General Board of Church and Society - General Secretary

The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) is actively searching for its next General Secretary to provide strategic leadership and guidance during a crucial time of transition and strengthen the agency’s education, outreach, and advocacy during the next phase of its development and growth. The General Secretary is elected by and accountable to the Board of Directors and collaborates closely with the Board President to achieve the organization’s strategic priorities and objectives.

The General Secretary’s primary responsibilities will include developing and directing organizational strategy and day-to-day oversight of the organization’s administrative, programmatic, and fiscal operations, ensuring that staff have the requisite resources to complete their assigned tasks. Additionally, the General Secretary will serve as the agency’s chief spokesperson and representative, championing the work of the agency to key stakeholders inside and outside of the denomination.

Because of the unique role that GBCS board members play in affirming the agency’s strategic direction, developing and reviewing church policies on social issues, and interpreting the organization’s mission and ministry to local congregations and annual conferences, the General Secretary is expected to spend focused time cultivating, engaging, and supporting board members to fulfill their roles.

This position has four direct reports which include the Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy General Secretary, the Assistant General Secretary for United Nations and International Affairs, the Executive Assistant, and the Director of Communications.

Priorities for the General Secretary

• Guide the organization through a time of transition, engaging in active consultations with board members, bishops, other agency heads, ecumenical partners, and other church leaders.
• Work with the Annual Conferences and others engaged in social justice advocacy work to communicate, advance, and advocate for the agency’s Priorities and the revised Social Principles.
• Build relationships and work alongside the President, Executive Committee, and existing board to manage the transition to the newly proposed board structure. Work with staff to orient a new, smaller board and realign board structures and committees.
• Represent the agency at General Secretaries’ meetings, the Connectional Table, the Council of Bishops, and other denominational meetings. Identify ways to work together to achieve shared goals. Be part of potential realignment discussions related to general agencies and resources to advocate for the continuation of a strong public witness.
• Partner with ecumenical, interfaith, and other nonprofit organizations that align with the work defined by the Social Principles. This includes speaking out on the Priorities and the Social Principles with the U.S. Congress and Administration, at the United Nations, and mobilizing and equipping members within the Connection for action locally, nationally, and internationally.
• Communicate with key donors and develop additional donors. Execute the fundraising plan and adjust this plan as necessary to ensure appropriate communication, engagement, and development of donors throughout the Connection.

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate is an active member of The United Methodist Church (UMC) with a passionate commitment to justice that is grounded in a profound understanding of John Wesley’s call to “social holiness” and the historic Methodist stance of providing a strong public witness. They must also bring a solid understanding of the Social Principles and the ways in which these Principles frame the General Board of Church and Society’s overall mission and ministry and find expression in the Five Priorities.

Because the successful candidate serves as a top denominational official, they must be knowledgeable about UM doctrine, history, and polity and demonstrate the capacity to navigate skillfully the complexities of general church structures and decision-making processes. They also should evince a nuanced understanding of the shifting landscape and intricate social dynamics within the UMC as the denomination moves through a period of transition towards a renewed understanding of its vital mission and witness.

Rooted in their ability to engage in complex theological, historical, and social analysis, the successful candidate brings a fresh perspective that seeks to elevate the church's commitment to combat racism, sexism, and all other forms of exclusion. Additionally, their track record of working with individuals from diverse backgrounds provides the skills and expertise to foster an inclusive and equitable work environment. Their high emotional intelligence enables them to connect authentically with diverse constituencies across the Church, adeptly bridging differences while steadfastly maintaining their prophetic stances.

The successful candidate embodies an entrepreneurial spirit and a visionary outlook. They are poised to help redefine church structures, embrace innovative ideas that inspire transformation and growth, and recruit more diverse and younger constituencies into the agency’s orbit. Their ability to provide a renewed organizational vision is matched only by their dedication to speaking to a wide array of audiences, ensuring their message resonates with congregants from all walks of life. This individual's distinctive blend of wisdom, analysis, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking culminates in a candidate who is primed to lead UMC into a future that is both dynamic and deeply rooted in its values.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements include any combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree or another advanced degree, and active membership in the United Methodist Church. Ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience, with at least five years of management or supervisory experience is required. Experience motivating, recruiting, developing, retaining, and mentoring a diverse team is also required. Demonstrated knowledge of the UMC and the Connection is also required.

Preferred qualifications include a master's or other advanced degree. Additional demonstration of the following is also preferred:

• Experience working with and partnering effectively with a board
• Leadership positions in the UMC (in either lay or clergy positions)
• Work in advocacy or justice organizations
• Persuasive communicator (public speaking and writing)
• Donor development
• Strategic leadership in a mission-driven organization
• Ability to be a transformational leader in a time of change

About the General Board of Church and Society

The General Board of Church and Society is dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.

