Director of Mission Theology

BASIC PURPOSE: Reporting to the General Secretary, the Director of Mission Theology will play a major role in communicating and teaching Global Ministries’ theology of mission to a wide range of audiences, as well as continually reevaluating and contributing to the agency’s theology of mission.  The Director of Mission Theology will also play an important role guiding and thinking with staff about how they use the agency’s theology of mission in their work.  Altogether, the Director of Mission Theology’s work will have an impact on not only Global Ministries and the theological basis on which its programs organize and conduct their work globally, but also the church in general, including United Methodist churches, autonomous and affiliated Methodist churches, and ecumenical partners. 

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITES:

• Articulate and help implement the goals, core values and strategies of the General Board of Global Ministries.

• Effectively communicates and engages with diverse global communities and constituencies, expanding concepts of mission education within an interdisciplinary understanding of mission as expressed in the agency’s theology of mission.

• Ensures that high quality, culturally engaging and relevant educational resources and training opportunities are developed and produced within budget and time limitations, with accurate and transparent funding accountability maintained in all relationships.

• Builds quality mission relationships with partner churches and all connectional church leadership, which facilitate positive understandings of the agency’s expressed emphasis on God’s mission (missio Dei), mission partnership, “mission from everywhere to everywhere”, and connecting the church in mission.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Analyze and evaluate the context in which the church is called to Christian Mission, develop theological understandings of the same in line with historic and current theological statements of the agency and the wider church, and develop action plans and create educational resources for sharing these understandings with the various agency constituencies. 

• Plan and facilitate learning-sharing opportunities regarding the agency’s Mission Theology statement, and other theological themes relevant to the work of the Staff, active Missionaries and those in training. These may be done in seminar type discussions. Small group study sessions and production of theological reflections in different media. 

• Collaborate with other General Agencies, such as the General Board of Discipleship, Higher Education Ministry, Church and Society, and the United Methodist Women, regarding theological education in global settings; Identify and evaluate opportunities for expansion of engagement in, and conversations around topics of mission theology, mission education, and theological education, in relationship to current denominational emphases and areas of focus.

• Serve as liaison, develop resources, and coordinate the relationships among partner churches for theological education for clergy and laity, with a particular emphasis in mission theology, through existing United Methodist, Methodist, and related ecumenical settings as identified by the Mission Theology leadership team.

• Monitor and evaluate goals and objectives related to this portfolio.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s Degree in Theology, or Missiology, or Religion. Doctorate or equivalent preferred. 

• Three (3) – Five (5) years’ experience in theological education, missiology, ecumenical work or similar ministry involving theological analysis, research and writing. 

• Global, intercultural, and interfaith professional experiences from working in various church structures and diverse faith constituencies. A strong understanding and knowledge of the United Methodist theology and it how it compares and contrasts with other streams of beliefs.

• Demonstrates leadership strength or potential; ability to relate to and engage with professors of mission theology, World Council of Churches, staff and other constituents; Demonstrates the ability to influence different spheres and to effectively navigate around a wide range of cultures, attitudes, constituencies and theological beliefs. 

• Strong communication skills- ability to responsibly discuss and articulate deep explorations of mission theology issues and to write and publish on mission theology as a representative of Global Ministries. Ability to comfortably articulate the current vision while pushing its current boundaries.

• Competent academically with the ability to practically apply academic knowledge to varying contexts and to varying levels of academic achievement via trainings, discourses and other forums. Ability to guide Global Ministries programs in how mission theology can impact their work and planning.

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