The Board for District and Congregational Services (DCS) is seeking nominations for a director of Stewardship and Congregational Life. The director will report directly to and be accountable to the executive director. The director serves as a member of the DCS team and has specific responsibility for partnering with district leaders to ignite and continue a “Stewardship Renaissance” within the LCMS by partnering with districts and other entities to train and equip pastors and other church leaders to nurture God’s people that they may recognize His gifts in all aspects of life and freely and joyfully manage their resources to the glory of God, both within the life of the congregation and their own daily lives.
The director will be primarily responsible for managing, developing, and implementing objectives and action plans for Stewardship and Congregational Life Ministry in accordance with DCS desired outcomes; making available and advocating the use of stewardship and Congregational Life materials at LCMS universities, seminaries, and at national and district conferences; making recommendations to the Board for ministry initiatives; developing and administering the program’s budget, supporting the production of leadership materials and services including orientation and training for equipping stewardship and church life leaders of the church; maintaining a network of leaders and building relationships for identifying and sharing resources and mutual evaluation for growth in Christian stewardship, regularly assessing the needs of congregations, districts, and district executives leading the development of resources to meet those needs; fostering stewardship and Congregational Life as an integral part of other DCS ministry initiatives; working with districts in planning conferences; and working closely with the executive director on special projects as needed, and keeping him informed of the activities and feedback received related to stewardship and Congregational Life initiatives.
Nominees must be ordained ministers of the LCMS, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, with a minimum of 10 years experience in parish, district, or national ministry; a member of an LCMS congregation who is supportive of the Synod’s constitution, bylaws and policies and familiar with the structure, polity, organization, policies and procedures of the Synod; be a visionary and proactive leader in stewardship and congregational life; have a demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the Word and Sacrament ministry of the Church in today’s world; have the demonstrated ability to function as a members of the DCS team; maintain supportive relationships with districts; be able to work and coordinate persons and groups in a variety of related ministries and services; have experience in writing, public speaking, conducting seminars, conferences and workshops; and having authored published articles on subjects related to stewardship and congregational life.
Nominations should be submitted by June 15 to Barbara Ryan, Executive Director of Human Resources, at 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122; barbara.ryan@lcms.org; or fax (314) 996-1121.
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The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, St. Louis, seeks nominations for an executive director for the Board for Pastoral Education (BPE). The executive director reports to the BPE and is responsible for directing the cooperative and coordinative efforts of each seminary’s institutional activities and programs in the leadership areas of curriculum, advancement, funds development, finances, communication, faculty and student exchanges, personal growth and leadership development, shared/consolidated services, and uniform reporting systems.
Specifically, the executive director prepares the agenda for meetings of the BPE and its committees, including the necessary background information and recommendations for board action, and attends all meetings of the board; prepares the agenda for the annual joint meeting with the two seminaries’ boards of regents; attends the board meetings of the Board for University Education, as advisor; develops, for board approval, the annual operating budget for the BPE and performs continuous monitoring of performance to budget throughout the year; directs the Distance Education Leading To Ordination (DELTO) program of theological education; coordinates biennial visits to the seminary campuses and provides reports and recommendations to the BPE; reviews the minutes of seminaries’ boards of regents and reports significant matters to the BPE; solicits annual requests from seminary campuses for capital needs and major maintenance projects, and provides a summary report with recommendations indicating priorities to the BPE; coordinates the salary administration of the seminaries; engages and supervises the staff members approved by the Board for Pastoral Education and conducts annual performance appraisals of their work; directs regular or special studies as requested by the BPE; serves as liaison officer between the BPE and the Synod, auxiliary and supportive organizations, the government, and the general public; transmits the requests of the seminaries to the BPE (the Board of Directors of the Synod, when appropriate), and reports actions taken on them to the appropriate seminary(ies); administers the seminaries’ scholarship and student aid programs (restricted funds); maintains and updates operational policy manuals for the BPE; provides pre-service and in-service orientation for seminary presidents and chief administrative officers; assists the seminaries in the development of their institutional long- and short-range plans, goals, and objectives that are compatible with the objectives of the BPE; hosts regular meetings with the presidents and deans of the seminaries, both to consult and to provide directives for institutional operations and uniform practices.
Nominees must be an active member in good standing of a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and policies; a member of the ordained roster of the Synod; a trained educator with at least five years experience as a parish pastor in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; at least five years demonstrated effectiveness in a leadership position in an institution of higher education; known among colleagues as a negotiator, arbiter, coordinator, and team player with the ability to strengthen and improve relationships between colleagues.
Nominations should be submitted by June 15 to Barbara Ryan, Executive Director of Human Resources, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122;
