Director for Evangelical Mission, Eastern North Dakota Synod

Director For Evangelical Mission

Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the Christian Community and Leadership unit (CCL) helps the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (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 Eastern North Dakota 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.

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 Eastern North Dakota 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 and will end August 31, 2032), 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 within and outside of the synod.

The eligibility of a candidate 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.

Responsibilities include:

• 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.)
• 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.
• Responsible for identifying, recruiting and training leaders for the work of the church including those who can serve as mission developers and rostered ministers.
• 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.
• Responsible for mission support and stewardship (up to ¼ time).
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements include:

• 5+ years of experience effectively leading an effort that helped bring people…