Executive Director, LCRL

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's LCRL Mission seeks an Executive Director to lead advocacy, fundraising, and public policy engagement in Washington, D.C.

You will communicate LCMS positions on marriage, life, and religious liberty, build coalitions, and supervise staff, aligning operations with the Synod's values and strategic goals.

This role requires strong leadership, DC policy experience, and the ability to cultivate relationships with policymakers, faith leaders, and donors.

Qualifications

• Experience in Washington, DC policy and advocacy activities.
• Ability to develop educational resources on the three foci and public engagement.
• Strong communication skills for diverse stakeholders including policymakers and donors.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of state and national activities affecting marriage, life, and religious liberty.
• Develop and share educational resources for Synod and public use.
• Widely communicate DC activities to LCMS members and the public.
• Build coalitions and partnerships with like-minded groups on key issues.
• Lead fundraising efforts with LCMS Mission Advancement toward goals.
• Organize discussions and presentations to explain LCMS positions to varied audiences.
• Meet with congressional staff, think tanks, media, and church leaders in DC to discuss LCMS views.
• Coordinate with LCMS ministries to promote understanding of the three foci.
• Oversee daily ministry of presence on the Hill and with stakeholders.

Skills

Public policy

Fundraising

Advocacy

Public speaking

Coalition building

Nonprofit leadership

Job description

The LCRL Mission

The purposes for which the LCRL is organized as a 501(c)(3), include but are not limited, are to educate and advance the religious beliefs of the Synod, establish partnerships as appropriate, and provide resources regarding three areas of foci: marriage, life and religious liberty.

Reporting Relationships

• - Reports to the LCRL Board of Directors.
• - Supervises any additional staff of the LCRL.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the primary representative of the LCMS in Washington, D.C., advancing and communicating the Synods positions on marriage, the sanctity of life, and religious liberty. This role monitors legislative, regulatory, and cultural developments at the state and national levels; develops educational resources and communication strategies; and cultivates relationships with policymakers, faith leaders, advocacy organizations, media, and other key stakeholders. The position promotes informed engagement in the public square through speaking, teaching, coalition-building, and advocacy efforts, while also leading fundraising initiatives to support the ministrys mission and strategic objectives. Through a visible and consistent presence in Washington, D.C., the Executive Director strengthens the LCMS voice on critical public policy issues and equips church leaders, members, and partners to effectively engage these matters from a Lutheran perspective.

Essential Job Functions (carried out within permissible IRS limitations as a 501c3 organization)

• - Maintain knowledge of both state and national level activities, opportunities, challenges and threats to the three foci (marriage between one man and one woman, sanctity of life, religious liberty for all).
• - Responsible for developing or making available educational resources for use by the Synod or public on the three foci and participation in the public square.
• - Widely communicate (print, web, social media, etc.) to the LCMS members and individuals current Washington, D.C., activities related to the three foci, what they mean for the church and why they are important to every person.
• - Serves as an LCMS Ambassador in Washington, D.C. responsible to develop or participate in coalitions, partnerships and connections with other like-minded individuals or groups on the issues of concern and leverage these contacts to achieve goals or respond to the most urgent or timely matter related to the three foci.
• - Serve as lead fund developer and regularly engage with LCMS Mission Advancement to develop funding strategy, identify and engage with potential and current donors, and work collaboratively to achieve fund development goals.
• - Identify and organize timely discussion groups, presentations that help share with others (laity, church workers or those of influence in Washington) what the LCMS believes about the three foci and why and how the public square and policies might be impacted and formulated to achieve desired ends.
• - Meet regularly with Congressional representatives, senior staff, executive branch staff, think tanks, media, other religious leaders, or partners who comprise the various networks in Washington D.C., to speak about the LCMS and its values and teachings related to the three foci.
• - Liase with various local, state, regional, or national LCMS laity, church leaders, LCMS agencies, congregations, or others to help advocate for and educate on the organizations three foci and encourage participation in the public square.
• - Respond to media requests, inquiries, or submit op-eds that leverage the LCMS view related to the three foci.
• - Willing and able to speak at LCMS-related conferences, conventions and other events on the current issues facing the LCMS and how the church responds to them.
• - Work in conjunction with other LCMS ministries (LCMS U, Life Ministries, Gods Gift of Sexuality task force, etc.) to promote the LCMS understanding of the three foci.
• - Implement a daily ministry of presence on the Hill and with stakeholders.

Education and Experience

• - Full-time residence in Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
• - Experience working in Washington, D.C. and working with Congress, preferred.
• - Active member in good standing of a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod member congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and supportive of the Synod's Constitution, Bylaws, resolutions and policies.
• - LCMS minister of religion–ordained, desired.

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• - Keen knowledgeable about Washington D.C., Capitol Hill, public policy and United States government.
• - Good understanding of and adept at non-profit fund development principles, strategies and techniques.
• - Strong business acumen.
• - Excellent communicator and public speaker.
• - Able to comfortably engage individuals in discussions of critical issues.
• - Able to oversee and implement several complex efforts under deadlines.
• - Knowledge of First Amendment to the Constitution, preferred.
• - Knowledgeable of LCMS teachings related to three areas of foci (marriage, life, religious liberty) and Two Kingdom doctrine.
• - Knowledgeable about current pressing threats and issues related to three foci.
• - Clearly understands the importance of LCMS members being active in the public square.
• - Recognizes the value and efficacy of the ministry of presence in DC.

Supervisory Responsibility

• - Responsible for supervising all staff of LCRL office in Washington, D.C