› SPC Parish Administrator

› SPC Parish Administrator

Posted: December 10, 2024 (until filled)

Type of Position: Salaried and part-time employee, 25 hours per week

Job Description (Read below or download a PDF by following this link)

❖ Overview and Position Summary:
Swarthmore Presbyterian Church (SPC), a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), is a vibrant and growing church community, with approximately 650 active members. SPC is seeking a new Parish Administrator, responsible for carrying out the administrative work of the church to support and advance the church’s mission. The Parish Administrator provides administrative support to the pastors, the work of the Session, and the congregation. Our ideal applicant is an excellent and effective writer, able to communicate to different intended audiences, and a good editor. The person is highly organized, detail-oriented, able to manage multiple responsibilities at one time, and able to manage projects according to deadlines. The person must have a passion for excellence as they support the ministry and mission of the church. Professionalism, warmth, an appreciative spirit, as well as discretion, are paramount in dealing with the staff of both the church and nursery school, church members, and the community. The work culture is highly collegial and supportive and requires a high degree of responsibility and commitment to the mission of the institution.

❖ Requirements and Skills:
Data management, strong communication, writing, and editing skills, high interpersonal skills, with the desire and ability to engage the congregation, skill in the use of technology, ability to learn quickly, nimbleness, resourcefulness, ability to juggle multiple tasks and to prioritize them. The ideal candidate would already have facility in using many of the following applications and would be able to learn with agility and resourcefulness any new programs and applications: Office 365 (Word, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, PowerPoint), SharePoint, One Drive, Windows 11, Servant Keeper, Mail Chimp, Google applications (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Sites), Adobe Acrobat, Signup Genius, YouTube Studio, Audio-Video and Livestream systems, Zoom, Podbean, QR Code Generator, and Windows Movie Maker.

❖ Reporting Relationship:
The Parish Administrator reports to the Pastor/Head of Staff. The person works closely with the church staff, the Session, the church’s committees, and the Nursery Day School staff.

❖ Responsibilities:

  • Administratively supports the work of the Session, which is the governing board of the church. Works with the Clerk in the monthly preparation of the Clerk’s report. Works with the Moderator (Pastor) to prepare monthly agenda. Compiles and stores the minutes of the Session and the Session committees’ minutes and distributes Session materials. Communicates with Session, as directed by the Pastor, and supports the technology set-up for Session meetings. The Parish Administrator also provides support to annual officer training, onboarding, and committee chairperson training.
  • Prepares Session’s annual statistics reports. Is responsible for the producing the annual report.
  • Keeps the staff and congregation informed about pertinent denominational business at the national and presbytery levels. Ensures that SPC is meeting its denominational administrative responsibilities to these bodies.
  • Provides administrative support to Congregational Care by attending weekly congregational care meetings, supporting Deacon’s flower ministry, working with Associate Pastor for Congregational Care to compose and produce weekly intercessory prayer email, and supporting the prayer ministry of weekly prayer letters and Wednesday Morning Prayers.
  • Provides administrative support for memorial services and serves as a liaison to the Marthas, who host the receptions after memorial services. Creates bulletins for memorial services. Produces announcements of members’ deaths, produces the Book of Saints, and updates church membership records.
  • Serves as the staff liaison to sextons, ushers, and AV Team for all worship services, ensuring that worship services, including the livestreaming of services, are executed with integrity.
  • Supports congregation-wide events. Serves as the staff liaison to the Parish Life Committee, including coordinating the seasonal schedule for kitchen organization by volunteers and oversight of supplies.
  • Serves as staff support to Membership Committee, writing introductions of new members for church communications, updating prospective member list, preparing welcome letters, administrating the monthly emailed invitation to Newcomers’ Gatherings. It also provides administrative support for baptisms.
  • Composes congregation-wide communications as directed by Head of Staff. Is responsible for specific annual and seasonal communications, such as the anniversary mailing and All Saints’ mailing. Composes occasional content for church communications that fall outside Worship & Music, Christian Formation, Outreach, and Stewardship. Prepares liturgist announcements for weekly worship services.
  • Maintains the church calendar and space reservations.
  • With discretion, maintains the church database, including member records. Maintains the financial stewardship mailing list, keeping member information up to date.
  • Maintains Member website.
  • Attends and supports weekly staff meetings and occasional staff events, such as staff celebrations.
  • Supports monthly Committee Night, by making room assignments, providing hybrid meeting options, and communicating pertinent announcements.
  • Other duties as assigned.

❖ Weekly Schedule:
25 hrs./week, including Monday, Thursday, Friday, 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (except for 2 Tuesdays/mth, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.), and Sundays, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

To Apply

To apply for this job, please email Phil Gocke at staffing@swarthmorepres.org.

Learn more about Swarthmore Presbyterian Church by clicking here.

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Upcoming Events

December 22, 2024
  • December 22, 20248:00 am - 9:00 am

    Early Worship (Loeffler Chapel)

    This 45-minute service allows worshippers to engage with scripture through guided discussion in lieu of a sermon. Communion is served on the 1st Sunday of each month.

  • December 22, 20249:30 am - 10:00 am

    Choir rehearsal (Sanctuary)

    Sunday morning preparation for worship.