The Board is called to seek the implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements on Christian social concerns approved by the General Conference – to fulfill the mandate of relating the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Church, communities, and the world in which they live; and showing that reconciliation involves personal, social, and civic righteousness [See ¶1002, 2016 United Methodist Book of Discipline].

You can find more information on the Social Principles on the website here.

Drawing on the Social Principles and other churchwide stances and statements, GBCS has adopted Priorities to guide its programmatic work. The priorities are best understood in the context of and in relation to the organization’s overarching focus on racial justice:

• Climate – Grounded in its commitment to environmental justice, GBCS supports efforts to address the root causes and impacts of climate change, increase access to clean water, promote food justice, and adopt more sustainable policies and practices.
• Health – GBCS affirms the longtime UM position that healthcare is a basic human right and seeks to expand access to affordable, equitable, quality healthcare for all including special attention to racial disparities, women’s health, mental health, and addiction.
• Immigration and Global Migration – GBCS advocates for policies that reflect our faith’s call to welcome the migrant and uphold the dignity and inherent value of all persons regardless of their nationality or legal status.
• Peace – GBCS pursues policies that build lasting peace in communities and among nations. With the continued proliferation of weapons and scourge of gun violence, GBCS seeks to address the root causes of social and political conflicts and build a more just and equitable global community.
• Poverty – GBCS affirms the vision of a more just economic and social order, decries the exploitation of the poor, and advocates for living wages, the rights of workers, and budget and tax policies that address rather than institutionalize inequalities.

The General Board maintains headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York City.

Addressing more than 30 social issues on which The United Methodist Church has taken a stance, GBCS communicates with policymakers and other global leaders with the mission of transforming the world.

Below are some highlights of ways GBCS has recently supported United Methodists through educational and organizing efforts:

• Resourced and supported Annual Conference and Episcopal Area leaders, Peace with Justice Coordinators, GBCS chairs, ethnic caucuses, and national plans.
• Awarded grants totaling almost $400,000 to communities through the agency’s three granting streams.
• Supported educational experience for twenty interns including young adult persons of color and seminarians.
• Issued a leadership toolkit “Creating Change Together: A Toolkit for Faithful Civic Engagement,” a step-by-step guide for congregations and communities to advocate for peace and justice.
• Offered educational workshops on priority issue areas with United Women in Faith Assembly, the Annual Gathering of the Black Clergy Women of The United Methodist Church, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, and Ecumenical Advocacy Days allow for further engagement with United Methodists.

The United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church is a Christian denomination and worldwide movement rooted in the Wesleyan and Methodist traditions.

Its mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. The United Methodist Church is made up of 12 million members with Annual Conferences (a geographically designated episcopal area of local ministries and churches) across four continents in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and concordat and affiliated autonomous churches in South America.

The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 out of both the dissolution of the racially segregated Central Jurisdictions in the United States and the union of two previous bodies – The Methodist Church and The Evangelical United Brethren Church. Methodism and Wesleyan marks of social holiness, grace for all, and the love of Jesus Christ are central to the tradition. Foundational documents of the Church include the Book of Discipline (including the Articles of Religion and the Confession of Faith), the Book of Resolutions, and the Social Principles.

GBCS is the agency within the Church that educates, advocates, and connects in an effort to implement the Social Principles and other policy statements of The United Methodist Church. Continually advocating with policymakers, organizing the grassroots, and educating future leaders, GBCS works to live faithfully, seek justice, and pursue peace.

The General Board of GBCS is the proprietor of the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This structure is adjacent to the U.S. Capitol and the Supreme Court. As a public witness to justice and peace, the United Methodist Building offers an ecumenical and interfaith setting for rich dialogue and social action.

It houses the Washington offices of a number of ecumenical groups: the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, Lutheran Services of America, the National Council of Church in Christ, Church World Service, Islamic Society of North America and a host of others. It also houses offices of the United Methodist Council of Bishops and the United Methodist Commission on Religion and Race.

At the 2016 General Conference, the United Methodist Building became a Heritage Landmark of United Methodism – one of about 50 landmarks around the world.

GBCS is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the United Methodist Building and the culmination of a multi-quadrennia, global effort to revise the Social Principles.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected hiring range is $165,000 – $200,000, depending on qualifications, with an excellent benefits package.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled with a first review of applications beginning November 10, 2023.

The General Board of Church and Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages diversity and equity in all facets of its work. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected class.

Questions

Please direct questions to Catherine Tuck Parrish at ctuckparrish@raftelis.com and Alexa Worrell at aworrell@raftelis.com.

Download the Recruitment Brochure