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HIRING: Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries

November 30, 2020

The Western North Carolina Conference is seeking a Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries (CDEJM) to direct our strategic efforts in diversity, equity, belonging, and advocacy and to help implement these practices in all areas of Conference and local church ministry. The CDEJM will focus on the Comprehensive Plan of Equity, the Extended Cabinet’s Holy Listening and Holy Action: The Work of the Whole Church and other related initiatives to create a culture of belonging and justice at all levels of the Church.  The CDEJM be a member of the Extended Cabinet and will work closely with the Bishop, the Appointive Cabinet, the Connectional Table, and other staff leaders to implement a holistic and impactful equity and inclusion strategy across the Conference. If you are interested in being considered for this position, please complete this application and attach your resume.  Applications must be submitted on or before January 15, 2021.

Download the Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries Job Description as a pdf.

Job Description: Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries
PURPOSE
We, the people of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, affirm that all people are created in the image of God. Our baptismal vows call us to seek equity and justice for all people (United Methodist Hymnal, p. 34, 40, and 50). Christ commands us to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and to love our neighbors at the same time that we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-39). In addition, Christ instructs us to treat others as we would desire to be treated (Luke 6:31). Just as Christ is the visible image of an invisible God who is reconciling all things to God’s self (Colossians 1:15-20), we endeavor to lead our church to be a visible sign of God’s unconditional and reconciling love for all people. We seek a Conference Director of Equity and Justice to lead us to live more fully into this vision so that all may experience the God of welcome, belonging, justice, mercy, unity, and reconciliation.  
 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
Job Summary 
The Western North Carolina Conference is seeking a Conference Director of Equity and Justice Ministries (CDEJM) to direct our strategic efforts in diversity, equity, inclusion and advocacy and to help implement these practices in all areas of Conference and local church ministry. The CDEJM will focus on the Comprehensive Plan of Equity, the Extended Cabinet’s Holy Listening and Holy Action: The Work of the Whole Church and other related initiatives to create a culture of inclusion and justice at all levels of the Church.  The CDEJM will work closely with the Bishop, the Extended Cabinet, the Appointive Cabinet, the Connectional Table, and other staff leaders to implement a holistic and impactful equity and inclusion strategy across the Conference.  The CDEJM will be a member of the Extended Cabinet and will be in a consultative relationship with the Appointive Cabinet. 
 
Primary Responsibilities  

  • Lead and champion implementation of the Comprehensive Plan of Equity and related initiatives and programs across the Conference. 
  • Serve as staff liaison for the Justice and Reconciliation Team, related ethnic caucuses and groups (African American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian American, Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century, UMC National Plan implementation, etc.) and Advocacy efforts (Creation Care, COSROW, and other related initiatives surrounding voting, disabilities, mass incarceration, opioid crisis, etc.). 
  • Conduct listening sessions, surveys and other methods of research to identify gaps and build strategies to assist in aligning the Comprehensive Plan of Equity and any other initiatives with the needs of clergy, church leaders, and congregations of color. 
  • Work with other ministry areas within the Conference to improve existing processes and create solutions to break down barriers for inclusion. These ministry areas include Human Resources, Finance and Administration, Church Development, Ministerial Services, Leadership Development, Mission Engagement, Communications, Technology, etc.
  • Communicate often with Conference leadership and local church representatives about successes, opportunities, and needs related to diversity, equity, justice, and advocacy. 

 
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS  

  • Profess a strong and obvious faith in God through Jesus Christ and a commitment to social justice grounded in the Christian Scriptures and Wesleyan tradition and theology.
  • Vision of the church as a primary avenue through which God works in the world. 
  • Commitment to the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. 
  • Familiarity or an openness to learn and adhere to United Methodist doctrine and polity. 
  • Comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and experience with anti-racism; with systems of oppression; with the concepts and practices of equity, inclusion, and justice; and with how injustice intersects across social lines of demarcation (e.g., race, gender, ability, and class).
  • Ability to share knowledge, understanding, and experience to duplicate the models and practices of equity, inclusion, and justice to others within the Conference.
  • High emotional intelligence, high cultural intelligence, an openness to learning, and an awareness of resources related to equity, inclusion, and justice.
  • A high capacity to influence, manage, function in, and lead through organizational change, which includes a proven track record of fostering, driving, and implementing innovative ideas with broad impact. 
  • Demonstrated strategic partnering skills and the ability to work across functions and communities to develop ideas and deliver outcomes. 
  • Demonstrated experience articulating a vision, translating it into executable strategy and driving cross-functional teams to deliver against the plan. 
  • Commitment to demonstrate the Foundational Traits of all conference leaders.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in a relevant area. 


SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsible for the oversight of Conference committees connected to the position ensuring that appropriate leadership is in place to maintain the Committee’s necessary and independent function.  The Director is responsible for delegating and administering the work assignments for this position whether employees or volunteers.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/DYNAMICS
Some work will or may be performed in an office environment.  Some of the work of this position will take place in various locations and settings including but not limited to local churches, other conference locations, offices or facilities of partner ministries.