Executive Director, Christian Community and Leadership en Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

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

Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) unit helps the ELCA reach and engage new, younger, and more diverse people, welcoming them into the Christian faith. To this end, we will energize and engage our core membership and work with the whole of the ELCA to recruit, develop and send the leadership, both lay and rostered, that the church needs to fulfill its purpose of spreading the gospel and building the church.

The Executive Director of Christian Community and Leadership sets priorities and goals, hires senior leaders, and aligns budget accordingly. This person works with a core group of senior directors who provide a wide range of leadership for the denomination in areas such as candidacy, theological education, relationship with ELCA seminaries, colleges and universities, young adults ministries, campus ministries, children and youth, disabilities, discipleship, the ELCA Youth Gathering, deaf ministries, scholarships, Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, evangelism, new ministry starts, and the Directors for Evangelical Mission. The Executive Director of CCL will provide strong leadership and invest in people for the sake of the shared work, bringing out the best in them and creating a culture the works toward the common purpose of CCL.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, hybrid/Chicago-based position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office on a weekly basis. 

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. Candidates for this 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.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Provides leadership in the areas of Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) for the ELCA. CCL leads the collaboration of the ELCA’s effort to help the church engage new people and equips the church to form, sustain, and grow the faith of those who are in our existing congregations and ministries. Creates and sustains pipelines for leaders who will help the church connect with new, younger, and more diverse communities and supports existing leaders for the same. While most of the focus will be on the territory of the ELCA, leadership development will also involve international partnerships. CCL oversees the credentialing of rostered ministers.

2. Works closely with the Executive Director, Service and Justice, Executive Director, Innovation and Executive for Administration to ensure a collaborative approach to creating a 21st century church that is relevant and welcoming to new people, resulting in thriving and sustainable ministries

3. Collaborates across the organization to create an agile work environment that aligns its priorities with strategy and human and financial resources. Works with ELCA seminaries, colleges and universities, bishops, synods, congregations, and rostered ministers to accomplish the shared purpose. Is a member of the Administrative Team that works with the Presiding Bishop to set direction for the organization.

4. Drives performance and accountability through measurable impact.

5. Recruits, develops, and supports leaders to activate their best gifts for the work they do.

6. Serves as a member of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities board, World Hunger Steering Committee, Oak Grove Lutheran School Board, and other boards and committees as is appropriate.

7. Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

1. Senior Director, Operations

2. Senior Director, Discipleship and Inclusive Communities

3. Senior Director, Young Adult Communities 

4. Senior Director, Leadership 

5. Senior Director, DEM Relationships

6. Senior Director, New Ministry Development & Evangelism

7. Senior Director, ELCA Chaplaincy Corps 

8. Executive Assistant

9. Director, Misconduct Prevention

Requirements

1. 10+ years of extensive experience in leadership development and evangelism, including strategic planning, staff supervision and budget management; comprehensive knowledge of the Lutheran church, its history, theology, mission, polity, and structure.

2. Master’s Degree required.

3. Rostered in the ELCA.

4. Demonstrated ability to build trust and credibility, coach, guide, mentor and develop leaders.

5. Demonstrated leadership and experience with new congregations, vital and growing ministries, and the ability to relate well to the whole church.

6. Excellent interpersonal skills: the ability to attract and work collegially and collaboratively with a diverse population to present, motivate, communicate and engage effectively both verbally and in writing.

7. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.).

8. Experience with accounting software, enterprise systems

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

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

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 and being able to travel regularly.  Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Travel

Considerable travel – approximately 12 weeks (up to 25%). 

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 16 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact HR.

Salary 

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.