Starting date: as soon as possible
Duration of contract: initial contract of 5 years
Closing date for applications: 25 March 2019
Candidates for this position require an endorsement from an LWF member church
Purpose
In pursuit of the LWF’s ecumenical commitment to further unity in the body of Christ, the Assistant General Secretary for Ecumenical Relations holds primary responsibility for the bilateral and multilateral interaction and cooperation with other Christian World Communions and ecumenical organizations.
He/she has the delegated authority from the General Secretary, who is the Chief Ecumenical Officer of the LWF, to identify areas and themes for theological dialogue and represent the LWF in ecumenical interactions and platforms.
He/she supports the ecumenical dimensions of programs implemented by the LWF Communion Office and supports the development of capacity among member churches for ecumenical dialogue and cooperation locally, in line with the LWF Ecumenical Commitments.
Required qualifications:
PhD in Theology (ecumenical studies)
Excellent written and spoken English; French, German, Spanish would be an asset
Additional study and experience
Successful experience of several years in a position involving ecumenical dialogue / studies.
Detailed knowledge of the current status of affairs of the LWF’s bilateral dialogues and its theological topics, and of the multilateral ecumenical processes as carried by the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Global Christian Forum.
Proven ability of working through networks with collaborative style and commitment.
Proven ability to animate and conduct multi-cultural and multi-professional teams (up to 20 members) to promote goals of common interest.
Work time: 100%
Average travel days per year: extensive (more than 20 days)
Core LWF skills
- Analytical thinking
- Initiative
- Leadership
- Achieving results
- Accountability
- Working effectively with others
Very high level skills required in
- Communication
- Networking
- Facilitation / negotiation / diplomacy
- Advocacy / influcenc
- Strategic intelligence
Position environment and dimensions
Internally, works directly with the General Secretary. Cooperates with colleagues in-house as it relates to his/her portfolio.
Externally, works with the Institute for Ecumenical Research Strasbourg, with the designated staff and offices of LWF’s ecumenical partners, bilateral and multilateral, with the Lutheran co-chairs of bilateral dialogue commissions as well as with Lutheran theological institutions as they relate to his-her portfolio.
Main duties
In cooperation with the General Secretary, he/she leads, takes primary responsibility and coordinates ecumenical relations of the LWF as carried out by its Communion Office.
He/she represents the LWF in ecumenical settings and in LWF’s ecumenical interactions.
He/she assumes responsibility for the organization and planning of bilateral dialogues, providing coherence and mutual accountability, serving as a co-secretary in each dialogue.
He/she takes responsibility for the communication of ecumenical agreements and helps to create structures for their reception at all levels in the LWF.
He/she creates and coordinates sustainable ways of nurturing LWF ecumenical relations in cooperation between other departments of the Communion Office, with the LWF member churches and ecumenical partners.
He/she promotes within the Communion Office and LWF Member Churches an ecumenical spirit, in line with the LWF Ecumenical Commitments.
He/she follows up the developments within the Ecumenical Movement, and in cooperation with the General Secretary and other internal stakeholders, defines the LWF stand accordingly.
Major Challenges
Gives continuation to the LWF’s solid record of ecumenical interaction and its significant outcomes in a time of changes and shifts within the ecumenical landscape.
