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Full Job Description
Organization Profile
Specialized Pastoral Ministry is a part of the Office of National Mission. Specialized Pastoral Ministry recruits rostered ministers and church work students to serve in ministries of chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education and facilitate the ecclesiastical endorsement of these ministers.
Reporting Relationships
This position reports to the Executive Director of the Office of National Mission (ONM).
Essential Job Functions
This position will work closely with Specialized Pastoral Ministry Endorser for the LCMS, facilitating the ecclesiastical endorsement process for applicants, coordinating website and electronic news, monitoring records, and other related activities. This position will also work to coordinate recruitment opportunities and develop capacity for national conferences related to specialized pastoral ministry.
Facilitate the ecclesiastical endorsement process for Synod's rostered ministers and church work students seeking to serve in ministries of chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education.
Implement the policies of the Board for National Mission (BNM) regarding Specialized Pastoral Ministry.
Manage the Specialized Pastoral Ministry website in consultation with LCMS Communications.
Develop electronic news announcements for these ministries in consultation with Communications.
Ensure ONM representation at professional pastoral care conferences.
Develop capacity to offer national conferences for ministries in chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education.
Maintained records and monitored endorsed minister's requirements for maintaining endorsement standards.
Develop recruitment opportunities at Synod seminaries and universities.
Manage the SPM Advisory Committee business.
Prepare a list of chaplains, pastoral counselors, and clinical educators for inclusion in The Lutheran Annual in coordination with District Presidents and their staff from all 35 districts.
Direct and supervise the LCMS Prison Ministry program of responding to weekly inquiries and referrals from individuals, districts, and congregations, purchasing and distributing all devotional materials, processing weekly mailings of devotional materials and Bibles to inmates per their requests, facilitating quarterly mailings of "Portals of Prayer" to inmates, and compiling, maintaining and updating current inmate list.
Education and Experience
A member of a congregation of the LCMS, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and supportive of the Synod's Constitution, Bylaws, and policies.
Masters of Divinity, Masters in Deaconess Studies, or Masters in Theology from an LCMS seminary or university.
The endorsement in chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, or clinical education.
Experience in a specialized pastoral ministry context.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Self-motivated and able to effectively manage time, multiple projects, and requests.
Ability to travel approximately six times per year.
Must understand the working relationships of professional pastoral care organizations and other religious endorsers.
Must have a thorough knowledge of the pastoral endorsement standards and process and Synod's Handbook that addresses these ministries.
Effectively verbal and written communication with LCMS constituents.
Ability to think critically in matters of theology, process, and the church’s work of mercy.
Supervisory Responsibility
None