to the needs of youth for weekly events and retreats.
• Direct the Events for Children, Youth and Adults- location, transportation, teaching, and schedule.
• Responsible for recruiting, training, enabling, and resourcing teachers and other Discipleship leaders of St. John’s (Sunday School Teachers, Small Group Leaders, and other lay ministries).
• Organize and provide resources and curriculum for the St. John’s Discipleship Ministries including but not limited to: Children, Youth, and Adult Sunday School Teachers, and Adult Discipleship opportunities like Discipleship Groups (D-Groups), Bible Studies, Small groups, Family Ministry, and more.
• Lead and organize St. John’s Discipleship Pathway from new believers to mature disciples as to how to share their gifts with St. John’s and the world by focusing on developing current and new leaders of our church ministries.
• Supervise the Children’s Director and Youth Director.
• Assist with the coordination of space and resources with the Pre-School/Kindergarten and Children’s choirs for all weekday programs.
• Direct, develop and maintain a “feeder” program for 5th and 6th grade children, including Confirmation.
• Coordinate with the Church Council to develop and implement annual goals, budget, and ministries for all ages.
• Encourage members to participate in the ministries of St. John’s such as: Methodist Men and Women, Bible Studies, Safety, Children and Youth, Music, etc.
• Work with the Associate Minister for Missions, Evangelism, and Young Adult Ministries to meet the specific needs of Young Adults.
• Work with the Nurture Pastor and Senior Adult Council to support and facilitate Senior Adult ministries.
• Make sure that our facilities and procedures provide a “safe sanctuary” for our children and vulnerable adults, and that St John’s Safe Sanctuary Policy is current and adhered through all programs and ministries.
• Supervise the nursery staff to ensure quality preschool childcare is provided on Sunday morning and for church events that require such care.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Nurture personal spirituality through prayer, Bible Study, accountability of other believers, personal retreat, and worship.
• Continue learning and growing in the Christian faith and take advantage of opportunities to enhance the ministries at St John’s.
• Attend weekly staff meetings unless absence is approved by your supervisor.
• Maintain a positive culture and team spirit among the St. John’s staff by modeling the core values of the church and supporting the Senior Minister’s vision for the church.
• Other duties as assigned by the Senior Pastor.

What you bring

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the Senior Director of Discipleship:

Education and experience

• Undergrad required
• Masters degree in Christian Education or Theology strongly preferred
• 3+ Years of Ministry Experience
• Previous experience in a similar role preferred  

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Love of Discipleship
• Proven leadership abilities
• Knowledge and vision of Discipleship Assimilation
• Passion for working with all ages
• Strong organizational skills
• Computer proficient
• Proficient in planning and coordination
• Ability to coordinate and manage volunteers
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills

What it’s like to live in Aiken, SC 

Living in Aiken, SC, offers a warm and welcoming community, particularly for those who value faith and church life. With a number of historic churches, both large and small, Aiken provides a variety of opportunities for worship, fellowship, and service. The local churches play a central role in the community, hosting regular services, seasonal events, and outreach programs that bring people together. The peaceful, small-town atmosphere, paired with a strong sense of tradition and spirituality, makes Aiken a nurturing environment for families seeking a faith-centered lifestyle.