A new era of faithful innovation and exploration is essential for the church’s future in the Chicagoland area and worldwide in the post-Christendom era in which we find ourselves. The mainline denominations struggle with declining membership and a lack of vital congregations. The Presbytery of Chicago seeks to respond to God’s call to continue supporting the church’s mission by nurturing the emergence and growth of faithful, innovative leaders across Chicagoland by establishing the position of Director of Faithful Innovation. The Director of Faithful Innovation will gather and support a diverse network of church leaders who are innovators, including new worshipping communities and new ministries in existing congregations, who will seek to grow the church in impact and size. The Director of Innovation will also develop support systems to nurture and deepen the learning and experience of these faithful innovators and congregations. The Director and the Presbytery of Chicago will partner with Cyclical Inc. in this work.

Salary:  $70,000 with benefits (full-time)

All cover letters, résumés, and PDPs should be sent to employment@chicagopresbytery.org

 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Nurturing the Development of New Worshipping Communities (NWC) and Faithful Innovative Leaders

• Partner with Cyclical to gather emerging discerners and starters of faithful innovative ministry.
• Work with Cyclical to build systems for assessing and training faithful innovative leaders.
• Work with the NWC committee to develop practices to determine when to scale and dissolve NWCs and faithful innovative experiments.
• Encourage the imagination and theological importance of starting faithful, innovative diverse experiments, including Church Redevelopment and Church Revitalization projects within the everyday practices of particular congregations in the Presbytery of Chicago.
• Communicate with those interested in NWCs or faithful innovative ministry.
• Create a process to determine annual budgeting and sustainable funding for NWCs and faithful innovative projects.
• Staff the Resurrection Cultivation Committee.
• Staff the Mission Committee including the Salary Supplemental Program and Small Church Program.
• Partner with the EP to reform the presbytery into a more faithful innovative community.
• Cyclical will be supporting the growth and development of the Director of Faithful Innovation through mentoring and training opportunities.

Other duties as assigned.

 QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the theology, polity, and mission of the PCUSA.
• Preferred Ruling Elder or Teaching Elder in the PCUSA with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Minimum five years of experience in ecclesial innovation.
• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required. Graduate degree preferred.
• Knowledge of Presbyterian polity, practices, and procedural operations is preferred.
• The ability to function well within a complex, multi-cultural metropolitan environment.
• Ability to make decisions and work independently.
• Clearly defined professional boundaries and an ability to balance the multiple aspects of one’s life.
• Ability to work successfully with ministers and entities constituted by members of presbyteries.
• Ability to work with highly confidential and sensitive materials.

 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The position requires physical and cognitive endurance; the Director of Faithful Innovation must be able to work long hours and must have reliable automobile transportation.

 EVALUATION AND REVIEW

Cyclical will perform a 90-day review. The Executive Presbyter will conduct a 6-month review. In addition, Cyclical and the Executive Presbyter will review this position annually in consultation with the Personnel Committee of the Presbytery of Chicago, under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery Coordinating Commission.

Cyclical will be supporting the hiring process of the Director of Faithful Innovation.

 MDP Questions

How would you describe the congregation’s/organization’s specific vision for ministry? How will this vision impact the community? Is the congregation part of a ministry vision or program?

A new era of faithful innovation and exploration is essential for the church’s future in the Chicagoland area and worldwide in the post-Christendom era in which we find ourselves. The mainline denominations struggle with declining membership and a lack of vital congregations. The Presbytery of Chicago seeks to respond to God’s call to continue supporting the church’s mission by nurturing the emergence and growth of faithful, innovative leaders across Chicagoland by establishing the position of Director of Faithful Innovation.

What is the nature and context of the community in which your congregation lives out its mission/vision? How will you address the emerging needs that are impacting your community?

Chicagoland is defined by its diversity of people, nationalities, neighborhoods, faiths, and work. The presbytery seeks to create pathways for diversity in ministry within Chicagoland’s communities. Furthermore, the presbytery seeks to help outward-focused and faithful innovative pastors do creative and inviting ministry. The Director of Faithful Innovation will be instrumental in gathering leaders for new ministry while walking with pastors and congregations seeking faithful innovation.

How will this call help complement the responsibilities of other staff/volunteer positions,and the life of the congregation/organization, so that you may accomplish your short and long-term goals for ministry?

The Director of Faithful Innovation will work in collaboration with the executive presbyter, the committee for Resurrection and Cultivation grants, the Mission committee, and the New Worshipping Communities committee to identify, network, and cultivate faithful innovative leaders, while encouraging pastors and congregations in the work of revitalization and redevelopment. In addition, with the partnership of Cyclical, the Director of Faithful Innovation will help plant and nurture new worshipping communities in the POC.

Provide a description of the skills, gifts and training the person you hope will become a part of your ministry must have, to lead the congregation towards the vision and mission

1. Commitment to the theology, polity, and mission of the PCUSA.
2. Preferred Ruling Elder or Teaching Elder in the PCUSA with excellent interpersonal skills.
3. Minimum five years of experience in ecclesial innovation.
4. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent required. Graduate degree preferred.
5. Knowledge of Presbyterian polity, practices, and procedural operations is preferred.
6. Knowledge of Chicagoland preferred.
7. The ability to function well within a complex, multi-cultural metropolitan environment.
8. Ability to make decisions and work independently.
9. Clearly defined professional boundaries and an ability to balance the multiple aspects of one’s life.
10. Ability to work successfully with ministers and entities constituted by members of presbyteries.
11. Ability to work with highly confidential and sensitive materials.

What areas of ministry do you expect the person called to be responsible for? Share specific tasks, assignments, and programs.

The Director of Faithful Innovation will

• Identify and recruit a team of faithful innovative leaders.
• Partner with Cyclical to plant new worshipping communities in the Presbytery of Chicago.
• Staff the New Worshipping Communities committee.
• Staff the Resurrection and Cultivation grant committee.
• Staff the Mission Committee.
• Identify and meet with pastors and Congregations who are seeking creative and faithful innovative expressions of ministry.
• Work with the executive presbytery to communicate faithful innovation throughout the system and structure of the Presbytery of Chicago.