Call for nominations/applicants: Executive director, LCMS Office of National Mission

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) announces an opening for the position of executive director of the Office of National Mission (ONM), housed at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis.

Organizational profile

The ONM coordinates and supports domestic ministries that serve congregations and schools through the districts of the Synod (Bylaw 3.8.2.3).

Responsibilities include:

Design, develop and implement ONM strategic and operational plans so that the triennial mission and ministry emphases and correspondent priorities (affirmed by the Synod in convention), the policies of the Board for National Mission (BNM) and the Synod president’s goals are upheld, fulfilled and accomplished.

Supervise ONM day-to-day operations and ministry, programmatic and coordinative functions, with focused emphasis on those that serve districts, congregations, schools and Recognized Service Organizations (RSO) throughout the Synod.

Facilitate fruitful consultation and collaboration with districts’ leadership/staff and — through the district offices — congregations, in order to support local mission and ministry initiatives, programs and/or services and to increase district and congregation capacities to achieve the Synod’s objectives.

Consult and collaborate with LCMS senior leadership and staff, agencies and affiliated entities to formulate and implement procedures and structures that facilitate staff sharing, contribution and consultation on projects throughout the national office.

Supervise ONM budget development and ongoing ONM financial performance to facilitate proper accounting and management of revenues and expenses within approved budget amounts, categories and classifications. Ensure that the ONM plans are budgeted and executed in a cost-effective and timely manner.

Serve as staff resource to the BNM, working with the BNM chair and the Synod’s chief mission officer to develop board agendas and provide information, resources, reports and/or program updates as requested.

Supervise the granting of RSO status to U.S.-based organizations that have satisfactorily met all LCMS requirements and primarily serve constituents within the United States.

Oversee the Synod’s relationship with inter-Lutheran agencies.

Assist with and participate on various task forces, committees and/or convention floor committees, as requested.

Work closely with the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement, donors, grantors and other Synod constituents and stakeholders to initiate or nurture beneficial relationships as a means to generate additional funds and resources for the ONM.

Work closely with other national office unit executives to develop, review and improve inter-unit workflow processes, and to increase consideration of inter-unit impact and planning/operating efficiencies in order to produce desired national office outcomes and demonstrate world class stewardship of all resources.

Position requirements

Faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws and policies.

Rostered member of the LCMS, commissioned or ordained.

Master’s degree in theology, education or related field; or the equivalent in practical knowledge and experience.

A minimum of three years (five years preferred) of experience serving in a nonprofit, church-related organization.

Significant senior leadership experience (supervising employee and/or volunteer teams of significant size within a multifacted organizational structure) strongly preferred.

Keen knowledge of and concurrence with the doctrine, practices, mission, structure and programmatic ministries of the LCMS.

Familiarity and ability to engage/work effectively with a broad spectrum of Synod stakeholders: LCMS senior national and district leadership, rostered workers, agencies, auxiliaries and other partners of the Synod.

Strong communication abilities, written and spoken.

Ability to understand and manage organizational budgets and make appropriate leadership decisions from LCMS accounting systems and information.

General awareness and familarity with business administrative and management principles and responsible practices with respect to human resources, information technology, contractual arrangements, other legal matters, etc.

Ability to supervise, mentor, teach and coach staff of significant size (currently 20-plus directly employed within the ONM, plus contracted consultants and other staff resources).

Demonstrated discretion and judgment in confidential matters.

Ability to priortize activities and work effectively under time and manpower constraints.

Capacity to travel domestically on a regular basis.

Qualified applicants are welcome to apply online at lcms.org/careers. Nominations are welcomed and may be submitted to Nathan Thomas at nathan.thomas@lcms.org. The deadline to apply or submit nominations is Oct. 31, 2022. For more information on The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, please visit lcms.org.

Posted Sept. 15, 2022