Director for Evangelical Mission, South Carolina Synod

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America • Columbia, SC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) represents the ELCA’s Christian Community and Leadership unit in the South Carolina Synod. The position supports congregational vitality by developing tools and strategies that help congregations engage their communities, nurture relationships with God and one another, and share the gospel. The DEM works with churchwide, synod, and congregational leaders and helps resource the synod’s mission strategy, with emphasis on congregational vitality, evangelism, and leadership. The role also advances ELCA commitments to ministry among diverse cultures and communities, people with disabilities, young adults, and people and communities experiencing poverty.

The DEM participates fully in the life and ministry of the synod and serves as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA. The position is jointly supervised by the Bishop of the Synod and Christian Community and Leadership staff, with other assignments made by the Synod Bishop and Senior Director, DEM Relationships. It is coterminous with the synod bishop and will end August 31, 2032.

This is a full-time, term-contract, in-person, exempt position based in the South Carolina Synod. The employee must live within the synod’s geographic territory, work in the synod office four days per week, and visit congregations on at least three Sundays per month. The role requires considerable domestic travel, up to 25% of the time. Candidates must reside in the United States or the District of Columbia and be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Requirements

• At least five 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 theories and practices of mission development rooted in God’s grace in Jesus Christ.
• Effective communication skills in preaching, teaching, writing, and evangelical outreach.
• Ability to work with leaders in agile, adaptive innovation and facilitate group processes; knowledge of, experience with, or willingness to learn and use the ELCA Coaching Ministry to grow leaders and build tables.
• Ability to use metrics, congregational trend reports, and demographic data to develop vitality in new and existing congregations.
• Effective time-management and administrative experience, ability to meet deadlines, and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and communication skills, and ability to partner with peers, other Christian Community and Leadership staff, and synod and regional staff.
• Demonstrated competency among communities of color and with people and communities experiencing poverty; ability to relate and communicate well in diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic situations; commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
• Active participation in a Christian congregation and God’s mission.
• Appreciation for the ELCA’s vision, values, and purpose.
• Computer knowledge sufficient to operate a Windows computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions; ability to use software applications, learn new software and systems, follow processes, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Must reside within the geographic territory of the South Carolina Synod and be in the synod office four days a week, with congregational visits on at least three Sundays a month.
• Must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Rostered minister of word and sacrament or rostered minister of word and service.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Form and coordinate at least one synod team focused on the vitality of existing congregations and new mission development, including area ministry strategies, congregational mission plans, and congregational vitality.
• Administer the portfolio of supported ministries, including applications and grant evaluations through the ELCA Grantmaker system; supervise funded ministries, monitor their development, and evaluate progress.
• Identify, recruit, and train leaders for church work, including mission developers and rostered ministers.
• Establish short- and long-term priorities and share learnings with the synod and across the ELCA; provide a visible witness to the church’s interdependent nature and communicate its shared mission and vision.
• Work with the Director of Stewardship and Mission Support to help congregations practice faithful stewardship and ministry.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-paid health premiums for employees.
• Health and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• Health savings account with an employer contribution.
• Life insurance.
• Substantial employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan; no match required.
• Generous paid time off policy.
• 17 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed