About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 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 

(Hire date will be early February 2025.)

Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the home area of Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) helps the ELCA reach and engage new, younger and more diverse people, welcoming them into the Christian faith. To this end, we will energize and engage our core membership and work with the whole of the ELCA to recruit, develop and deploy the leadership, both lay and rostered, that the church needs to fulfill its purpose of spreading the gospel and building the church. 

In collaboration with the Office of the Secretary’s legal staff, the incumbent provides the first contact/response to potential victims of sextual misconduct and those seeking advice and support. Additionally, the incumbent provides consultation to synods, congregations, seminaries, and other institutions for the prevention and response to sexual misconduct including facilitation of in-service training, seminars, prevention workshops and educational resources about any sexual, physical or emotional abuse.  

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, remote position. Hire date will be early February 2025. 

Candidates for this 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. Provides counsel and advice to teams who create new strategies to support synods, congregations, seminaries, individuals, and other institutions for the prevention of and response to sexual misconduct.  

2. Provides one on one counsel and advice to synodical bishops and their staffs in developing synodical plans, strategies, and resources for dealing with the problem of sexual misconduct by rostered persons and regarding individual cases of sexual misconduct.  

3. Provides training for bishops with courses known as Legal 101 and Legal 102. 

4. Monitors, in collaboration with General Counsel, the churchwide organization's response to contacts regarding specific incidents of sexual misconduct or alleged sexual misconduct.  

5. Speaks for and represents the ELCA program for the prevention of sexual misconduct at appropriate forums, including the public media and other official communications (in consultation with the ELCA's Communication Services).  

6. Assists the ELCA in developing and organizing appropriate Boundary education and training for Rostered Ministers.

7. Works with staff in CCL to develop and promote efforts throughout the church to help prevent sexual abuse of children.  

8. Establishes and maintains networks of information and support with ecumenical partners and other agencies and institutions which address the problem of sexual misconduct.  

9. Provides counsel and advice to ELCA networks and support for pastors (pastors who minister to congregations who are recovering from clergy sexual misconduct.) 

1. 7+ years of experience working with sexual offenders, victims of sexual offense, and the legal system.  Experience with facilitating various types of boundaries trainings. Master’s degree preferred or equivalent combination education and experience. 

2. Ability to compassionately and assertively discuss all types of sex – understand what victims and those responding to and preventing sexual misconduct need. 

3. Proven ability to listen to, understand, and assess victim issues, to make appropriate referral and/or engage legal support when needed.

4. Experience helping respondents understand offenders, prepare scripts for confronting offenders, and confronting offenders. 

5. Compassion, patience, and empathy as people have the courage to talk. 

6. Experience working with various constituencies, including ethnic specific, LGBTQIA+, and multicultural communities.

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

8. Appreciation for the mission, vision, and values of the ELCA; in-depth knowledge of the ELCA, its constitution, theology, polity, structure, candidacy process, etc.  

9. Experience using Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.), financial systems, etc.

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. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel 

Position requires some overnight, domestic travel by plane, car, etc. Travel to facilitate boundary training events and participation at various meetings in the Lutheran Center in Chicago. 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 17 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 relevant experience.