Urban Missionary: Network Developer

1429 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8K 1C2

The focus of the Network Director (ND) is to grow and strengthen the True City network by collaborating with Hamilton’s churches, laypeople, clergy, and charities. The ND will ensure that our mission drives all that we do or plan to do, and that all we do or plan to do supports our mission.

IN 2004 THREE CHURCHES CAME TOGETHER AROUND A DEEP DESIRE TO PURSUE KINGDOM INITIATIVES THAT WOULD WITNESS TO GOD’S LOVE FOR HAMILTON.

They shared a belief that we, the Church, are at our best when we respond to the Spirit’s invitation to join in the Jesus-way-of-life, pursuing justice, peace, compassion and relational holiness. In the Spring of that year we held the first True City conference as a way to share stories, worship, and learn together. By the end of that first year three more churches had joined in and the True City network was born.

Now there are fourteen congregations who are partnering with each other. Throughout our journey we have learned a great deal about the art and science of cultivating congregational collaboration in pursuit of collective mission and Church unity. We continue to gather yearly and celebrate the ways we see God at work in Hamilton and to tangibly live out scripture’s call to pursue the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

• True City is churches together for the good of the city. We recognize God’s calling for us to join Him in bringing God’s abundant life throughout our city. True City seeks to simultaneously catalyze mission at a congregational level, at a collaborative churches-together level, and as God’s people scattered across all sectors of Hamilton. Participation in this network is a tangible way we choose to operationalize God’s call to Church unity.
  
  We do all of this that it may be in Hamilton as it is in heaven.
• True City is not a denomination, nor does True City seek to diminish or supplant denominational commitments of any church within the network. It is not the Mission of True City to manage church health or doctrine, to direct churches in their discipleship, liturgical, or missional practices, to credential or discipline ministers, or to plant or close churches.

• Education: The ideal candidate has completed graduate-level training in theology, Community Development, Business Management, or a similar field.

Network Development:

• Maintain ongoing communication with local churches / pastors to offer support and facilitate opportunities for greater collaboration and partnership.
• Convene and resource church leaders who are discerning their own missional objectives; promote collaboration across the Network within specific arenas of mission.
• Make connections between leaders, congregations, and non-profits.
• As True City’s spokesperson, give presentations to churches, boards, etc., in order to increase partnership in the Network and reinforce the Gospel.
• With the Leadership Team, set yearly goals and key dates for True City’s operations.
• Oversee True City staff (e.g. Network Facilitator) and volunteers (e.g. Conference Planning Team) by keeping them and their activities mission-focused. Provide assistance when and how needed.
• Notify the Leadership Team of new opportunities / situations within the city / churches to which we should pay attention, and collaborate on a response.
• Liaise regularly with the Leadership Team, the Chair, and others as needed to support the Network's goals and agenda.

Network Administration:

• Do the administrative work needed to facilitate and oversee True City operations (e.g., e-mail, phone calls, social media, etc.).
• Create an annual budget with the Leadership Team; track and account for income and expenses; submit expense reports and ensure others are reimbursed when necessary, and share financial updates with the Leadership Team on a regular basis.
• Maintain True City’s relationship with GCF as liaison.
• Oversee fundraising initiatives; regularly communicate with donors, recruit new donors, and seek out new methods and sources of income (e.g. grants).
• Other duties as…