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Directors, Religious Activities and Education

SOC 21-2021.00Job Zone 4 · Considerable Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers the full scope of religious education program direction within congregational and faith-based organizational settings, from entry-level program support through executive-level strategic leadership of education and ministry development.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Religious education curricula — review and apply under supervisor guidance when supporting established study courses within a congregation.
  2. Volunteer recruitment candidates — identify and compile initial lists using congregation directories and community outreach channels under director oversight.
  3. Class structures and scheduling formats — select from pre-approved options when assisting with entry-level religious education programming.
  4. Special events logistics — assist in scheduling camps, retreats, or seminars by coordinating room reservations and basic administrative details under supervision.
  5. Interpersonal concerns of congregants — listen actively and refer individuals to appropriate counseling or pastoral resources when initial needs are identified.
  6. Program participation goals — contribute supporting ideas during team planning meetings with ministry staff and experienced directors.
  7. Instructional materials — order and organize supplies, prepare handouts, and confirm speaker arrangements as directed by senior program staff.
  8. Electronic mail and calendar software — use to communicate event schedules and distribute educational resources to instructors and volunteers.
  9. Office suite and word processing tools — draft correspondence, program agendas, and basic instructional documents for review by supervisors.
  10. Theological and educational concepts — demonstrate foundational knowledge of philosophy and theology when supporting lesson delivery in guided classroom settings.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Religious education study courses — develop and facilitate with reduced oversight, adapting content to meet the learning needs of diverse congregation age groups.
  2. Volunteer recruitment and onboarding — coordinate outreach efforts, conduct initial interviews, and place volunteers in appropriate roles within established ministry programs.
  3. Curricula selection — evaluate and choose appropriate instructional materials and class structures for ongoing religious education programs aligned with congregation goals.
  4. Special events calendar — schedule and manage recurring events such as conferences, seminars, and retreats, handling logistical details with minimal director intervention.
  5. Individual counseling sessions — conduct structured support conversations addressing interpersonal, health, financial, or religious concerns within established pastoral care protocols.
  6. Program goals and participation strategies — collaborate regularly with ministry team members to refine objectives and develop targeted outreach to increase enrollment.
  7. Instructional staff — train new religious education teachers using standardized onboarding materials and provide routine performance feedback.
  8. Presentation and desktop publishing software — produce polished program materials, bulletins, and promotional content to support educational initiatives.
  9. Database and spreadsheet tools — maintain volunteer and participant records, track attendance trends, and generate summary reports for program review.
  10. Learning strategies — apply varied instructional approaches across different congregation demographics when facilitating workshops or small-group study sessions.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Comprehensive religious education programs — design, direct, and continuously improve multi-track study curricula that serve children, youth, and adult congregants across an entire program year.
  2. Volunteer workforce — autonomously recruit, screen, place, and retain a diverse pool of volunteer workers to sustain all ministry education functions.
  3. Curriculum evaluation and adaptation — independently assess and select instructional frameworks, integrating theological depth with contemporary pedagogical research for non-routine learner populations.
  4. Complex event portfolios — plan and execute multi-day conferences, retreat series, and large-scale seminars, managing budgets, vendors, travel, and contingency planning.
  5. Pastoral counseling — provide skilled, theologically informed counseling to individuals and families facing significant interpersonal, mental health, financial, or spiritual challenges.
  6. Strategic program planning — lead collaborative goal-setting sessions with ministry colleagues, synthesizing diverse perspectives into actionable education program objectives and measurable outcomes.
  7. Instructional staff supervision — mentor and evaluate a full team of religious education instructors, diagnosing performance gaps and designing targeted professional development interventions.
  8. Administrative systems — oversee end-to-end program implementation including materials procurement, speaker contracting, facility scheduling, and compliance with organizational policies.
  9. Web and media platforms — develop and manage web pages and multimedia content to promote religious education programs and extend community engagement beyond the physical campus.
  10. Systems analysis and problem solving — diagnose complex organizational or programmatic challenges within the education ministry and implement evidence-based solutions across multiple program areas.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Religious education vision and strategy — set the long-range direction for all congregational learning ministries, aligning programs with denominational theology, community demographics, and organizational mission.
  2. Volunteer and staff talent pipeline — establish organization-wide recruitment, development, and succession frameworks that ensure sustained leadership capacity across all education ministry roles.
  3. Curriculum governance — lead the institution-level review, adoption, and continual refinement of curricula standards, ensuring theological integrity and educational excellence across all age cohorts.
  4. Multi-site and regional event strategy — design and oversee large-scale conferences, leadership retreats, and inter-congregation educational summits that advance shared ministry priorities.
  5. Counseling and care culture — establish pastoral care policies and referral networks, and mentor ministry staff in delivering consistent, ethically grounded counseling support throughout the congregation.
  6. Cross-functional ministry leadership — convene and facilitate senior ministry leadership teams to forge consensus on education program goals, resource allocation, and organizational growth strategies.
  7. Professional development ecosystem — design and champion organization-wide training systems for religious education staff, integrating coaching, peer learning, and formal credentialing pathways.
  8. Organizational policy and administration — author and implement administrative policies governing program operations, risk management, budgeting, and vendor relationships across the education ministry.
  9. Public communications and thought leadership — represent the organization in denominational bodies, community partnerships, and media channels, advancing the congregation's educational mission externally.
  10. Institutional learning and innovation — lead the evaluation of emerging educational technologies, theological trends, and community needs, translating insights into transformative programmatic change at organizational scale.

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Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Adult Ministries Director · Campus Ministries Director · Campus Ministry Director · Children and Family Ministries Director · Children and Youth Ministries Director · Children's Director · Children's Ministries Coordinator · Children's Ministries Director · Children's Ministry Director · Christian Education Director · Church Supervisor · Family Ministries Director
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
SpeakingSocial PerceptivenessActive ListeningCritical ThinkingActive LearningReading ComprehensionInstructingService OrientationCoordinationLearning StrategiesJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingWritingMonitoringPersuasionSystems AnalysisTime ManagementNegotiationManagement of Personnel Resources
Knowledge domains
Philosophy and TheologyEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguagePsychologyTherapy and CounselingAdministration and ManagementPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and Media
Abilities
Written ComprehensionWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionSpeech ClarityOral ComprehensionSpeech RecognitionDeductive ReasoningProblem SensitivityInductive ReasoningFluency of Ideas
Work styles
IntegrityEmpathyDependabilitySinceritySocial OrientationCooperation
Technology
Graphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail softwareCalendar and scheduling softwareWeb page creation and editing softwareOffice suite softwareSpreadsheet softwarePresentation softwareDesktop publishing softwareWord processing software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
  2. Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
  3. Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
  4. Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
  5. Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
  6. Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
  7. Train and supervise religious education instructional staff.
  8. Implement program plans by ordering needed materials, scheduling speakers, reserving space, or handling other administrative details.
CIP education codes
30.250230.530139.020139.030139.040139.050239.059939.070139.070239.070339.070439.070539.070639.079951.150651.3201

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.