Address
Form of workJob Type
Full-time
Description
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,700 worshipping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region (Puerto Rico and the 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.
Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) home area helps the ELCA reach and engage new, younger, and more diverse people, welcoming them into the Christian faith. To this end, we will activate and engage our core membership and work with the whole of the ELCA to recruit, develop and deploy the leadership, both lay and rostered, that the church needs to fulfill its purpose of spreading the gospel and building the church.
This position leads CCL to help the church engage new people. This happens by starting new ministries and through helping existing ministries develop the vitality needed to do the same. Leads a team that includes the Mission Developers and Congregational Vitality staff (ELCA Coaching, Community Organizing, Economic Diversity, Event Planning, etc.) and Directors of Evangelical Mission (DEMs).
This is a full-time, exempt, remote position . 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. Leads the CCL Congregational Vitality team (includes approximately 8 churchwide employees and co-supervises approximately 65 Directors for Evangelical Mission in partnership with the respective synods' bishops).
a. Leads regular meetings to manage processes and communicate them to the larger church.
b. Supervises staff who work in the core areas of new ministry training & development, congregational vitality, program and event design, new ministry efforts, economic diversity, and community organizing and coaching ministry and other related networks.
2. Leads New Ministry Training for Mission developers and related cohorts; and involves strategic visioning, planning, & budgeting.
3. Leads the DEM Team including their hiring, orientation and development, and supervision (in collaboration with synod bishops).
4. Convenes and coordinates staff, key teams, cohorts, and others on qualitative evaluation and OKRs identified. Identifies research needs and coordinates with Innovation and outside sources.
5. Creates and manages Congregational Vitality budget.
6. Serves on CCL Leadership Team and Senior Directors Team, attending regular meetings and taking on appropriate assignments related to team business.
7. Perform other duties/responsibilities as required.
Requirements
1. Bachelor's degree in a related field and 7+ years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience in the areas of administration, budgeting, financial management, leading a team, supervising and strategic planning.
2. Demonstrated relational, supervisory, organizational, and facilitative skills.
3. Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA. Significant knowledge of Lutheran theology and familiarity with the ecclesiology and structures of the ELCA.
4. Demonstrated experience effectively leading an effort that connected with new people; proven lived experience being engaged, lifting up and building relationships with a wide variety of people and leaders including those with lived experience in young adult, ethnic-specific, (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), LGBTQIA+ communities as well as people/communities experiencing poverty.
5. Working knowledge of evangelism, discipleship, and the church's efforts to reach new, young, and more diverse people.
6. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships of trust and mutual accountability; ability to work collaboratively within the churchwide organization and with synod bishops and directors for evangelical mission.
7. Ability to travel, work under pressure, problem solve, work independently and collaboratively, be flexible and creative.
8. Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate orally and in written communication.
9. Experience using Microsoft Office suite, budget software, various communication, and social media platforms.
Physical Effort
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use 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 functions.
Travel
Considerable travel. Position requires considerable overnight, domestic travel by plane and car. Valid driver's license required.
Salary
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Minimum: $80,121.
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 11 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.
