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Lay Counselor Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

Counsel individuals who seek guidance * Oversee religious education programs, such as Sunday school ... Train lay leaders who conduct religious education programs * Promote attendance at religious ...

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Lay Counselor information

See Minnesota salary details

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How much do lay counselor jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for lay counselor in Minnesota is $14.67, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $11.78 and $16.49 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a lay counselor?

A Lay Counselor is a trained, non-professional individual who provides emotional and psychological support to people facing personal challenges. They typically offer active listening, encouragement, and basic guidance, often in religious, community, or volunteer-based settings. Unlike licensed therapists, Lay Counselors do not diagnose or treat mental health disorders but serve as a compassionate support system. Many receive training in counseling techniques, ethics, and crisis intervention. Their goal is to offer comfort, guidance, and referrals when necessary.

What are the typical day-to-day responsibilities of a lay counselor?

As a Lay Counselor, your daily responsibilities often include meeting with individuals or groups to provide emotional support, listening to concerns, and guiding people toward healthy coping strategies. You may be responsible for keeping confidential notes, collaborating with professional counselors or supervisors, and referring clients to specialized services if needed. Many Lay Counselors also participate in regular training sessions or peer review meetings to enhance their skills and ensure best practices. The setting can vary from community organizations and schools to faith-based groups, and you will frequently interact with people from diverse backgrounds seeking help with personal or situational challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the lay counselor position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lay Counselor, you need foundational knowledge of basic counseling techniques, active listening, and ethical guidelines, often supported by training programs or workshops rather than formal degrees. Familiarity with basic electronic recordkeeping systems and participation in ongoing supervision or mentorship are commonly expected. Outstanding candidates demonstrate compassion, non-judgmental communication, cultural sensitivity, and strong boundaries while supporting others. These skills are essential for providing effective emotional support, ensuring client well-being, and maintaining trust within community or organizational settings.

How to become a lay counselor?

To become a lay counselor, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by relevant training or certification in counseling or mental health support. Many roles require strong communication skills, empathy, and sometimes a background in social work or psychology, with some positions offering on-the-job training or supervised experience.

What job categories do people searching Lay Counselor jobs in Minnesota look for?

The top searched job categories for Lay Counselor jobs in Minnesota are:

Infographic showing various Lay Counselor job openings in Minnesota as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 3% Contract, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 93% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $30,517 per year, or $14.7 per hour.

Groups and Engagement Pastor

Westwood Community Church

Excelsior, MN • On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 hours ago


Job description

Classification: Full-Time, Exempt
Ministry Area: Adult Ministries
Location: Chanhassen
Reports to: Executive Pastor of Ministries
Supervises: Engagement Ministry staff and volunteers, as assigned
Westwood's Way of Life:
Be and love like Jesus
Westwood's Purpose and Mission:
To know God and share Jesus through loving others here, near, and far
Role:
The Groups and Engagement Pastor provides pastoral and strategic leadership to help adults move from attendance to belonging, from belonging to discipleship, and from discipleship to mission. This role exists to connect people into small groups, discipleship environments, serving opportunities, and relational pathways where they can be known, cared for, challenged, and formed in the way of Jesus.
This is a key pastoral role at Westwood. The Groups and Engagement Pastor champions small groups as a primary environment for adult discipleship, care, and community. This person helps ensure that no one falls through the cracks, that leaders are equipped and supported, and that Westwood continues to become a church where people are known, connected, and invited to be and love like Jesus.
Responsibilities:
• Serve as a Pastor at-large of Westwood Community Church, participating in staff meetings, retreats, all-church functions, pastoral care and counsel, teaching, officiating church ordinances, weddings, and funerals as assigned, and serving on a pastor-on-call rotation.
• Lead, develop, and manage Westwood's Engagement Ministry, with primary emphasis on small groups as a central environment for adult discipleship, care, and belonging.
• Build and strengthen a small group culture where people are invited into biblical community, spiritual formation, mutual care, and missional living.
• Recruit, equip, coach, and care for small group leaders, coaches, and other key lay leaders.
• Develop systems for launching new groups, strengthening existing groups, identifying new leaders, and multiplying healthy discipleship environments.
• Provide pastoral oversight and strategic alignment for men's and women's ministry, with an emphasis on connecting these ministries to ongoing small group engagement and discipleship.
• Provide strategic development, implementation, and oversight for Westwood's adult discipleship pathway.
• Design and lead large-funnel engagement experiences that help people move from worship attendance or initial connection into deeper community, discipleship, serving, and mission.
• Partner with campus pastors and ministry leaders to create clear next steps for new attenders, regular attenders, members, and those seeking greater connection.
• Develop systems that help identify, follow up with, and care for people who are new, disconnected, spiritually seeking, or in need of pastoral connection.
• Use data, stories, pastoral insight, and ministry feedback to evaluate engagement trends, group health, leader needs, and gaps in connection.
• Ensure ministry areas are using lay leaders who are trained in Volunteer Development and aligned with Westwood's Leadership Pathway.
• Assist in the development of the annual ministry plan through objectives, budgets, and measurable ministry goals.
• Collaborate with campus pastors as the central voice for groups and engagement ministry.
• Participate with ministry peers in implementing Westwood's mission, vision, and strategy.
• Serve on leadership teams, work groups, and carry out other responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor or Lead Pastor.
• Align to and live out the Westwood Staff Values:
o Head High
o Heart Soft
o Arms Linked
o Feet Forward
Relationships:
• Reports to the Executive Pastor of Ministries.
• Supervises and collaborates with ministry area staff, as assigned.
• Oversees ministry area volunteers and lay leaders.
• Works closely with campus pastors, adult ministry leaders, care ministry leaders, connections teams, and other pastor/director staff.
• Interacts regularly with Westwood staff, congregation members, small group leaders, volunteers, new attenders, and ministry participants.
Requirements
• Someone who lives a life that honors God in heart, actions, and relationships, with the goal of becoming more like Jesus
• Bachelor's degree required. Seminary degree preferred, in process, or equivalent theological training and ministry experience.
• Minimum three years of direct ministry leadership experience required; multisite church experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to pastor, shepherd, counsel, and care for people with wisdom, maturity, and grace.
• Ability to teach and preach the Word of God effectively.
• Demonstrated passion for discipleship, biblical community, leadership development, and helping people take next steps in following Jesus.
• Demonstrated results in building, leading, and multiplying small groups or adult discipleship environments.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement ministry systems, pathways, and scalable engagement strategies.
• Strong relational instincts and excellent interpersonal communication skills with a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to recruit, develop, supervise, coach, and care for employees, volunteers, and ministry leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a highly interdependent church ministry model.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to handle confidential information in a professional and pastoral manner.
• Endorse and support Westwood's Statement of Faith and traditional orthodox evangelical theology.
• Remain a member in good standing of Westwood Community Church
Salary Description
60-70k annually