Minister for Congregational Leadership, Application Close: March 31, 2025

GENERAL PURPOSE OF POSITION:

The Faith INFO Minister for Congregational Leadership works to ensure that every local congregation is well equipped to assess where they are, address the challenges and opportunities facing congregations in the 21st Century, and grow in faithful and vital ministry with/in their unique geography and cultural context(s). This position serves as a connecter of communities towards resources that support vital and faithful ministry, including program grants, CASA grants, the Manual on Local Church, and other FaithINFO and NMUCC resources, with attentiveness and care for relationships with and between all settings of the UCC. While trained to work with any congregation, this position has a particular focus on historically under resourced congregations such as communities of color, ethnic identified communities, small and/or rural churches, lay led churches, and new and renewing churches.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Facilitate a broad-range of constituency networks (new congregations/leaders, renewing congregations/pastors, intercultural and multiethnic ministries-congregations of color and ethnic identified congregations,- rural churches) in the United Church of Christ using new models and techniques for creating and expanding these relationships, and in relationship with the Conference Ministers.
• Coach and support new and renewing churches, local churches in their lay leadership development and faithful and vital ministry in alignment with the Marks for Faithful and Vital Local Churches.
• Work closely with the Minister for Granting and Scholarships to convene CASA grantees and ensure the programs continued success and improvement.
• Create relationships and systems of accountability for grantees toward identified goals, budgets and essential pivots, in preparation for multi-year funding
• Serve as an evaluator for granting and scholarship and work with the Team Leader of FaithINFO to assess the equity and impact of these programs annually.
• Serve as the primary point person to the Pension Boards regarding the New Church Benefit Support Program, identifying eligible pastors, encouraging application, and reporting on their progress
• Work with CARDD to maintain up-to-date lists of new church starts, Congregations of Color and Ethnic Identified Congregations, STAR (small town and rural) churches, and lay led churches in the United Church of Christ, and report on changes regularly
• Design and lead programs for and with constituents towards practical and spiritual congregational leadership skills and capacity.
• Support the Faith INFO Team Goals, events and programs, such as the Manual on Church and Nurture the Soul.
• Develop and maintain professional and courteous relationships with UCC national and conference staff, community and religious partners and other constituents; serve as a positive role model by exemplifying values which are consistent with the United Church of Christ.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.