Director for Evangelical Mission, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod chez Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Description

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 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 Unit (CCL) 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 deploy the leadership, both lay and rostered, that the church needs to fulfill its purpose of spreading the gospel and building the church. 

The Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) represents the ELCA through the Christian Community and Leadership Unit (CCL) in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and is responsible for the development of tools to support congregational vitality, which we define as, “Communities of Jesus that nurture new life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world.” The position also reflects the purposes, principles and commitments of the synod, CCL and the ELCA as a whole. 

The (DEM) will collaborate and coordinate with Churchwide, synod and congregational leaders to develop strategies designed to help congregations engage their communities 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 ministries among diverse cultures and communities, people with disabilities, and the young-adult population, as well as people and communities experiencing poverty. The DEM participates in resourcing the synod mission strategy with an emphasis on congregational vitality, evangelism, and leadership. 

About the synod

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod has 143 congregations in ten counties around the city of Pittsburgh. The famed “Three Rivers” that converge in Pittsburgh (Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio) are a reflection of the experience of this region, shaping both rural and urban communities for many hundreds of years. As industries dependent on the rivers grew over the last two centuries, small and large towns grew up around those industries.

The synod is one of the few that is completely included in what the U.S. government has defined as Appalachia. Although most residents would not even realize that they are identified as Appalachian or use that term in self-description, Appalachian values are a part of the “DNA” of the culture. Among them are strong ties to place, distrust of outside management, eager patriotism, sports team loyalties and a preference for tradition over innovation.  

There are ELCA congregations in many of these towns.  Together with their communities, these congregations have experienced the effect of the changes of the last 60 years in the Pittsburgh area as the steel industry has waned from being the driving force of employment. However, in the last 20 years, Pittsburgh has reinvented itself as a center for medical and technology innovation, and a younger and more diverse population has moved in. This has created a whole new mix of mission opportunities as synod congregations wrestle with how to reach out into their neighborhoods with renewed vision and vigor, especially since many of our congregations’ leaders are seniors with long-time roots in the area and traditional Lutheran approaches to evangelical outreach. More about the synod work can be found at www.swpasynod.org 

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 Senior Director, DEM Relationships. The position will be based in the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA. 

This position is full-time, term-contract, coterminous with the synod bishop, whose term ends 8.31.2031, and exempt position. The position has responsibilities that require them to live in the geographic territory of the synod and to be in the synod office at least weekly for staff meetings and possibly more days when meetings and other events are happening that this position supports.

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. 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. Work to implement and engage the 4 SWPA synod initiatives as a part of the synod staff. In particular: Work to help congregation leaders see how they are critical to their congregation’s mission, help them assess and understand their life cycle stage and faithfully navigate changes, engage ministries that help the laity live out their vocations in the world. https://www.swpasynod.org/mission
6. Support, encourage and train congregations in the areas of stewardship, and mission support as a way understand connection with the synod, churchwide organization and larger church (up to ¼ of their time).
7. Engage with synod congregations 2-3 Sundays a month to preach (or lead worship in other ways), congregational meetings, or presentations.
8. Other duties as assigned.

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. 
2. An ELCA, or an ELCA full-communion partner, minister of word or sacrament or word and service preferred.
3. Effective communicator in preaching, teaching, writing and evangelical outreach.  
4. 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. 
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 and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism. 
9. Active participation in a Christian congregation and God’s mission.
10. Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA
11. Experience using Microsoft Office suite of applications, web-based communication platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc.). Ability to learn new software and systems.  

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

Travel

Position requires considerable overnight and domestic travel, primarily by car, but also occasionally by plane. A valid driver’s license is preferred.

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 complete this form to contact Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.