Location:

Nigeria

Agreement Term:

Full Time, Four Years

Anticipated start date(s) include:

July 13, 2025

Agreement Type:

Long-term

Countries of Responsibility: 

Liberia, Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone 

Description:

An ELCA Regional Representative is considered an extension of ELCA-Service and Justice Home Area (S&J) living and serving on the territory of a companion church or within a region in which the ELCA has significant global engagements. The Regional Representative works in close collaboration with the Africa Desk Director and is involved in all areas related to S&J’s strategic engagement with both the companion churches and institutions. The regional representative is also engaged with other ELCA constituencies that relate to the same region, including mission personnel, companion synods, congregations, Independent Lutheran Organizations, etc.

Site Information:

The English-speaking West Africa Regional Representative will relate to the following countries: Liberia, Nigeria, The Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone

The representative will reside in Nigeria and relate closely with The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN). The LCCN was founded in 1913 by the Danish Branch of the Sudan United Mission (SUM) The LCCN office is located in Numan Adamawa State. The first missionaries under the SUM arrived in Nigeria in September 1904 and settled at Wase, the present-day Plateau State. They began their mission by instructing in the use of tools for brick making and agriculture. Officially in November 1911 the Danish branch of the Sudan United Mission was established.

The first group of Nigerians were baptized in January 1916. The same year the first church, known as St. John’s Church, was built in Numan. Up till now devotions are still being conducted at the LCCN headquarters in Numan.

In June 1921 the Boys Boarding School was established also in Numan, it was later called Numan Training School. The purpose of the school was to train Nigerian boys to read and write. The mission eventually expanded and in 1948 the first five indigenous pastors were ordained. By 1955 the church was known as the Lutheran Church of Christ in the Sudan (LCCS) and it became independent in 1956. By 1975 the name was changed from Lutheran Church of Christ in Sudan to The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN). The name Sudan was dropped in order not to confuse it with the country called the Republic of Sudan. Today LCCN has a population of over 2.5 million members in over two thousand congregations, 367 districts, 53 divisions and 9 dioceses.

Timeline:

• Application Opens:  December 2024 
• Interviews:  February – April 2025 
• ELCA Orientation in Chicago: July 13 – 25, 2025
• Deploy to Nigeria:  August/September 2025

Assignment Includes:

• Specific responsibilities for the Regional Representative are determined in consultation with the Africa Desk Director and are subject to change depending upon the specific context and work plans. The position has the freedom to act within S&J policies and established protocols and practices as defined by the team.
• Extensive travel to assigned countries guided by work that is determined by the Africa Desk Director.
• Assist the Africa Desk Director to better understand the issues, challenges and strengths of companion churches and organizations to make informed decisions on strategic engagement.
• Collaborate with companion churches and organizations in their discernment for request of resources (mission personnel including volunteers and global sabbatical program professors, grants, scholarships) and provide input to the Africa Desk Director for decision making.
• Strengthen companions’ capacity in the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME) process.
• Facilitate the companion synods and ELCA congregation’s partnerships with companion churches and provide input to the Program Director for Companion Engagement that will assist the companion synods and congregations in the United States to engage in the spirit of accompaniment.
• Maintain regular contact and communication with all ELCA mission personnel in assigned countries and provide mentoring and coaching as needed.
• Assist with arrangements, on-arrival orientation, and support for all new personnel in cooperation with companion church and agency.
• Provide ongoing administration related to logistics of mission personnel in assigned areas including budgets and housing. 
• Participate in annual review and assessment as requested.
• Maintain a working knowledge of socio-political events affecting the assigned countries, churches, and agencies.
• Other tasks as assigned by the Africa Desk Director

This is an ELCA sponsorable position.   

All ELCA long-term global personnel participate in mission interpretation and storytelling. This includes: 

• Quarterly newsletters to sponsoring congregations and individuals. 
• Virtual visits throughout the year with sponsoring congregations and individuals. 
• In-person visits during Home Assignment (every 2 years, travel back to the US to visit sponsoring congregations and individuals) 

Experience and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree is required, Master’s degree is preferred.
• Degree or certification and background in Community Development, Community Organizing or Social Sciences is helpful.
• Theological degree is a plus.
• International experience is required, preferred is experience in West Africa.
• Experience in International Development is preferred with a focus on planning, monitoring and evaluation of programs.
• Willingness to learn French
• Ability to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and levels of education.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality concerning sensitive personnel or policy matters.
• Initiative and self-motivation.
• Willingness and ability to work within a consultative team environment.
• Christian faith and a commitment to the mission of the church
• Openness to various expressions of Christian faith and respect for people of other faiths
• Well-developed inter-personal skills demonstrating understanding and compassion
• Ability to work within a framework of a local administration
• Adaptable and flexible - sense of humor - good physical and emotional health
• Live and serve in a way which reflects the vision and expectations of the ELCA

Terms and Conditions:

• Long-Term Terms and Conditions 
• This position is supported under the terms of ELCA Service and Justice Expectations and Support for Long Term Mission Personnel. Those provisions include international transportation, transportation related to work assignment, pensions and major medical coverage, assistance with schooling for children through high school, housing and cash salary which is adjusted according to the goods and services differential for Nigeria. 
• Salary is based on years of work experience. 
• If candidate is married, both must complete an application for this position for discernment of the appropriate pattern of service of the spouse. In the context of global mission service, the accompanying spouse is seen as a representative of the ELCA and of the receiving church regardless of their actual role. It is important for the ELCA that both members of a couple understand the role of a missionary and are comfortable with that reality.

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employees will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

A psychological evaluation is required.

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees and dependent, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer additional benefits upon deployment to the country of service.