Assistant to Bishop Administration and Finance

Overview

The Southwest California Synod (Synod) is a regional body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), serving as the vital link between the national church and local ministry. Our reach spans five diverse counties:
Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Kern, where we support and lead a network of nearly 105 congregations. To ensure effective local support, our congregations are organized into eight distinct geographic conferences:
Central Coast, Channel Islands, Greater Long Beach, Los Angeles Metro, Foothills, San Gabriel Valley, South Bay, Twin Valleys.

With an annual operating budget of $1.9M and a professional staff of 12, the Synod supports our congregations as they serve their neighbors and grow in faith. We believe in putting people and relationships first, ensuring that our pastors and lay leaders have the tools they need to make a difference in their own communities.

The Southwest California Synod is a Reconciling in Christ (RIC) Synod, which means we publicly welcome and celebrate LGBTQIA+ people in all aspects of church life. We are also deeply committed to racial equity and anti-racism, working to ensure our communities are places of healing and justice. Whether through disaster relief, immigrant support, or leadership training, we are dedicated to being a faithful and joyful presence throughout Southern California.

The Synod is led by Bishop Brenda Bos and a dedicated Synod Council. Elected in 2021, Bishop Bos is the first woman to lead the Southwest California Synod and the first openly lesbian bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Before entering the ministry, she was a television producer at Warner Bros. studios, working on programs such as The George Lopez Show and The Golden Girls.

This unique professional background, combined with her history of advocating for unhoused persons and those living with addiction, informs her "person-centered" approach to leadership.

The Synod's culture is rooted in a shared heart for service and a "relationship-first" mindset. Staff shares a collective responsibility to be a supportive and faithful resource for our leaders and our community. We value collaboration and mission-driven impact, maintaining a work environment that is both professional and deeply connected to the diverse region we serve.

• Salary – $120,000 - $140,000 DOE
• Employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employee and eligible dependents. Vision insurance available at employee cost.
• Long-term disability and life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts and Employee Assistance Program
• Resources for mental health, fitness, wellness, and chronic condition management.
• PTO: 10 days paid vacation, 12 paid sick days (8 hours accrued each month), 10 paid holidays plus December 24 – January 1 at the Bishop’s discretion.

This is an in-person role with an office currently located at 1300 E Colorado Street, Glendale, CA, 91205.

The Assistant to the Bishop for Administration and Finance (ABAF) serves as the operational leader for the Southwest California Synod. Reporting directly to the Bishop and serving as a key partner to the Synod Council, the ABAF is responsible for the overall organizational health, financial stewardship, and administrative excellence of the Synod. This is a high-impact leadership role designed for a proactive, solution-focused professional who serves as a key thought partner to the Bishop.

The ABAF plays a vital role in supporting the development and implementation of organizational strategy, translating mission-critical goals into actionable, standardized workflows. Managing the professional staff and overseeing a $1.6M budget, the ABAF ensures that the Synod’s daily operations, including HR, technology, financial reporting, and governance compliance, are executed with precision and transparency.

• Strategy and Leadership: Serve as a trusted thought partner to the Bishop to support the strategic vision, while building trust with the staff and congregations.
• Operational Infrastructure: Establish standard operating policies and professionalize…