Director for Evangelical Mission, Southeastern Iowa Synod

Job Type Full-time, Contract Description

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.

We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries : The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position

This position represents the ELCA through the Christian Community and Leadership Area in the Southeastern Iowa Synod and is responsible for the 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 facilitate the education of synod staff and others in the synod through the formation and coordination of strategies designed to help congregations engage so that more people know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice, and love.

The person in this position is expected to fully participate in the life and ministry of the synod on the synod staff with synod initiatives and is responsible for implementing and building upon ELCA commitments to ethnic-specific communities, people with disabilities, 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 coterminous with the synod bishop and supervised jointly by both the Bishop of the Synod and CCL staff.

Other assignments of responsibility will be made by the Synod Bishop and Director, DEM Support. The position will be based in the Southeastern Iowa Synod and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA.

This position is full-time, term-contract, hybrid / location specific, churchwide staff and is expected live in the geographic territory of the synod.

Candidates for this remote position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. Responsible for the formation and coordination of at least one synod team that organizes the vitality of existing congregations and new mission development in the synod (including area ministry strategies, congregational mission plans, and congregational vitality.)

2. Responsible for the administration of the portfolio of supported ministries including the process of application and evaluation of grants through the ELCA Grantmaker (EGM) System.

Provides supervision, monitors development and evaluates progress of funded ministries.

3. Responsible for identifying, recruiting and training leaders for the work of the church including those who can serve as mission developers and rostered ministers.

4. Responsible for establishing short- and long-term priorities and sharing learnings with the synod and across the ELCA.

Provides a visible witness to the interdependent nature of the church and communicates our shared mission and vision.

5. Responsible for leadership (up to ¼ time) in one of the following areas depending on the gifts and passions of the candidate : evangelism, mission support / stewardship, youth and young adults, lay leadership development, racial justice and DEIA for the Southeastern Iowa Synod.

6. Other duties as assigned.

Synod Information

The of the ELCA is a network of congregations and ministry partners who are called to share God’s love in Jesus Christ. Together we are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ, walk together with the people of our congregations and communities and equip, accompany and celebrate the unique ways the Spirit is leading.

The Southeastern Iowa Synod is comprised of 135 congregations in 38 counties in the southeastern part of the state. The synod is home to several of Iowa’s population centers, including the Des Moines metro, Ames, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Iowa City, as well as small cities such as Marshalltown, Clinton, Muscatine, Ottumwa, and Burlington as well as many small town / rural communities such as Andover, Bouton and Malcom.

Here is a glimpse of our priorities in 2023 :

The Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) will be an integral member of the Office of the Bishop team and will share in shaping and carrying out our synod’s ministry and mission.

We think of our work as sharing the Good News of God through Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Gospel, accompanying, and equipping congregations / ministries, rostered ministers, lay leaders, partners, and celebrating the Spirit’s movement through individuals, congregations, ministries, the synod, the church, and the world.

The Office of the Bishop in the Southeastern Iowa Synod works in a hybrid model. We meet via Zoom weekly, in person monthly, and the DEM will tend to their work schedule from their home office or from the synod office, via Zoom, and in congregations / ministry settings throughout the synod.

There will be moderate travel with weekend and evening work required.

The DEM will join a team that is compassionate, courageous, and collaborative together and with our lay and rostered ministers, congregations, synod authorized ministries, specialized ministries, ministry partners and ecumenical partners in sharing the Good News of God through Jesus Christ.

Requirements

1. 5+ years of experience effectively leading an effort that helped bring people to faith. Grounding in Christian faith and familiarity with Lutheran theology, evangelism, discipleship and the theories and practice of mission development that responds to God’s grace in Jesus Christ.

Appreciation for the mission, vision, values and goals of the ELCA.

2. Effective communicator in preaching, teaching, writing and evangelical outreach.

3. 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.

4. Experience using Microsoft Office suite of applications, web-based communication platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.

Ability to learn new software and systems.

5. Ability to utilize metrics, congregational trend reports and demographic data in the process of the development of congregational vitality for new and existing congregations.

6. Proven effective time-management and administrative experience and ability to meet deadlines and attention to details.

7. Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills and the ability to work in partnership with peers, other CCL staff, synod and regional staff.

8. 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.

Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

9. 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, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone.

This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Position requires considerable. Participate in large churchwide sponsored meetings and events; many of these are now online.

Travel to in-person meetings and events within the synod will be necessary. There will be occasional overnight travel which will be largely domestic within Southeastern Iowa.

There could be the potential for air travel. A valid driver’s license is required.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, 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 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please to contact People Solutions (HR).

Salary

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Salary Description $72,841.60 - $109,241.60