Job Opening: Program Associate for Global Advocacy and Education

This position will be assigned to facilitate Global Ministries’ efforts to help Disciples and UCC churches advocate on behalf of the issues important to our congregations, Global Ministries and partner churches and institutions around the world, as an integral and coordinated part of the educational and advocacy work of DOM/Global Ministries Office in consultation/cooperation with the five area offices of Global Ministries (primarily giving attention to the area offices located in Indianapolis), and in coordination with the peer position in Cleveland;

Global Ministries
of the
Division of Overseas Ministries (DOM), Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
And Wider Church Ministries (WCM), United Church of Christ

Position Description

 

Position Title:            Program Associate for Global Advocacy and Education
Ministry Teams:         Global Ministries Partner Relations and Local Church Relations Teams
Reports to:                 Executive for Mission Interpretation and Constituency Relations
Department:              Mission Interpretation and Constituency Relations
Location:                    Indianapolis, Indiana
Opening Date:           January 3, 2013                    
Closing Date:             February 11, 2013

Primary Function:
This position will be assigned to facilitate Global Ministries’ efforts to help Disciples and UCC churches advocate on behalf of the issues important to our congregations, Global Ministries and partner churches and institutions around the world, as an integral and coordinated part of the educational and advocacy work of DOM/Global Ministries Office  in consultation/cooperation with the five area offices of Global Ministries (primarily giving attention to the area offices located in Indianapolis), and in coordination with the peer position in Cleveland;

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collegially to develop public advocacy positions on global issues important to Global Ministries and its partners around the world, as prioritized and approved by the respective area executives.
• Listen, research, and write regular mission stories from mission partners and mission personnel related, to global advocacy issues, to share with the churches via the web, e-mail updates, multi-media presentations, print, and other means of communication.
• Perform activities related to education on, and interpretation of, advocacy issues, mission relationships, and background, including researching, writing, speaking, preaching, or other presentations as requested.
• Collaborate with the Disciples Office of Communication; the Disciples Peace Fellowship; and other entities and networks related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to be sure that global issues important to Global Ministries and our partners are a significant part of the Disciples advocacy and education work including participation in the Disciples Justice Table.
• Represent Global Ministries in ecumenical settings and coalitions related to advocacy.
• Equip congregations to engage in discussion and organizing to address advocacy issues.
• Advise the co-executives in responding to appeals and keep them up-dated regarding the advocacy issues they are requested to respond to from ecumenical agencies and other entities.
• Work with area executives, explore ways to strengthen Disciples region/local church global mission partnerships to become good advocates for the issues important to the partners; and, in consultation/coordination with peer advocate in Cleveland, do the same with UCC conference/local church global mission partnerships.
• Help organize ways to better assist local churches, conferences, and regions through the “Be a Global Mission Church” initiative to be involved in advocacy, i.e. seeking justice for the least of these in the international community, on behalf of issues important to their global partners, possibly including the establishment and nurture of issue or country specific networks and specific e-mail response campaigns.
• Work on the Mission and Ministries Interpreters (MMI) training team to develop the advocacy portion of the handbook and training as well as the ongoing ways to nurture interested MMI’s to be advocates on global issues as well as interpreters of mission.
• Follow through in a timely and appropriate manner on correspondence, emails, telephone calls and other matters.
• Prepare reports, docket materials, agendas, minutes, as needed for this work.
• Maintain effective relationship and communication links with the UCC and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and ecumenical partners.
• Meet regularly with the executives for Africa and Latin America to address track advocacy issues and determine best strategies

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• An understanding of and commitment to the total mission of the church and to working ecumenically; knowledge of the mission program and policies of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
• A college degree in international studies or a combination of education and related work/life experience; theological training and UCC or Christian Church membership is preferred.
• Knowledge of global issues related to economic, social, and environmental justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of the U.S. Congress’ legislative process and State Department desk work as well as the United Nations structure.
• Ability to interact effectively and sensitively with persons from diverse backgrounds and levels of education.
• Ability to exercise mature judgment and discretion, maintain confidences, organize own workload, set priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively both independently and as part of various teams.
• Ability and willingness to perform own clerical responsibilities; must be computer literate with working knowledge of email, internet, and word processing systems, especially Word and Word Perfect.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and, on occasion, internationally.
• Familiarity with other church-related and secular groups working on global issues important to Global Ministries.
• Living/working overseas experience or other international experience is desired, but not required.

Please submit cover letter and resume/vitae via email attachment in MS Word document format to pwilliams@dom.disciples.org on or before the posting deadline of February 11, 2012.