Discipleship Director

Cottage Grove Discipleship Director/Pastor

The Five C Framework:

• Calling
  
  
  
  • A clear sense of conviction to serve our people, place and purpose, as confirmed by others.
    Can be discerned as one of multiple kinds of calling, but in any case is reflected not only in duty but also in desire.
  
  
  
  


• Character
  
  
  
  • Discernment of God's qualification of their character through evidence of the activity of the gospel in their life in the areas of deacon or elder qualifications from 1 Timothy 3. Dictates credibility as a leader.
  
  
  
  


• Chemistry
  
  
  
  • Relational and cultural compatibility with a diversity of people who share the culture and shared values of the staff team and family at Cottage Grove. An equal ‘yoking' of philosophy, values, and principles as well as a sense of how it makes others feel when they need to work with you.
  
  
  
  


• Competency
  
  
  
  • A matching of current demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the tasks and responsibilities of the role.
  
  
  
  


• Capacity
  
  
  
  • Capacity is reflected in two ways. One is in current capability, which includes having the degree of margin, emotional endurance, and spiritual maturity that are appropriate for the normal responsibilities of the role, considering scope, weight, and reps of the burden carried. The other is as a capacity for growth, or the level of potential future ability which considers intelligence, aptitude for learning, initiative, and demonstrated pattern of growth.
  
  
  
  

This framework serves as the criteria in how we evaluate our team members. As a staff team we value acceptability to these traits and expect each staff member will demonstrate continual growth in all of these areas.

Direct Supervisor: Ikki Soma, Lead Pastor
Status: Full-time, exempt (40+ hours/week, Sunday–Thursday)
Team Membership: Staff elders team and elder team

Job Summary   

The Discipleship Director/Pastor provides leadership and oversight for the function of discipleship at Cottage Grove Church. This includes preparing and implementing a discipleship pathway with clear next steps, overseeing connection groups, developing and equipping connection group leaders, overseeing family ministry, and working with other leaders and members to make disciples of all nations. 

This role requires a leader of high character and humility—someone whose character outpaces their gifting—who can think strategically, implement effectively, and create organizational health that strengthens our ministry for years to come.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Development
  
  
  
  • Serve as a member of the staff elder team, contributing to the overall direction, health, and strategy of the church.
    
  
  
  • Manage, develop, and support staff/volunteers in discipleship.
  
  
  • Champion organizational culture marked by humility, excellence, and servant-leadership.
  
  
  • Advance key initiatives from the staff elder team by clarifying action steps, assigning responsibilities, and ensuring progress.
  
  
  
  


• Discipleship
  
  
  
  • Oversee the discipleship pathway and help people take their next steps in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
  
  
  • Oversee all the steps on the pathway, including new members class, equipping classes, connection groups, and the leadership pipeline.
  
  
  • Strategic follow up with all visitors, connecting them with ministries and leaders within the church.
  
  
  
  


• Connection Groups
  
  
  
  • Shepherd, equip, and hold accountable the connection group leaders.
  
  
  • Help connection group leaders identify apprentices.
  
  
  • Help members and attenders be a part of a connection group. Ensure that the connection groups reflect the diversity of the church. 
  
  
  
  


• Family ministries
  
  
  
  • Oversee the kids and youth ministries. 
  
  
  • Meet with the kids ministry and youth ministry staff regularly to help them make disciples of all nations. 
  
  
  • Help the kids ministry and youth ministry staff in recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers. 
  
  
  
  


• Leadership development
  
  
  
  • Assist the lead pastor and staff in developing deacons and elders. Assist in training and equipping interns and residents. 
  
  
  • Cultivate a healthy work environment that reflects the values of the church.
  
  
  • Ensure alignment of staff practices with legal requirements and best practices.
    
    
  
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Spiritual & Cultural
  
  
  
  • A growing, vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, with a life that exemplifies humility, integrity, and servant leadership.
  
  
  • Alignment with the vision, mission, and values of Cottage Grove Church.
  
  
  • Active participant in the life of the church (membership required if hired from outside).
  
  
  • Open to potential spiritual oversight responsibilities if aspiring to the role of elder.
  
  
  
  


• Leadership & Experience
  
  
  
  • Proven ability to manage people, projects, and systems with excellence.
  
  
  • Demonstrated ability to learn new fields quickly and champion initiatives across multiple domains.
  
  
  • Strategic thinker with a track record of implementation—able to make things happen and make things better.
  
  
  • Strong relational skills, able to build trust and collaborate across diverse teams.
  
  
  • Previous church or nonprofit leadership experience is preferred but not required. Marketplace leadership experience is welcome.
    
    
  
  
  
  

Success Indicators

• Everyone who calls Cottage Grove Church their home church has a clear next step of growing in their commitment to and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.


• We see Christ being formed in the saints - more of Christ and less of us.


• Unity and harmony under the rule of Christ - socioeconomic, ethnic, and cultural diversity united under the rule of Christ.


• A safe, loving, magnetic, Christ-exalting kids and youth ministry.


• Staff elder team initiatives advanced consistently toward implementation.


• Organizational health strengthened, positioning Cottage Grove Church for long-term ministry impact.