Field Organizer – Lilly Pathways Initiative (Temporary)

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago•Chicago, IL

17h•$72,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lilly Pathways Initiative is a three-year grant designed to support the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) in developing new models of theological education that are rooted in listening, responsive to the evolving needs of the public church, and accessible to diverse communities of ministry leaders. Through this initiative, LSTC is building an integrated system that connects community engagement, research, discernment, and program development to create formation pathways that are grounded in real-world ministry contexts. Central to this work is a commitment to beginning with listening—engaging ministry leaders and communities to understand their experiences, challenges, and opportunities—before designing programs or resources. Insights gathered through this process inform the development of leadership formation pathways, including certificate programs, cohort-based learning experiences, and digital resources. The Field Organizer position, funded through this grant, is essential to this model and serves as the primary bridge between the seminary and the communities it seeks to engage.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Demonstrated experience in ministry, community organizing, or faith-based leadership
Strong relational and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across diverse contexts
Experience facilitating conversations, focus groups, or community gatherings
Ability to synthesize qualitative insights into clear, actionable themes
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Willingness to travel regularly – up to 15%

Nice To Haves

Master of Divinity (MDiv) or related theological degree preferred
Familiarity with ELCA or mainline Protestant contexts
Experience working across cultural, racial, and socioeconomic differences
Experience with digital engagement tools, research methods, or data collection platforms
Background in leadership development or theological education

Responsibilities

Cultivate relationships with ministry leaders, congregations, and community partners
Facilitate listening sessions, interviews, and community conversations
Identify emerging leadership challenges, spiritual practices, and formation needs
Gather and document qualitative insights to inform program development
Encourage participation and community building through the Faithia digital community spaces
Design and facilitate listening sessions, interviews, and focus groups with ministry leaders and community members
Gather qualitative and quantitative insights on leadership formation needs, spiritual practices, and community challenges
Document and synthesize findings from field engagement in clear, actionable formats
Utilize digital tools (e.g., Faithia platform, surveys, transcription tools) to support data collection and analysis
Collaborate with the Strategic Alliance Coordinator to interpret field data and identify key themes and opportunities
Contribute to the development of insight reports that inform program design and institutional strategy
Bring forward emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities in theological education and ministry practice
Participate in discernment processes within the Public Church Hub
Partner with faculty, instructional designers, and project teams to ensure that new programs and resources reflect field insights
Provide contextual feedback on curriculum design, delivery models, and learner experience
Support pilot programs and user testing by identifying participants and gathering feedback
Maintain ongoing relationships with communities engaged in the design process
Support evaluation efforts by collecting feedback on launched programs and initiatives
Help close the loop between community input and institutional response
Meet regularly with the SAM Development Program Coordinator to align on recruitment, onboarding, and participant progress
Support the training and onboarding of cohort facilitators
Meet monthly with cohort facilitators to review cohort progress, identify challenges or gaps in engagement, ensure alignment with program goals and learner experience, and monitor cohort health and ensure participants remain on track