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

Grounded in our purpose and priorities, the Christian Community and Leadership unit (CCL) helps the ELCA reach and engage new people reflecting the diversity of communities, 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. 

The Bishop’s Associate for Mission/Director for Evangelical Mission (BAM/DEM) represents the ELCA through the Christian Community and Leadership Unit (CCL) in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, as well as represents the Bishop’s Office throughout the synod. The BAM/DEM is responsible for the development of tools to support congregational vitality, which we define as, “Communities of Jesus that nurture new life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world.” The position also reflects the purposes, principles and commitments of the synod, CCL and the ELCA as a whole. 

The BAM/DEM will collaborate and coordinate with Churchwide partners, synod teams and congregational leaders to cultivate the growth of mission in the synod while also designing strategies to help congregations engage their communities so that more people know the way of Jesus and discover community, justice and love. 

The person in this position is expected to fully participate in the life and ministry of the synod, on the synod staff, and  with synod initiatives and is responsible for implementing and building upon ELCA commitments to ministries among diverse cultures and communities, people with disabilities, and the young-adult population, as well as people and communities experiencing poverty. 

The BAM/DEM participates in resourcing the synod mission strategy with an emphasis on congregational vitality, evangelism, and leadership. 

The BAM/DEM is supervised by the Bishop of the Synod and supported by CCL staff. Other assignments of responsibility will be made by the Synod Bishop and Senior Director, DEM Relationships. The position will be based in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA. 

About the synod

The territory of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod is about 450 miles across and 200 miles from top to bottom. Major metropolitan areas include Houston and New Orleans, but ours is a diverse synod made up of prairies and fields, beaches and coastland, bayous, suburban sprawl, and urban centers. The Office of the Bishop relates to about 90 congregations and synod ministries (including campus and camping ministry). Our synod priorities are connection, communication, and compassion. To learn more about the synod please visit their website at: https://gulfcoastsynod.org/ 

This is a synod employee part-time, hybrid, and exempt position and is co-terminous with the synod bishop whose term will end 8/31/2031. The position has responsibilities that require them to live in the geographic territory of the synod and to be in the synod office at least 3 days a week.

The eligibility of a candidate for remote or hybrid positions may depend on the residency of the candidate, and the budget for the role, including salary or pay, insurance coverage, and/or tax burden. 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. Responsible for working collaboratively with the Mission Table, that helps organize the vitality of existing congregations and new mission development in the synod (including area ministry strategies, congregational mission plans, and congregational vitality.) 

2. Meet regularly with synod developers and redevelopers, including reading and providing feedback to monthly mission reports.

3. In partnership with the Mission Table, evaluate new starts, restarts, and redevelopments for missional vitality and long-term financial sustainability using established metrics.

4. Provide for regular trainings and continuing education for mission developers, redevelopers, keeping the connection between the synod and churchwide organization vibrant. This includes accompanying new mission developers and redevelopers to required ELCA training events (both in person and online)

5. Helps identify future sites for new church starts. 

6. Responsible for identifying, recruiting and training leaders for the work of the church including those who can serve as mission developers and redevelopers.

7. Curate resources to equip synodical and congregational leaders for the work of mission. 

8. Responsible for establishing short- and long-term priorities and sharing learnings with the synod and across the ELCA. Provides a visible witness to the interdependent nature of the church and communicates our shared mission and vision. 

9. Other duties as assigned, which may include:

a. Representing the Office of the Bishop through regular congregational visits,

b. Participating in synod, conference, or churchwide meeting and events,

c. Participating on the synod’s Immigration Task Force,

d. Participating on the synod’s Mesa Latina.

1. Skilled Evangelist: 5+ years of experience effectively leading an effort that helped bring people to faith.

2. Lutheran Understanding: Grounding in Christian faith. Knowledge of and appreciation for Lutheran theology, polity and ecclesiology, including accompaniment as our model for mission, evangelism, discipleship and the theories and practice of mission development that responds to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Membership and active participation in a congregation of this synod. 

3. Communication skills: Effective communicator in preaching, teaching, writing and evangelical outreach. Proven ability to leverage (digital) communication for vision casting. A preference will be given to candidates who can communicate in both English and Spanish.

4. Leadership: Demonstrated ability working with leaders in agile, adaptive innovation and facilitating group processes as well as knowledge, experience and/or willingness to learn, listen and utilize the ELCA Coaching Ministry in growing leaders and building tables. 

5. Entrepreneurial Vision:. Proven experience with mission development/redevelopment. Experience in community organizing beneficial but not required.

6. Organizational Skills: Proven effective time-management and administrative experience and ability to meet deadlines and attention to details. Ability to utilize metrics, congregational trend reports and demographic data in the process of the development of congregational vitality for new and existing congregations 

7. Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills and the ability to work in partnership with peers, Churchwide, regional, and synod staff. Proven capacity for collaboration. Attentive listener and highly relational.

8. Multicultural competency: Demonstrated competency among communities of color as well as with people and communities experiencing poverty. Ability to relate and communicate well in diverse cultural, ethnic and socio-economic situations and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racism, including our synod’s RIC status. 

9. 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. Ability to learn new software and systems.

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. May be required to lift boxes of materials. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Position requires some overnight, domestic travel by car and plane. Most locations within the synod’s territory are a two-hour drive (or less) from Houston. Louisiana sites are the exception. Valid driver’s license is preferred.

Considerable travel; up to 25% - approximately 12 weeks

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 Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.