Community Reading Circles Assistant

Community Reading Circles Assistant

Part-Time Contract Position

Term: September–June

Time Commitment: Approximately 20 hours per month

Compensation: $3,000 total stipend (!$15/hour)

About The Narrative Project

The Narrative Project is an initiative of The Christian Century that equips people of faith to tell truthful, compelling stories for public life. Through its programs, The Narrative Project helps participants strengthen their skills as storytellers, listeners, and interpreters of the communities they serve.

Community Reading Circles bring people together for sustained conversation around selected readings from the magazine. The program is designed to support thoughtful reflection, deepen relationships, and help participants connect questions of faith, community, and public life.

Position Summary

The Community Reading Circles Assistant will serve as the primary point of contact for a network of individual reading circle facilitators. This person will be the relational face of the program, offering encouragement, guidance, and practical support throughout the program year. They will also be responsible for program monitoring and reporting.

The role is well suited for a divinity school student, recent graduate, or early-career ministry leader who is interested in developing their skills in facilitation, training, theological education, and program leadership. The ideal candidate will be passionate about The Christian Century’s mission and energized by the opportunity to help others lead meaningful conversations in their own communities.

The facilitator will work closely with The Narrative Project staff and will receive support in planning and leading quarterly virtual gatherings for the full facilitator cohort. The position may also include opportunities to contribute to the development of reading guides, discussion questions, reflection prompts, and other program content.

Time Commitment and Structure

The position requires approximately 20 hours per month from September through June.

All responsibilities may be completed remotely and on a flexible schedule. The facilitator should be available for periodic virtual meetings or calls with individual facilitators, quarterly cohort gatherings, and regular check-ins with The Narrative Project staff.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Community Reading Circle facilitators.
• Maintain regular communication with facilitators throughout the program year.
• Build supportive relationships with facilitators and help them navigate questions, challenges, and opportunities that arise in their Circles.
• Offer individualized coaching, encouragement, and practical guidance related to group facilitation.
• Support facilitators in strengthening their own leadership and facilitation practices.
• Help onboard and orient new facilitators to the program.
• Assist with facilitator training and the development of facilitation resources.
• Help plan and lead quarterly virtual gatherings for the facilitator cohort, with support from The Narrative Project staff.
• Create opportunities for facilitators to learn from one another, share what is working, and troubleshoot common challenges.
• Share program updates, resources, deadlines, and relevant information with facilitators.
• Gather feedback from facilitators and communicate emerging themes, needs, and concerns to The Narrative Project staff.
• Help track and report program participation and other engagement metrics.
• Complete light administrative work related to facilitator communication, and meeting coordination.
• Contribute, as opportunities arise, to the development of reading guides, discussion questions, reflection prompts, and other materials used by Community Reading Circles.

Qualifications

• The strongest candidates will bring a combination of facilitation experience, relational skill, and enthusiasm for The Christian Century and The Narrative Project. Preferred qualifications include:
• Current enrollment in a divinity school, theological school, or related graduate program, or comparable experience in ministry, religious leadership, or theological education.
• Experience facilitating small groups, discussion-based learning, adult education, or congregational conversations.
• Some experience training, mentoring, coaching, or supporting other facilitators, volunteers, or ministry leaders.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with people across a range of denominational, theological, and congregational contexts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage ongoing relationships with multiple facilitators.
• Dependability, responsiveness, and the ability to work independently within a collaborative staff structure.
• Interest in facilitation, theological education, curriculum development, community formation, or public-facing religious writing.
• Alignment with The Narrative Project’s mission and commitment to thoughtful, truthful, and compelling storytelling.

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every listed qualification and encourage applicants whose experience and interests closely align with the role to apply.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful and relational leader who enjoys helping others grow. They are comfortable guiding conversations, listening carefully, offering constructive support, and creating spaces where people can reflect honestly and learn from one another. This role offers the opportunity to develop practical experience in facilitator training, coaching, program leader ship, theological education, and content development while contributing to a mission-driven initiative focused on strengthening faith communities and public storytelling.