Location:

Budapest, Hungary

Agreement Term:

Full Time, Four Years

Anticipated start date(s) include:

February 1, 2027

Agreement Type:

Long-term

Description:

This position offers the opportunity to serve with two complementary ministries: providing leadership for the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Hungary program while accompanying and supporting English-language ministries in Budapest. 

The Country Coordinator oversees and facilitates the YAGM program and has overall responsibility for the YAGM volunteers’ well-being, support, and guidance during their term of service, and thus plays both a pastoral and administrative role. The Country Coordinator, in consultation with staff of the ELCA Service and Justice Unit and the YAGM Staff in the Christian Community and Leadership Unit of the Churchwide Organization, has the primary role in making decisions about a volunteer’s placement, term of service, planning and implementing in-country orientation and retreats, facilitating conflict resolution and responding to crisis and emergency situations. The Country Coordinator also facilitates in-country logistics for YAGM volunteers such as visa procedures, finances and stipends, housing, working out individual placements, arrivals and departures, and evaluations of YAGM volunteers. 

The YAGM program partners closely with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELCH) and non-profit organizations, including those serving Roma communities across Hungary. The YAGM Country Coordinator oversees and facilitates the YAGM Hungary program and holds primary responsibility for the support and guidance of volunteers throughout their year of service, serving in both pastoral and administrative capacities.

Additionally, the rostered leader in this role will work closely with ELCH colleagues in Budapest in support of English-language ministries; sharing in worship leadership, faith formation, pastoral care, and community building among an international English-speaking community.

Through both ministry areas, this position contributes to the ELCA’s commitment to accompaniment, cross-cultural mission, leadership development, and global witness. 

Site Information:

• Hungary is a country in Central Europe and a nation of nearly 10 million people. Almost 2 million people live in the capitol city of Budapest. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELCH) is the third largest historical church in the country with roots going back to the times of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The membership of ELCH is about 175,000 people, which is about 1.5% of the total population of Hungary. The 350 congregations of the ELCH are organized into three dioceses. The ELCH and its congregations operate in a large network with educational and diaconal institutions. 
• The position is based in Budapest, Hungary, and is in partnership with the ELCH. The YAGM Hungary program places volunteers with ELCH ministries and partner organizations across the country for service, learning, and cross-cultural accompaniment. English-language ministries provide opportunities for worship, faith formation, pastoral care, and community for those seeking English language Lutheran community. 
• English-language Lutheran ministry has traditionally been based in the Lutheran Congregation of Budapest-Fasor under the name City Park Lutheran for decades. It is the only English-language Lutheran community in Hungary offering weekly worship services with Eucharist .

Assignment Includes:

Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) – Hungary Country Coordinator

In partnership with ELCH colleagues:

• Lead overall administration and coordination of the YAGM Hungary program. 
• Engage in applicant discernment and assign candidates to placement sites. 
• Develop and sustain relationships with host sites and ministry partners. 
• Support local supervisors and mentors at placement sites. 
• Facilitate orientation for volunteers upon arrival in Hungary. 
• Design and lead three annual retreats (autumn, spring, and end-of-service). 
• Provide pastoral accompaniment and spiritual support for volunteers. 
• Guide formation through Bible study, reflection, vocational discernment, and leadership development. 
• Conduct regular site visits with volunteers and community partners. 
• Address issues and crises in collaboration with ELCA Churchwide staff. 
• Manage program finances and prepare annual budgets and reports. 
• Coordinate program logistics, including housing, travel, stipends, and overall operations. 

English Language Ministries Leader

In partnership with ELCH colleagues:

• Collaborate with a leadership team to plan and lead English-language worship three times a month and ministry activities. 
• Participate in faith formation, Bible study, and discipleship opportunities. 
• Offer pastoral care and engage in community life within the English-speaking Lutheran settings. 
• Build relationships among international residents, students, expatriates, and visitors.
• Reach out to potential community members
• Actively engage in making the English-speaking Lutheran community visible among international students and other expats in collaboration with university chaplaincies.

Timeline:

• Application Opens: November 2026
• Online Interviews: November 2026 - December 2026
• Onboarding Process: January 2026 - February 2027 (Process begins once ELCA agreement is signed)
• Virtual ELCA Orientation: February 2027
• Deploy to Hungary: March 2027

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 are required typically every two years including travel back to the United States to visit sponsoring congregations and individuals

Experience and Skills:

• M.Div, required; Ordination, required; Word and Sacrament, preferred. 
• Experience working with young adults, preferred.
• Group leadership skills, including mentoring young adults in spiritual life.
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Strong organizational and personnel management skills; experience with budget management and project planning
• Cross-cultural sensitivity and personal resiliency
• Ability to work collaboratively with ELCA staff, local church leadership and nongovernmental organizations
• Computer skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint and e-mail
• Previous experience with the YAGM program, helpful
• Previous experience with international congregations helpful. 
• Willingness to learn Hungarian helpful. 
• Ability to drive a manual car (or learn how to drive a manual car) is required. 

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 Hungary.
• 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.