Connectional Liaison

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37212

FULL TIME , HYBRID

Reports to: Connectional Ministries Officer

Status: Exempt

Classification: Full-time

Overview

The Connectional Liaison position will report to the Connectional Ministries Officer and be accountable to the Thriving Congregations sub-committee of the Faith and Innovation Team of the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference. This position will work directly with congregations across the Conference who are looking for support during this complex time of change in life and ministry. The objectives of this position are to 1) help congregations feel seen, heard and valued, 2) connect congregations to resources that may meet their specific needs, and 3) leverage the TWKUMC Connections Map as a tool for strengthening our Connection and helping congregations thrive.

Thriving Congregations Description

Thriving Congregations sub-team seeks to connect congregations with tools and relationships that can further their mission and impact. This sub-team builds the Conference’s congregational toolbox, works with congregations to identify tools that they might consider helpful, and leverage relationships across the Conference as an asset in congregational relaunches. This team's first initiative has been to develop an online tool to support resource-sharing and collaborations across small-membership churches (TWK UMC Connections Map).

Competencies/Skills:

• Collaborative learner: Enjoys working with others to learn on the job

• Comfortable with uncertainty and experimentation: Comfortable taking small wise steps and experimenting with new ideas as a way to navigate the complexity of our times.

• Proficient with technology: Highly comfortable using technology and can master the use of new technology quickly.

• Connections weaver: Proactively looks for opportunities to connect people across the conference to help share strengths and resources and build relationships.

• Facilitative leader: Trusts in the knowledge, skills and gifts of the people of the Conference and looks for ways to invite the use of these gifts.

• Excellent communicator: Strong written and verbal communication skills and is an exceptional active listener.

• Spirit-led. Must have a strong personal relationship with Jesus, uphold a personal practice of discipleship and listening, and value the local church and its leadership.

Responsibilities

Congregational accompaniment

• Ensure that congregations are aware of this position as a resource, especially for small-membership churches.

• Meet with individual pastors and laity to listen and learn about their context, share about available resources and support them as individuals in ministry leadership.

• Connect congregations with available resources in a timely manner.

• Identify trending needs and assist the Thriving Congregations team in building the congregational toolbox.

• Receive, track, and respond to requests for support directly from clergy and laity in leadership.

• Work with District Superintendents, Thriving Congregations and Conference staff to identify congregations who need proactive support.

TWKUMC Connections Map Ambassador

• Promote the map and help socialize its use throughout the Conference

• Use the Map to help bring people together, foster exchanges of support and resources, and build relationships.

• Track feedback related to the survey and/or map content & language

• Encouraging people (and eventually churches) to keep their profiles and connections updated

• Encouraging and support individuals to use the Map

• Assist the Conference to incorporate insights from the Map into activities, events and resources.

• Track and share stories of the Maps use and impact at the personal, congregational, community and Conference level

Thriving Congregations Team support

• Assist committee leaders to set agendas

• Invite and support TC members to engage directly with congregations

• Support TC to make decisions about changes to the Connections Map

• Support TC sensemaking and strategic decision making with the Connections Map

• Ability to travel throughout the conference is required, with overnight stays as needed.

• Participates in ongoing professional development and integrates emerging new learning tools and processes.

• Be financially accountable for the ministries for which you are responsible in collaboration with the Connectional Ministries Officer and the Thriving Congregations Sub-team.

• Embrace the diversity and inclusion goals of the Conference.

Education/Experience: Master's Degree (e.g. Divinity, Social Work, Social Services, Education) preferred and/or years of experience in related fields will be considered.

Experience in Asset-based community development practices is preferred.

Measures of performance

It is anticipated that the Connectional Liaison’s impact in the first year will be to connect with 144 TWK UMC congregations within the first year, making 200 connections to needed resources.

After one year of employment as a Connectional Liaison, we will be able to celebrate the following:

• A 60 percent increase in connection map participation.
• 100 churches provided support or connection.
• Of these, 50 percent will report that they feel supported by the Connectional Liaison.
• 50 connections or touch points were made between churches.
• 100 percent of Thriving Congregation Team members report a clear understanding of the team's work and its role in supporting congregational thriving in the TWK.

• The long term goal (potentially 4-7 years) is that we will see a 5 percent increase in the number of professions of faith in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference.

Salary and Benefits:

• $70,000-$80,000/annual salary range, depending on experience.

• Eligibility for benefits including medical, vision, dental, and generous retirement plan.

• Mileage reimbursement for travel throughout the conference.

• Team working environment and mission-driven work.

• A background check, reference check and Safe Gatherings online training is required.

Application Process:

Qualified applicants should send a letter of interest and resume’ to careers@twkumc.org and specify that you are applying for a Connectional Liaison position.

Deadline for submission: April 18, 2025

Organization: Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference of The United Methodist Church

Contact: Alice Grunau

Phone: 6156952760

Closing Date: 04/18/2025