Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Inc. - Independent Living Chaplain presso Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, Inc.

 This position is responsible for providing pastoral care for VMRC residents with primary assignment to residents in Independent Living. In collaboration with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain, this position is responsible for the planning and leadership of worship services on Sunday mornings, Sunday vespers services, special services and other spiritual/emotional wellness programming needs offered on campus. 

Supports the Supportive Living Chaplain for Complete Living Care’s special services. Serves as a back up for other pastoral care team members. Helps discover spiritual ministry gifts of residents, staff and the wider community and plans for their use to enrich the spiritual life of VMRC. Serves as a team member of the Wellness and Enrichment service line and supports this team as needed. Engages regularly with Independent Living Leadership team to become aware of and respond to resident needs. 

•  Models a Christian lifestyle that expresses a dynamic personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 
• Theological education is equivalent to 3 years of seminary study. 
• Additional training in behavioral health/counseling and clinical pastoral education is preferred. 
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in pastoral care, counseling, prayer, teaching, preaching, worship leading, and administration is required. 
• A congregation/denomination affirms that they have these gifts (ordained, licensed, and/or qualified for either). 
• Demonstrates a passion for working with senior adults. 
• Must be self-motivated with a pleasant personality, creativity, good communication, and listening skills. 
• Must be able to work collaboratively with the Pastoral Care team and as a member of VMRC’s Wellness and Enrichment team.
• Must possess computer experience with the ability to use Word, Excel, and Outlook. 
• Must possess a command of the English language, both written and spoken. 
• Must be self-motivated and possess the ability to work independently with minimal supervision 

 A. Essential Functions

1. Provides pastoral care to VMRC residents in Independent Living.

a. Implements one-on-one visitations, in conjunction with other pastoral care staff.

b. Works closely with resident services managers (RSMs) to identify residents wanting and needing visitation.

c. Provides spiritual support to residents in times of transition, weakness, or approaching death and attends to the needs of family members.

d. Assists in visiting VMRC residents admitted to hospitals or Transitional Care.

e. Communicates with and supports the resident’s primary pastoral/congregation connection when applicable.

f. Focuses on visibility across campus and remains available for informal contacts with residents in various campus settings. 

g. Attends campus functions when appropriate.

2. Collaborates with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain to coordinate and lead the planning of Sunday morning worship services.

a. Actively participates by worship leading along with Pastoral Care Colleagues. Occasionally preaches and/or serves as song leader, as gifted.

b. Collaborates with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain to recruit other preachers for Sunday morning worship by maintaining a list of resource persons for prayer and Bible Study events.

c. Collaborates with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain to recruit other song leaders and special music for Sunday morning worship by maintaining a list of resource persons for worship and Bible Study events.

d. Evaluates each service and records evaluations.

3. Coordinates and leads the planning of Sunday vespers services.

a. Confirms all vesper programs and maintains a calendar of programs. Communicates programs to The Junction and K4.

b. Shares the staffing responsibilities of Sunday Vesper services with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain.

4. Meets with representatives from residential planning committees to review Bible studies and address concerns.

5. Shares the staffing responsibilities of Elder Exchange with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain.

6. Collaborates with the Administrative and Transitional Care Chaplain to coordinate and lead the planning of special all-campus services such as Faith Sharing and other special services.

7. Participates in memorial services as requested.

8. Contacts the family of deceased Independent Living residents with an expression of sympathy.

a. As requested, follows with planning of a VMRC memorial, and shares its leadership (setup, music, volunteers, dining, campus-wide publicity, etc.).

b. Attends family viewings, funerals, and/or memorials representing VMRC as appropriate.

9. Occasionally leads Bible across camps as needed.

10. Assists with the pastoral care needs of VMRC Supportive Living residents as needed.

11. Provides coordination and mentoring for Eastern Mennonite Seminary Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) interns as necessary.

12. Supervises Interns from Eastern Mennonite University as necessary.

13. Meets regularly with the Pastoral Care Team for mutual support, coordination, sharing opportunities, and issue resolution.

14. Provides the VP of Wellness and Enrichment with data reports on the work of the Pastoral Care Department.

15. Leads monthly Grief Support Group and other needed support groups in Independent Living.

16. Meets monthly with VP of Wellness and Enrichment.

17. Participates in Wellness and Enrichment meetings, typically twice/month.

B. Personal and Professional Development

1. Prepares an annual action plan with measurable and time-limited goals to assess performance.

2. Assumes responsibility for and participates in staff development (professional growth) and training to remain knowledgeable of market and industry trends, competitors, and best practices for non-profit CCRCs.

a. Participates in VMRC required education.

b. Attend professional educational events and association meetings related to areas of responsibility as determined by the supervisor and/or a minimum of one per year.

C. Leadership

1. Builds Effective Relationships

a. This leader makes people feel valued and essential to the organization's success.

b. This leader offers positive recognition for a job well done.

c. This leader seems to care for people on a personal level.

d. This leader encourages the growth and development of others.

e. This leader manages his or her own emotions well.

2. Grows and Develops the Team

a. This leader effectively motivates his / her team.

b. The team trusts this leader.

c. This leader proactively communicates essential information to the team.

d. This leader sets clear expectations for accomplishing organizational goals.

e. This leader provides feedback to others about their performance (team's accountability).

3. Performance

a. This leader sets performance goals for himself / herself and reaches them (accountability).

b. This leader is passionate and enthusiastic about his / her own work.

c. This leader demonstrates high personal energy levels (commitment, drive, initiative, tenacity, and persistence).

d. This leader is focused on the resident's well-being and quality of life.

e. This leader actively demonstrates the organization's mission, vision, and values.

4. Leads Change

a. This leader will take risks and experiment.

b. This leader is an agent of change in the organization.

c. This leader is open to solving old problems in new ways.

d. This leader welcomes diverse points of view.

e. This leader encourages creativity and innovation.

D. General

1. Complies with all VMRC and departmental policies & guidelines conscientiously.

2. Actively engages residents in a meaningful, positive, and compassionate manner while ensuring an environment of resident-centered respect and appreciation.

3. Maintains confidentiality of all resident care and protected health information—reports known or suspected incidents of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information to a supervisor or designee.

4. Handles responsibility and maintains a positive, professional, and collaborative working relationship with residents, families, administration, peers, and co-workers.

5. Uses correct body mechanics to prevent injury to self, residents, and other staff.

6. Assumes responsibility for and actively participates in staff development (professional growth) and continuing education to keep skills and required certification(s) up-to-date.

7. Demonstrates computer skills necessary to complete job tasks/responsibilities.

8. Attends all required in-services and department staff meetings.

9. Follows emergency and evacuation procedures.

10. Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

 A. Physical Demands

An employee must meet the physical demands described here to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear normal and soft tones. This position is active and requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, sitting, crouching, grasping, and reaching above the head. The employee must occasionally lift or move objects weighing 25 pounds and push/pull up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Required to work extended periods of time at a video display terminal.

Service line expectations define emergency requirements and may differ based on the nature of the emergency.

B. Work Environment

The typical work environment is inside; however, occasionally, outside work will be required, which could result in marked temperature changes. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to dust, fumes, odors, and airborne particles in a nursing care setting, with limited exposure to biological and chemical hazards and mechanical equipment.

C. Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This position operates in an office setting, in resident apartments, and in worship venues. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

D. Supervisor Responsibility

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities or the authority to determine who can access confidential information. However, it does have leadership responsibilities for pastoral care oversight.

E. Access to Confidential Information

This position has access to limited patient/resident medical records and no access to staff personnel records.