Candidacy and Leadership Manager - Region 5

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

The Christian Community and Leadership (CCL) home area helps the ELCA reach and engage new, younger, and more diverse people welcoming them into the Christian faith. We invite all staff to create conditions so that we can strengthen our existing congregations and grow younger, ethnically diverse, economically diverse, and among the LGBTQIA+ community. To this end, we will activate 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 establishing and growing Christian communities, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, and building the church.

This Candidacy and Leadership Manager position will serve the 12 synods in Region 5. This position will guide, mentor, resource and train synod candidacy committee members as they identify and accompany vital leaders for God’s mission work through the ELCA. This position will work with bishops and synod staff to encourage, guide and resource programs and opportunities in the synods for leadership formation, First Call, mobility, vocations, and recruitment, as well as relate to the Lifelong learning networks, and connect with campus pastors, and outdoor ministry leaders to identify and resource the formation opportunities for people responding to their call to rostered ministry.

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, remote/location-specific position. The person in this role is expected to reside in the geographic territory of Region 5.

Candidates for this remote 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. Primary responsibility will be to resource, mentor, and train the 12 synods’ staff and candidacy committees in the Candidacy and First Call processes as synods accompany candidates in their candidacy journey from Entrance to the First Call process. Will convene and complete, when appropriate, all the required forms for all the candidacy panels in the Candidacy process such as the Competency Assessment Panel and Theological Review Panel (CAP, TRP). When requested, assist in the development of the Candidate Plan. Works with candidates, seminaries, and synod bishops to gather the documentation needed for First Call.

2. Works in partnership with synods, seminaries, and other theological and formation programs in the regions to identify and encourage young adults, especially from communities of color, to consider church vocations. These networks may include campus ministry pastors, Lutheran camp ministries, the Youth and Young adult networks, and others that exist within the region.

3. Where appropriate, will encourage synods to develop and support lay formation programs in the territory of the synods or the region.

4. Will work with the bishops within their regions to encourage, support, and accompany persons of color from our ethnic communities to serve in leadership and rostered minister positions in the ELCA.

5. Serve on the Region 5 Steering Committee and Executive Team of the Committee. Manage finances for the Steering committee, including invoice approval and quarterly meetings with the treasurer. With the treasurer, prepare and report on annual budget and synod financial support plan. Plan and execute annual events for Region 5 bishops and staff, in collaboration with the Regional Steering Committee

6. Supervise Region 5 Archivist, including managing annual contract, communicating on behalf of Steering Committee, and training synod staff on archive policies.

7. Other duties as assigned.

1. 5+ years of experience with program management, Theological Formation, the ELCA Candidacy and First Call processes preferred; extensive knowledge of the ELCA theology, polity and structure preferred. Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred. Rostered Minister desired but not required. 

2. Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective relationships and skills to work in collaboration with others within the churchwide organization and assigned synods and the ability to manage highly confidential information. Experience working with various constituencies, including ethnic specific and multicultural communities.

3. Openness to adapt quickly to a rapidly changing theological education ecology.

4. Commitment to the mission, vision, values and goals of the ELCA. 

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

6. Skilled in the use of electronic technology including familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, etc.) and other web-based meeting platforms. 

7. Ability to learn ELCA specific software programs: ELCA Grantmaker (grants), ECIS Database (CRM), ELCA Community (resource sharing), and Workday (accounting).

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 

Considerable travel. Position requires some overnight, domestic, travel by plane or car within Region 5 and also to the churchwide office in Chicago, and other sites within the United States. 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.