About the ELCA 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 3.3 million members in more than 8,900 worshiping communities across the 50 states, Caribbean, and U.S. Virgin Islands. With a vision to live in a world experiencing the difference God’s grace and love in Christ makes for all people and creation, the ELCA strives to be a welcoming, thriving, and connected church that introduces people to Jesus so they can discover community, justice, and love.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation.  We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position 

Through the Service and Justice home area, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Organization (CWO) shall foster and facilitate this church’s engagement in service with and among communities and promote efforts to call and act for justice. Its work includes engaging in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries (serving as the means through which churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society); engaging with communities, coalitions and networks, congregations, and regional ELCA synods in service and justice work within the territorial jurisdiction of this church; and providing guidance to members of the denomination on matters of social justice.

Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel is a new (less than one year old) initiative of the ELCA that replaces the prior ELCA 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, with a focus on engagement that is 1) holistic (across expressions of the church, and bringing together many approaches and kinds of engagement), 2) intersectional (connected to similar issues of justice in U.S. and other communities such as gender and environmental justice, etc.), and 3) guided by longstanding relationships with Palestinian partners as the experts on the ground. The program director will lead the work of Sumud in engagement and awareness-raising and will collaborate with relevant ELCA colleagues on advocacy support, through the specific responsibilities outlined below.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, remote position. This position has responsibilities that will require keeping regular weekday business hours for meetings and collaborative work, as well as some domestic and international travel to represent Sumud at events, conferences, and partner visits.

Candidates for this remote position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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. 

4. 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 identify and develop a Sumud network within every ELCA synod.

5. Convenes a review team to examine the 2005 ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Palestine and Israel in preparation for presenting an updated, revised, or new strategy to the 2025 Church Council and Churchwide Assembly.

6. 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.

7. Represents Sumud, and/or coordinates Sumud in-person presence at major ELCA gatherings, ELCA-affiliated institutions and events, and Sumud-sponsored events.

8. 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. 

9. Plans and 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.

10. Other duties as assigned.

 

1. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant experience in one of the following areas: communications, theology, political science, social justice, or another relevant field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred. ELCA rostered ministers are welcome to apply.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Knowledge of techniques to create, build, promote, and sustain grassroots networks for engagement and to equip volunteer leaders within those networks.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate well to and communicate effectively with politically and demographically diverse groups of people.

8. 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.

9. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.).

10. Appreciation for the mission, vision and values of the ELCA.

11. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism.

Physical 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone, and sometimes, to move about the state Capitol for meetings and other events. This position requires sitting for extended periods of time. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel 

Considerable travel required. Position requires considerable overnight, domestic, and international travel by plane or car. Valid driver’s license required.

Benefits 

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 16 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please complete this form to contact People Solutions (HR).

Salary 

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.