Call for nominations: LCMS chief administrative officer

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board of Directors (BOD) seeks nominations for the position of LCMS chief administrative officer (CAO) — based at the Synod’s International Center (IC) in St. Louis.

Organization profile

In grateful response to God’s grace, and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of the LCMS is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and world.

The BOD  is vested with the general management and supervision of the Synod’s business and legal affairs, including the review and coordination of the policies and directives of the Synod authorized by its Constitution, Bylaws and resolutions and of the plans and policies of the Synod’s boards and commissions. To the extent of the Board’s responsibility, it provides leadership in achieving the objectives of the Synod as stated in Article III of its Constitution and Bylaws so that Christ’s name may be glorified among all peoples throughout the world by our serving one other in Christ’s name, reaching our communities with Christ’s love, and claiming the world for Christ’s kingdom.

Reporting relationships

The CAO Reports to the LCMS BOD, ordinarily through the board’s chairperson. The CAO, as part of the administrative team, also serves under the leadership and oversight of the Synod president.

This position also serves on the following international board(s)/committee(s): China Evangelical Lutheran Church—Legal Corporation (CELC—LC).

Position relationships

• Serves as staff person and assists the BOD to carry out its responsibilities and, as its executive and chief operating officer, carries out such decisions of the board as it may direct and performs such duties as it may delegate.
• Serves as part of the corporate Synod administrative team, consisting of the Synod president, first vice-president, secretary, chief financial officer (CFO) and chief mission officer (CMO) under the leadership of the president.
• As part of the administrative team and liaison of the BOD, meets regularly with the leadership of the Synod’s mission offices (CMO), commissions and Synodwide corporate entities and provides leadership to assure that the mission and ministry activities of the church are being carried out in a coordinated, cooperative and efficient manner.
• Convenes and serves as part of the corporate Synod operations team, together with the CFO and CMO.
• Serves as the Board’s representative on the IC’s Committee for Human Resources and as advisory member and chair of the IC Facilities Committee.
• Engages and serves as liaison for Synod’s legal counsel.

Essential job functions

• Serves as the Board’s representative and CAO of the Synod.
• Carries out responsibilities as delegated in the LCMS Handbook and Board Policy Manual.
• Implements the decisions of the BOD and communicates those actions and decisions as appropriate.
• Meets regularly with the Synod president (at the president’s determination) or his representative to keep the president informed as well as to receive counsel from the president regarding the ongoing work of the Synod.
• Cooperates with the president, first vice-president, secretary, and chief financial and mission officers as part of the corporate Synod administrative team and under the president’s leadership to assist with the supervision, management and coordination assigned by the Constitution, Bylaws and resolutions to the president and BOD.
• Cooperates with the CFO and CMO as part of the corporate Synod operations team in their respective roles of oversight, supervision, management and coordination of national office operations.
• Assists the BOD in adopting and carrying out long-range plans.
• Prepares the agenda and dockets for BOD meetings under the direction of the Board chairperson and in consultation with the administrative team and the Synod president.
• Assures compliance with convention mandates that are related to the BOD’s responsibilities, oversight and supervision.
• Within his/her areas of responsibility, creates positions within the approved budget and supervises staff to meet and carry out the responsibilities of this position.
• Enhances relationships with the Board’s partners and administers the Board’s coordinative responsibilities.
• Communicates regularly with BOD members to keep them apprised between board meetings.
• Works to enhance relationships with the church at-large, the Board’s partners and the public, informing and educating them regarding the Board’s activities and responsibilities.
• Provides leadership and oversight of compliance issues relating to the Board’s area of supervision.
• Provides advice and counsel on structure, operation, staffing and finances to other boards, commissions and councils.
• Seeks opportunities with presidents of the other Synodwide corporate entities to work cooperatively toward effective and efficient operations and, where applicable, common policies and directives.
• Maintains contact with the Lutheran fraternal societies and his/her counterparts in other church bodies, in consultation with the president as chief ecumenical officer of the Synod.
• Provides leadership to the administrative and legal functions of corporate Synod.
• Serves as the BOD’s representative to the Committee for Human Resources and the IC Facilities Committee.
• Provides administrative supervision to the executive directors of Operations and Support Services, Human Resources, the CAO administrator, and senior director of Event Planning and Procurement.
• Works closely with the CFO on issues relating to asset management, assuring implementation of the BOD actions on such matters.
• Maintains contact with legal counsel, making decisions in accordance with the Board’s legal policies.
• Keeps the BOD apprised of potential litigations and/or substantial violations in compliance with the Synod Bylaws, applicable federal and state laws and other areas related to the Board’s supervision of the business matters of the Synod.
• Is responsible for corporate Synod’s compliance with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, Bylaws, convention resolutions, Board policies and applicable civil laws on behalf of the BOD.
• Serves as the Board’s corporate compliance officer, monitoring compliance with the Articles of Incorporation, the Synod’s Constitution and Bylaws, convention resolutions, the Board of Directors Policy Manual, other Board policies and applicable civil laws as they relate to the agencies of the Synod.
• Reviews and drafts corporate policy statements and procedures.
• Is responsible for the negotiation and drafting of corporate agreements.
• Advises and implements compliance initiatives on behalf of the BOD.
• The CAO, or his/her designee, serves as convention manager. He/she is responsible to the Synod president for making arrangements for and directing the externals of the convention and other major assemblies of the Synod. 
• Works with the Synod president to determine convention location, budget and other logistics.
• Submits the convention budget to the Synod president and the BOD for final approval.