  • December 22, 202410:15 am - 11:15 am

    Lord's Day Worship (Sanctuary and Livestream)

    SPC's Lord’s Day services embody a classic reformed worship tradition. The Word is proclaimed through liturgy, song, and preaching. Scriptures are generally read by lay liturgists. Music leadership is anchored by our choir. Our pastors share leadership and preaching responsibilities from week to week. Communion is offered on the 1st Sunday of each month.

    Services are livestreamed via YouTube beginning at 10:15 a.m. Sunday morning.

  • December 22, 202411:15 am - 12:00 pm

    Sunday Fellowship (Fellowship Hall)

    Please join us for beverages and snacks every Sunday following the 10:15 worship service.  Enjoy one another's company in Fellowship Hall and make a point of saying hello to someone you don't yet know!

  • December 22, 202411:30 am - 1:00 pm

    Pageant Rehearsal (Sanctuary)

    All who will be participating in the Christmas Eve pageant are invited to lunch at 11:30, followed by rehearsal in the Sanctuary from 12:00-1:00.
    Questions?  Contact pageant director, Rev. David Norse Thomas at david.norse.thomas@swarthmorepres.org.

  • December 22, 20244:30 pm - 5:15 pm

    Hosanna! Singers (Sunday School Wing)

    Our Hosanna! Singers gather to sing and move to music while growing in faith, love, and kindness!  They will share for worship in October and December.

    Who? K-2nd Grade 
    Where? "Pink Room" across from Godly Play room
    Led by Meghan Meloy Ness, Minister of Music

  • December 22, 20244:30 pm - 6:00 pm

    Youth Group (Fellowship Hall)


    Crafting & Chill Out with Coffee & Cocoa  

    Let’s chill. Bring a book, a favorite blanket / slippers, come in your PJ’s if you’d like. We will have fun coffees, teas, cocoa, snacks, plenty of games, and of course dinner! We will also be making candles for SPC’s Christmas Eve service and catching up.

December 24, 2024
  • December 24, 20244:00 pm - 5:00 pm

    Christmas Eve Pageant (Sanctuary)

    Come be in the presence of angels, shepherds, sheep, Magi, and the Holy Family. This year we’re excited to also welcome the Gospel writers Matthew, Luke, and John (Mark was too excited to write about Jesus’ ministry to write about his birth).  Each of them have their own take on the Incarnation, and they don’t always agree (was there a donkey? Was there no room in the guest room, or an Inn?!). Come learn about the Bible through humor, costumes, and awe. We will sing, pray, and share the light that has come among us.

    Please come early to ensure a good seat!

    Service will be livestreamed via YouTube beginning at 4:00 pm.

  • December 24, 20246:00 pm - 7:00 pm

    Choir rehearsal (Sanctuary)

    Christmas Eve choir rehearsal

  • December 24, 20247:00 pm - 8:00 pm

    Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols (Sanctuary)

    On Christmas Eve we proclaim Christ’s birth with scripture readings, story-telling hymns and carols, and candlelight. After the singing of Silent Night in candlelight, a benediction sends us forth to bring light where there is darkness.

    Service will be livestreamed via YouTube beginning at 7:00 pm. (Please note that the 10:00 pm service will not be livestreamed.)

  • December 24, 20248:00 pm - 10:00 pm

    Youth Group Reunion & Service Project Church Office

    High School Students!  Come gather with former Youth Group members who are home for the holidays!  Stay after the 7 PM Worship Service or come early before the 10 PM.  Along with catching up, we will be preparing snack packs for “Welcome Church,” a congregation of folks experiencing poverty/homelessness in Philadelphia, to be distributed on New Years Eve.

  • December 24, 20248:00 pm - 10:00 pm

    Youth Group Reunion & Service Project Church Office

    Come gather for a reunion, and to help make snack packs for Welcome Church, a congregation that worships on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with folks experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. We will catch up, enjoy some tasty food. 

    Meet in the church office after the 7:00 pm candlelight service.

  • December 24, 20249:00 pm - 10:00 pm

    Choir rehearsal (Sanctuary)

    Christmas Eve choir rehearsal

  • December 24, 202410:00 pm - 11:00 pm

    Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols (Sanctuary)

    On Christmas Eve we proclaim Christ’s birth with scripture readings, story-telling hymns and carols, and candlelight. After the singing of Silent Night in candlelight, a benediction sends us forth to bring light where there is darkness.

    Please note that this service will not be livestreamed.  Join us at 4:00 pm or 7:00 pm for livestreamed Christmas Eve services.

December 26, 2024
  • December 26, 20247:30 pm - 9:00 pm

    Chancel Choir Rehearsal (Fellowship Hall)

    Weekly rehearsal to prepare for music for offering in worship Sunday mornings.  New singers always welcome! 
    Led by Minister of Music, Meghan Meloy Ness.

  • December 26, 20248:00 pm - 9:30 pm

    AA (McCahan Hall)

    Swarthmore Presbyterian Church welcomes AA participants to weekly meetings in McCahan Hall. Entrance is via a door on the west end of the parking lot (across from the ABC House) under a covered walkway there.