This posting will close July 29, 2026, at 11:00 pm central time. 

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 Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) represents the ELCA through the Christian Community and Leadership Unit (CCL) in the Sierra Pacific Synod and 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,” which reflects the purposes, principles and commitments of the synod, CCL and the ELCA as a whole. 

The (DEM) will collaborate and coordinate with congregational, synod, regional networks and Churchwide leaders to develop strategies designed 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 with synod initiatives and is responsible for implementing and building upon ELCA commitments to ministries among diverse cultures and communities including migrants and immigrants, people with disabilities, the young-adult population including campus ministries, the LGBTQIA+ population, as well as people and communities experiencing poverty. The DEM participates in resourcing the synod mission strategy with an emphasis on congregational vitality, evangelism, and leadership. 

This position will be coterminous with the synod bishop and supervised primarily by the Bishop of the Synod in partnership with 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 Sierra Pacific Synod and will serve as a living representation of the interdependent nature of the ELCA. 

This position is a full time, in-person, exempt, synod employee position, that is coterminous with the synod bishop and will end Spring 2030. The position has responsibilities that require them to live in the geographic territory of the synod within regular commuting distance from the synod office in Berkeley, California and to be in the synod office multiple times 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. Lead Mission Strategy and Congregational Renewal - Cultivate and advance the synod’s mission strategy and convene the Mission Table that facilitates the growth in vitality of existing congregations and new mission development in the synod, with particular attention to sustainable models of ministry, regional partnerships, and collaborative approaches suited to a changing religious and cultural landscape.

2. Oversee Grants, Funded Ministries, and Strategic Partnership - Responsible for the administration of the portfolio of ministries supported by the ELCA’s New Ministry Development and Evangelism Team including the process of application and evaluation of grants through the ELCA Grantmaker (EGM) System. Provides support, supervision, developmental coaching, and evaluation for these ELCA- and synod-funded ministries; and cultivates funding opportunities and strategic partnerships that strengthen inherited and emerging ministries, including campus ministries and new ministry initiatives.

3. Coordinate Coaching and Leadership Development – Lead the synod’s coaching ministry and align coaching, leadership development, and learning opportunities with synod priorities. Responsible for identifying, recruiting and training leaders for the work of the church including those who can serve as mission developers and rostered ministers. 

4. Collaboration and Network Partnerships - 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. 

5. Support Campus, Young Adult, and Disaster Response Ministries – Provide Oversight for campus and young adult ministries and supervise the Synod’s disaster response efforts and community organizers.

6. Other duties as assigned.

Synod Information

As members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Sierra Pacific Synod shares in the church’s mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, share the sacraments, reach out to neighbors with good news, and share the love of God in the world.

In the Sierra Pacific Synod, we live out this mission across Northern California and Northern Nevada, on the way of Jesus together.  We do this through four shared commitments that shape our common life of inviting interdependence, cultivating discipleship, accompanying leaders, and fostering belonging.

Together, these commitments shape how we accompany one another, steward our shared life, and participate in God’s renewing work in the world. For more information on our mission priorities.

The synod office is located in downtown Berkeley, California, and shares space with Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, 2000 Center Street, Suite 200, Berkeley, CA 94704. Berkeley is located on the unceded land of the Chochenyo Ohlone people.

The Sierra Pacific Synod is a Reconciling in Christ and Sanctuary Synod. More information about the synod’s ministries can be found at: Sierra Pacific Synod website. 

1. 5+ years of experience effectively leading ministries or initiatives that foster Christian faith formation, discipleship, evangelism, congregational vitality and/or community engagement.

2. Grounding in Christian faith and familiarity with Lutheran theology, evangelism, discipleship and the theories and practice of mission development that responds to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. 

3. Effective communicator in preaching, teaching, writing and evangelical outreach.  

4. 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. Ability to utilize metrics, congregational trend reports and demographic data in the process of the development of congregational vitality for new and existing congregations. 

6. Proven effective time-management and administrative experience and ability to meet deadlines and attention to details.

7. Exceptional interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills and the ability to work in partnership with peers, other CCL staff, synod and regional staff. 

8. Demonstrated competency among communities of color; and 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. 

9. Active participation in a Christian congregation and God’s mission.

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

11. Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate an Apple 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.), Google Workspace, Adobe and Airtable 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 travel within the synod can be completed in a single day. A valid driver’s license is 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 Human Resources.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.