Program Director for Sumud: for Justice in Palestine and Israel

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America•Chicago, IL

11d•$64,480 - $96,720•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is within the Service and Justice unit of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Organization (CWO). The Service and Justice unit fosters and facilitates the church's engagement in service and promotes efforts to call and act for justice. This includes engaging in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries. Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel is an initiative of the ELCA that replaces the prior campaign known as Peace Not Walls. Sumud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness.” This work focuses on building ELCA engagement to support accompaniment, awareness-raising, and advocacy in relation to Palestine and Israel. The program director will lead the work of Sumud in engagement and awareness-raising and will collaborate with relevant ELCA colleagues on advocacy support. The work of Sumud continues to be grounded in the ELCA’s accompaniment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL). This is a full-time, regular, exempt, Chicago-based/hybrid position requiring a minimum of 2 days in the office per week, regular weekday business hours, and some domestic and international travel. Candidates must reside in the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States.

Requirements

5+ years of relevant experience in one of the following areas: communications, theology, political science, social justice, or another relevant field; Bachelor’s degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred. ELCA rostered ministers are welcome to apply.
Extensive knowledge of and substantial experience in justice issues in Palestine and Israel, including the presence and role of the Palestinian Christian community. Recent (within the last five-ten years) direct (on the ground) experience in Israel/Palestine strongly preferred.
Capacity for and experience with critical thinking, theological and political reflection on issues of justice, and the ability to educate others on these issues and reflections.
Knowledge of techniques to create, build, promote, and sustain grassroots networks for engagement and to equip volunteer leaders within those networks.
Informed appreciation of the contributions of the Christian tradition to public life and the role of faith-based, ecumenical, and inter-religious coalitions in shared commitments for social change. Commitment to building and maintaining substantial knowledge of the social teaching and policy commitments of the ELCA in the areas of Israel/Palestine, accompaniment, and intersectionality.
A high standard of professional effectiveness including organization, efficiency, creativity, and follow through; flexibility, skill in time management, and the ability to prioritize effectively between competing priorities; initiative, ownership, and the ability to lead in a demanding environment.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate well to and communicate effectively with politically and demographically diverse groups of people.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience in strategic use of social media and online platforms, and the ability to address diverse audiences of various sizes and levels of familiarity, for awareness-raising and activation around common goals.
High ability to carry out instructions from supervisor in a timely and effective manner.
Appreciation for the mission, vision and values of the ELCA.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.
Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Recent (within the last five-ten years) direct (on the ground) experience in Israel/Palestine strongly preferred.
Valid driver’s license preferred.
Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Responsibilities

Directs the Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel initiative; creates and implements a strategic plan that includes clear articulation of its mission, vision, values and goals; a yearly calendar of events and resources; and a communications strategy for online and in-person information sharing and network building, all grounded in and guided by accompaniment of Palestinian communities.
Leads effective, strategic engagement across expressions and institutions of the ELCA (congregations, synods, churchwide organization; ELCA seminaries, colleges and universities, campus and outdoor ministries; etc.) to connect these constituencies to the ELCA’s ongoing holistic work of accompaniment, awareness-raising, and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel; fosters and supports healthy, sustainable networks of grass-roots engagement, including the Sumud Ambassador network.
Oversees Sumud collaboration with key related areas of the Churchwide organization in areas related to Israel/Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and intersectional justice work (in the U.S. and globally) for shared awareness-raising, advocacy, and accompaniment in ELCA-affiliated spaces and for ELCA-related audiences.
Supports the work of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Desk in collaboration with the MENA Desk Director, including the implementation of the MENA strategy in relation to Palestine and Israel.
Oversees Sumud collaboration with key stakeholders including the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage (ALAMEH) and the two companion synods of the ELCJHL (New England and Southeast Michigan); works with all ELCA bishops/synods to continue to identify and develop the Sumud Ambassador network within every ELCA synod.
Help the MENA desk to convene a review team with the help of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Desk Director to examine the 2005 ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Palestine and Israel in preparation for presenting an updated, revised, or new strategy to the Church Council.
Administers the online presence of Sumud (ELCA website, social network platforms, webinars, email listservs and others) to ensure consistent, clear, and engaging communication with ELCA audiences and to provide avenues for further education, relational connection, and action.
Represents Sumud, and/or coordinates Sumud in-person presence at major ELCA gatherings, ELCA-affiliated institutions and events, and Sumud-sponsored events.
Develops, curates, and/or shares theological, educational, and practical resources for ELCA and U.S. Christian audiences about the historical and current context of the Holy Land, especially the story and presence of Palestinian Christians; the theological foundations of our ELCA engagement for justice in Palestine and Israel; and the intersections of that work with the ELCA’s justice work both within the United States and globally. Resources will include educational and devotional materials for use in church settings, guidance for the planning of accompaniment and justice-focused Holy Land pilgrimages, and online events to raise awareness among ELCA members and to equip ELCA leaders (rostered and lay) in their own awareness-raising efforts in ministry settings and in public theology. Highlights theological and other resources from the ELCJHL and other partners. Stays informed, educated, and current about the realities on the ground in Palestine and Israel.
Plans and/or participates in strategic accompaniment visits to the ELCJHL and Israel/Palestine for ELCA bishops, CWO and synodical leaders, rostered ministers, lay persons and other stakeholders; and advises synodical, congregational, seminary/university, and other ELCA-affiliated groups in planning independent Holy Land trips to incorporate Sumud goals.
Other duties as assigned.