Associate Pastor jobs in Meridian, ID

The Developer Pastor and BBJ Director will have two primary roles: to develop and lead an English-language worship service and community hosted by the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL); and to oversee and manage the Bethany Beyond the Jordan (BBJ) pilgrimage site, also a ministry of the ELCJHL, which hosts Christian visitors from nearby communities and around the world. The developer pastor/BBJ director will nurture and facilitate the current ministries of the BBJ and may also work on projects related to growth opportunities for the BBJ.

This position, which could be held by one person or shared by a missionary couple, will build relationships with the pastors and members of the ELCJHL in Jordan, Jerusalem, and the West Bank, particularly ELCJHL bishop Ibrahim Azar, Pastor Imad Haddad, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman, and the members of Good Shepherd. The position will also work with the ELCA Middle East North Africa (MENA) director, and with ecumenical Middle East North Africa (MENA) partners, with four main goals:

• Establish an opportunity for English-language worship and community for residents of the Amman area as an outreach ministry of the ELCJHL in partnership with the ELCA.
• Strengthen the engagement of Palestinian, Jordanian, and other MENA Christians with the baptismal site
• Continue and expand the existing ministry at the BBJ by offering hospitality and spiritual care to BBJ visitors, hosting occasional visits by groups and individual pilgrims, guiding visitors to and around the site, and facilitating affirmations of baptism, baptisms, retreats, and other worship and devotional opportunities. They will also steward and care for the physical property of the baptismal site, including maintenance and repairs, and will oversee the scheduling of visits and events.
• Build and maintain, as an ELCA missionary, cooperative accompaniment relationships with the ELCJHL, local and regional ecumenical partners, and ELCA and other global sponsors of the baptismal site.

Timeline:

Application Opens: February 2024

Interviews: March – April 2024

ELCA Orientation and ELCA Summer Missionary Conference July 2024

Assignments include:

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman:

Under the guidance of ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar and in consultation with Pr. Imad Haddad,

• Develop a regular English-language worship service and community as an outreach ministry of the ELCJHL hosted by Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd
• Develop additional ministry opportunities, including pastoral care presence, with Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Amman in partnership with Pastor Imad Haddad

Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan Baptismal Site:

Under the guidance of ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar and in consultation with Pr. Imad Haddad,

• Develop educational and spiritual BBJ site tours
• Apply knowledge of different Christian traditions and rituals concerning baptism and remembrance of baptism
• Organize liturgies and services of various lengths and styles
• Prepare retreats for visiting groups in collaboration with group leaders
• Design and develop an ongoing program that would encourage repeated and extended visits of groups from all over the world (especially with youth and young adults)
• Arrange and oversee maintenance, including supervising one staff member
• Coordinate security procedures
• Deliver reports to donors and other advisory staff
• Communicate with different individuals and representatives of colleague organizations through website, social media, and newsletters
• Build and strengthen ecumenical relations with other churches at the Baptismal Site and in the larger surrounding community
• Visit other spiritual formation centers in the region and beyond
• Manage visitor information and communication

All ELCA global personnel participate in mission interpretation and storytelling. This includes:

• Quarterly newsletters to sponsoring congregations and individuals.
• Virtual visits throughout the year with sponsoring congregations and individuals.

Site Information:

This position will be based in or near Amman, Jordan with a regular commute and occasional overnight stay at the Bethany-Beyond-the-Jordan complex in the area of the Jordan River baptismal site (which is a UNESCO World Heritage site), in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (which has its headquarters in Jerusalem). The BBJ site includes a sanctuary, living quarters, and a meeting space. The pastor/director will be expected to live in a mutually agreed-upon location within daily commuting distance from both Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and the BBJ site (separated from each other by an approx. 1-hour drive).

• M.Div. or similar required.
• Minimum of five years of service in pastoral ministry, with experience in worship planning and leadership, retreat planning and leadership, mentoring, and counseling for spiritual growth preferred. Prior experience in mission development a plus.
• Strong and deep commitment to Christian faith with a desire to be engaged in servant leadership by word and personal example.
• Good grounding in theological and biblical tradition, with an ecumenical outlook and commitment.
• An in-depth theological understanding of Christian pilgrimage.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity with experience in, appreciation for, and an ability to adapt within cross-cultural and intergenerational communities.
• Arabic (either proficiency or aptitude and willingness to learn) preferred.
• Additional languages (Spanish, German, French, etc.) helpful but not required.
• Competence in administrative, management, and volunteer supervision.
• Strong communication skills in a variety of media.
• Strong organization and planning skills, self-directed with the ability to balance strategic planning and implementation.
• A willingness to learn new skills.
• Prioritize responsibilities, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, at both a strategic and operational level.
• Maintain and oversee property maintenance.
• Maintain self-care and physical and emotional health in a relatively remote area near a sensitive national border (Jordan/West Bank/Israel).
• Live and serve in a way which reflects the vision and expectations of the ELCA.

Terms and Conditions

• Global Mission 2-year
• This position is supported under the Global Mission Two-year (GM2) contract terms and conditions or as letter of agreement, depending on qualifications. Basic provisions include: international transportation, transportation related to work assignment, pensions and major medical coverage, housing and cash salary which is adjusted according to the goods and services differential for Japan.
• Supervision is by the ELCA Area Desk Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Physical Effort

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Employee will occasionally need to lift boxes or materials up to 15 pounds. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Psychological evaluation is required.