Interim New Church Strategist

Disciples Church Extension Fund; Indiana (PA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Disciples Church Extension Fund is seeking an Interim New Church Strategist to evaluate and evolve our ministry models during an up-to-18-month term. You will lead data-driven program assessment and build relationships across the denomination to align regional needs with organizational goals for church planting.

You will develop a revised New Church Ministry framework delivering measurable impact across the wider church, reporting to the President & CEO.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field is required; graduate degree (M.Div., MTS, etc.) a plus.
• Clergy in good standing with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in faith-based nonprofit, congregational, or regional leadership with focus on program administration or strategic operations.
• Systems thinker with ability to analyze data to identify inefficiencies and build measurable reporting.
• Collaborative team player who can deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines and budget constraints.
• Proven relationship-builder across general, regional, and local church leaders for church-planting support.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; able to present complex data clearly to leadership.
• Results-oriented self-starter capable of driving projects to completion and aligning with mission.

Responsibilities

• Drive operational execution and day-to-day management of New Church Ministry projects to meet milestones.
• Cultivate denominational relationships to support church-planting and connect regions to resources.
• Lead evaluation and continuous improvement of NCM programming using qualitative and quantitative data.

Skills

Systems thinking

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Leadership experience

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Graduate degree (M.Div., MTS, etc.)

Job description

Position: Interim New Church Strategist

Classification: Temporary Full-time, Exempt (maximum 18 months)

Reports to: President & CEO

Location: Remote (within the United States)

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

At Disciples Church Extension Fund, a faith-based nonprofit organization, we empower congregations by providing ministry and financial resources and expertise. As a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, we are committed to serving with integrity, excellence, and a deep sense of partnership. We believe in creating Holy Places where communities connect with God and each other.

Join us and make a tangible difference in the lives of congregations everywhere.

POSITION SUMMARY

As the Interim New Church Strategist, you will evaluate and evolve our congregational development models during this up-to-18-month term. Reporting to the President & CEO, you will spearhead data-driven program assessment and analysis to audit existing initiatives and measure performance, while building relationships across the denomination to align regional needs with organizational goals for successful church planting. You will leverage these insights to help DCEF develop a revised New Church Ministry framework that delivers structured, measurable impact across the wider church.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Project & Program Implementation: In collaboration with support staff, drives operational execution and day-to-day management of ongoing New Church Ministry (NCM) projects and programs to ensure milestones are met efficiently. Maintains continuity while identifying strategic operational improvements by coordinating timelines, administrative tasks, and program resources.
• Strategic Advocacy & Relationship Building: Cultivates and maintains positive, collaborative working relationships across denominational regions and ethnic constituencies to establish NCM as a trusted source of support for The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and its denominational leaders. Actively engages and partners with regional leaders, including New Church commissions, to understand local realities and support local church-planting efforts by connecting regions to resources, ensuring a unified, respectful approach to expanding and sustaining emerging and affiliating congregations. Champions the vision of NCM by leading inspiring workshops and presentations that captivate audiences, foster active participation, and generate renewed excitement for regional church development.
• Program Innovation & Evaluation: Leads the continuous improvement of NCM programming within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by concurrently assessing existing initiatives, activities, and events to evaluate their feasibility, viability, and impact. Collaborates with support staff and utilizes organizational technology systems to analyze qualitative and quantitative data to maximize overall ministry effectiveness.
• Strategic Thinking, Planning, and Reporting: Synthesizes quantitative and qualitative data to design, write, and present comprehensive reports that clearly communicate program performance to leadership. Translates these strategic assessments into actionable planning frameworks that deliver structured, measurable impact across the wider church. These evidence-based insights directly inform executive decisions regarding the future focus, resource allocation, and overall direction.
• Other Responsibilities: Perform other duties as assigned to support the organization's mission andobjectives.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• None

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; graduate degree (M.Div., MTS, etc.) a plus.
• Clergy in good standing with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in faith-based nonprofit, congregational, or regional leadership, with a focus on program administration or strategic operations.
• Systems thinker with the ability to analyze and use data to identify inefficiencies, develop practical, measurable program plans, and integrate data points into a cohesive, measurable reporting system.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a dynamic, project-based environment, with the ability to deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines and defined budgetary constraints.
• Proven relationship-builder capable of establishing positive, collaborative working relationships across general, regional, and local Church, serving as a trusted source of support for local church-planting efforts.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex operational data into clear, objective presentation materials for executive leadership.
• Results-oriented self-starter capable of independently driving projects to completion, while remaining highly committed to shared accountability and collective success.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultivating an anti-racist, pro-reconciling environment and aligning work streams with the mission, vision, and core values of the Disciples Church Extension Fund.

TRAVEL

• Extensive travel (up to 50%) for congregational visits, regional events, educational seminars, and denominational gatherings.Authorized work-related travel expenses are reimbursed in accordance with standard corporate travel policies.
• Must live within 1 hour of a major airport

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

• Occasional lifting to40lbs.
• Long periodsof sitting at a desk on a computerin a home office environment
• Must maintain a secure, private home office environment with reliable, high-speed internet connectivity.

BENEFITS:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents, employer-paid life insurance, generous paid time off that includes vacation and sick/personal time, fully funded pension plan, robust employee assistance program for employees and their dependents, paid parking, and ample opportunities for professional development and growth.

This is a temporary interim appointment for up to 18 months, carrying no guarantee of permanent employment. This assignment is on an at-will basis, except where prohibited by law, where this 18-month term will serve as the employee's designated probationary period. Transition to a permanent role is not automatic and requires a separate, external, and competitive application process, including meeting all location-specific pay and disclosure requirements at that time.

EEOC STATEMENT

Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We expect every member of the DCEF community to do their part to cultivate andmaintainan environment where everyone feels included and isaffordedthe respect and dignity they deserve. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, and local laws.

Questions? Email [e-mail] with the subject line: InterimNew Church Strategist