Director for Evangelical Mission, Southeastern Synod na 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 people reflecting the diversity of communities, 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 Southeastern 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 Southeastern Synod is made up of 150 congregations and new starts across Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  As one of 65 synods in the ELCA, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the communities that we serve.  Together we extend our ministry and our reach around the country and around the world.  

A synod is not just the synod office and its staff which is co-located with St. John's Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA.  The Southeastern Synod is everyone in all of our congregations.  We embrace what ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has said about who we are:  We are church.  We are Lutheran.  We are church together.  We are church for the sake of the world.

The Southeastern Synod's highest legislative body is its annual Synod Assembly.  Between assemblies it is governed by the Synod Council.  The synod is served by Bishop Kevin L. Strickland and a synod staff. Bishop Strickland was re-elected to his second term as bishop in May of 2025.

Beyond the work of these bodies and the synod staff, our ministry is carried out by numerous committees and task forces and in cooperation with our many ministry partners.  We are grateful for our ministry partnerships and for the countless volunteers who share their time and their resources.  We could not be church without deep relationships. 

Our shared ministry is funded through mission support (also referred to as benevolence).  Mission support is received in the synod office from our congregations.  As a partner in the ELCA, we share 43% of mission support receipts with the ELCA to fund ministries that we could never do alone.  Learn more about mission support here.  

As the symbol on our homepage indicates, we are proud to be a Reconciling in Christ Synod.  Learn more about what that means here.

We have worked diligently these past three years to build a strategic vision. Please read here: https://www.elca-ses.org/vision You can also read more about our synod at: www.elca-ses.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 Synod Name and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA. 

This position is a full-time, purchase of service position that is co-terminous with the synod bishop and will end in 2031); it is an in-person, 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 when not traveling in the synod. There is some opportunity to occasionally work from home.

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:

In partnership with another DEM who is already serving in the Southeastern synod, the DEM will be:

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 working with the synod’s vitality team, synod staff, and the bishop on the 2028 synod vision plan. 

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

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

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

7. 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. 

8. Active participation in a Christian congregation and God’s mission.

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

10. 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.