Associate Director of Congregational Relations

# Associate Director of Congregational Relations Hot Job Austin, TX 78705## Overview Education Level Graduate Degree

Travel Percentage Up to 50%## Description
** Associate Director of Congregational Relations
**** Department:
** The Center for the Arc of Ministry
*
* Reports To:

** Executive Director, The Center for the Arc of Ministry
** FLSA Status:
** Exempt--
- ** Position Summary
** The Associate Director of Congregational Relations serves as the primary liaison between The Center for the Arc of Ministry and congregations, denominational bodies, presbyteries, ministry organizations, and faith-based partners. The position is responsible for cultivating strategic partnerships that advance vocational discernment, leadership development, congregational engagement, experiential learning, and ministry placement opportunities for participants throughout the Arc of Ministry.

The Associate Director develops and sustains a diverse network of congregational partners that provide mentoring, internships, supervised ministry experiences, contextual education, service-learning opportunities, and post-graduate placement. The position collaborates closely with Seminary faculty, Admissions, Institutional Advancement, and Center staff to strengthen the Seminary's mission of preparing faithful leaders for the Church and the world while building sustainable partnerships that benefit congregations and future church leaders alike.
** Essential Duties and Responsibilities
**** Strategic Congregational Partnership Development
*** Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for congregational engagement across local, regional, and national church communities.
* Build and maintain relationships with pastors, sessions, church staff, denominational leaders, presbyteries, synods, and ecumenical organizations.
* Identify and recruit congregations interested in becoming official Arc of Ministry partners.
* Establish partnership agreements outlining expectations, opportunities, and mutual commitments.
* Develop long-term partnership plans that strengthen engagement between congregations and the Seminary.
* Expand the Seminary's network of churches participating in leadership development initiatives.
** Vocational Discernment & Ministry Formation
*** Collaborate with congregations to develop opportunities that encourage vocational discernment among youth, college students, young adults, and emerging ministry leaders.
* Coordinate church-based discernment experiences, leadership cohorts, retreats, and educational programming.
* Assist congregations in identifying individuals who demonstrate gifts for ministry and theological education.
** Internship, Mentorship & Field Education Coordination
*** Develop and coordinate supervised ministry placements within partner congregations.
* Recruit pastors, elders, chaplains, and ministry leaders to serve as mentors for cohort participants.
* Match participants with appropriate ministry sites based on vocational interests and developmental goals.
* Coordinate orientation and ongoing support for mentors and supervising pastors.
** Congregational Leadership Development
*** Design and coordinate leadership development initiatives that strengthen congregational capacity to support Center’s participants.
* Resource congregations to strengthen and develop opportunities to support Arc of Ministry participants.
* Identify emerging needs within congregations and collaborate with Seminary faculty to develop responsive programming related to Center’s goals.
* Promote lifelong learning opportunities available through Austin Seminary.
** Relationship Management & Community Engagement
*** Serve as the primary relationship manager for all congregational partners participating in the Center.
* Conduct regular visits to partner congregations throughout Texas and other strategic regions.
* Respond to partner needs while ensuring alignment with Seminary priorities.
** Communications & Storytelling
*** Develop communication strategies that strengthen engagement with congregational partners.
* Collect stories demonstrating the impact of the Arc of Ministry within churches and communities.
* Collaborate with the Seminary's Communications…