Position qualifications

Required

• Active member of an LCMS congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, resolutions, practices and policies.
• At least 10 years or equivalent experience in corporate or organizational management in the private or public sector. Knowledgeable of the operations and structure of the Synod.
• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or in equivalent fields related to business administration and/or corporate compliance.
• Ability to travel approximately 25%.

Desirable

• Juris Doctorate or master’s degree in Business Administration or related field.
• Experience as a member of a board or staff of a Synod entity.
• Experience as a chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief financial officer, vice-president of Human Resources, or vice-president of Marketing of a multi-million-dollar corporation.

Competencies

• Integrity and ethics: Models and encourages high standards of honesty, integrity, trust, openness and respect for others; creates a culture that fosters a high standard of ethics; demonstrates integrity by honoring commitments and promises; demonstrates a sense of responsibility and commitment to public trust; demonstrates congruence between statements and actions.
• Mission alignment: Actively and demonstrably aligned with the teachings of the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions and theological resolutions of the LCMS; understands what it means to be a confessional Lutheran church body; can articulate the faith and its relation to the work carried out through corporate Synod.
• Strategic thinking: Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and mission strategy of the organization; applies long-term perspective in analyzing policy issues and developing strategic plans; develops objectives and sets priorities consistent with the organization’s long-term strategies; adjusts strategic policies and plans in response to change, both internal and external.
• Problem solving: Recognizes, defines and analyzes problems and issues; obtains relevant data before deciding; develops alternative solutions and plans to solve problems; uses qualitative and quantitative data and analytical tools in problem solving.
• Creativity and innovation: Develops insights, innovative solutions and non-traditional approaches to improve organizational effectiveness; creates an environment that encourages, recognizes and rewards risk-taking, creativity and innovation; designs and implements new or innovative programs/processes.
• Vision: Articulates and actively supports the corporate Synod vision in a way that causes employees at all levels to understand the organization’s goals, values and strategies; aligns personal vision with functional and programmatic goals and objectives; takes a long-term view and acts as a catalyst and champion of change.
• Interpersonal skills: Demonstrates an understanding of others’ needs; provides appropriate feedback in a manner that reinforces or elicits desirable behavior; considers and responds appropriately to the needs, feelings and capabilities of others; treats all individuals with sensitivity and respect.
• Internal and external awareness: Maintains currency with laws, regulations, policies, procedures, trends and developments; understands general roles and responsibilities of IC entities, Synodwide corporate entities and global entities; understands corporate plans and agreements relevant to the mission; understands and makes effective use of the basic principles and processes for resource allocation, acquisition and management; understands the dual role of the BOD as a corporate board and a Synodwide board.
• Team-building: Empowers others by sharing power and authority; inspires, motivates and guides others toward goal accomplishment; emphasizes cooperation and a team approach to work; creates an environment that encourages and rewards cooperation, collective problem-solving and participative decision-making; builds trust and open communication among team members and with stakeholders; develops leadership in others through coaching, mentoring and rewarding.
• Accountability: Assures that effective organizational-level status and control mechanisms are developed and maintained to ensure performance of the organization; takes responsibility for actions; identifies how organizational or program results will be measured; monitors programs and/or activities and takes corrective actions when necessary; encourages others to take ownership of work products, services and results. 

Supervisory responsibility

• Responsible for the supervision of the office of the CAO staff (administrator), executive directors of Operations and Support Services, Human Resources and the senior director of Event Planning and Procurement.

Submit nominations via email to nathan.thomas@lcms.org or by mail to Nathan Thomas, LCMS Department of Human Resources, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7297.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 28.

Posted Jan. 9, 2023