Director for Evangelical Mission, Central States Synod

About the ELCA

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states, Caribbean and U.S. Virgin Islands. With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice and love.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation.

About the Central States Synod (Website)

The Central States Synod has 160 congregations throughout Kansas and Missouri, as well as three campus ministry sites, and two outdoor ministries. The synod office is located in Kansas City, the central point of a large geographic center. This part-time position will be based in the St. Louis area and shared with a part-time DEM position in Kansas City. It has been effective to have two part-time DEMs, one who focuses primarily on congregations in Kansas and one who works with congregations in Missouri. It has also proven to be invaluable to have a synod staff person in the St. Louis area, which is a large metropolitan area with a number of congregations who work collaboratively together.

This position is a half-time, term-specified contract employee position to be located in the St. Louis, MO area.

This position represents the ELCA through the Christian Community and Leadership Area in the territory of the Central States Synod, and is responsible for engaging synodical leaders, structures and strategies in the formation and development of Congregational Vitality: "Communities of Jesus that nurture new life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world," and reflects the purposes, principles and commitments of the synod, CCL and the ELCA as a whole. This position will coordinate and staff the education of all in the synod through the formation and coordination of three synodical initiatives:

• Congregational vitality;
• Alignment with Future Church effort of helping the church reach new, young and more diverse people with the Gospel; and
• Mission support and/or stewardship as determined by your synod Bishop.

The person in this position is expected to fully participate in the life and ministry as the synod staff, synod initiatives, and is responsible for implementing and building upon ELCA commitments to ethnic-specific communities, communities of color, the young-adult population; as well as people and communities experiencing poverty. This person participates in resourcing the synod mission strategy with an emphasis on congregational vitality and leadership.

This position will be co-terminus with the synod bishop and supervised jointly by both the Bishop of the Central States Synod and CCL staff. Other assignments of responsibility will be made by the Synod Bishop and Director, CV Training & Development. The position will be based in the Central States Synod and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA.

• Responsible for the formation and coordination of a synod mission table that identifies potential fields and resources for the vitality of existing congregations and new mission development of evangelizing congregations in the synod, including area ministry strategies, congregational mission plans, and congregational vitality.
• Responsible for the development and coordination of synod mission strategy including building and developing key relationships with missional leaders who will form the synod mission strategy table. This position pays particular attention to the implementation of ELCA commitments to be in ministry among ethnic, multicultural and emergent communities; as well as ministry among people living in poverty.
• Responsible for the administration of partnership support for the synod’s Congregational Vitality portfolio if this is not done by other synod personnel.
• Responsible for identifying and recruiting of leaders for synod teams and to raise leaders who can also serve as mission developers and redevelopers.
• Responsible for being a public voice on behalf of the churchwide organization and synod including preaching, share learnings and other leadership opportunities. Provides a visible witness to the interdependent nature of the church and communicates our shared mission and vision.

• Effective grounding in Lutheran community life and theology, missional theology, the theories and practice of mission development that responds to God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
• Effective communicator in preaching, teaching, writing and evangelical outreach.
• Demonstrated ability working with leaders in agile, adaptive innovation and facilitating group processes as well as knowledge, experience and/or willingness to learn, listen and utilize the ELCA Coaching Ministry in growing leaders and building tables.
• Extensive knowledge of the organizational structure of the ELCA and its synods and congregations.
• Ability to utilize metrics, congregational trend reports and demographic data in the process of the development of congregational vitality for new and existing congregations.
• Proven effective time-management and administrative experience and ability to meet deadlines and attention to details.
• Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills and the ability to work in partnership with peers, other CCL staff, synod and regional staff.
• Demonstrated competency among communities of color; and well as with people and communities experiencing poverty. Ability to relate and communicate well in diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic situations.
• Active participation in a Christian congregation and God’s mission.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use of hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Travel

Must be willing to travel frequently via automobile and air (approximately 25%). Travel within the synod can usually be accomplished within the same day. Overnight stay may be required. Valid driver’s license required.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), a Health Savings Account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 11 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.