Field Organizer Lilly Pathways Initiative (Temporary)

The Lilly Pathways Initiative is a three-year grant designed to support the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) in developing new models of theological education that are rooted in listening, responsive to the evolving needs of the public church, and accessible to diverse communities of ministry leaders. Through this initiative, LSTC is building an integrated system that connects community engagement, research, discernment, and program development to create formation pathways that are grounded in real-world ministry contexts.

Central to this work is a commitment to beginning with listening—engaging ministry leaders and communities to understand their experiences, challenges, and opportunities—before designing programs or resources. Insights gathered through this process inform the development of leadership formation pathways, including certificate programs, cohort-based learning experiences, and digital resources.

The Field Organizer position, funded through this grant, is essential to this model and serves as the primary bridge between the seminary and the communities it seeks to engage.

General Summary 

The Field Organizers are responsible for cultivating relationships with ministry leaders, gathering insights from community contexts, and supporting the recruitment, delivery, and ongoing success of new formation programs— and existing programs, particularly the Synod Authorized Minister (SAM) Development Training Program.

The Field Organizers will serve within the initiative, each focusing on specific communities aligned with the initiative’s priorities (African descent communities, queer Christian communities, and Latinx ministry networks), while also supporting synod relationships and institutional partnerships.

In this role, the Field Organizers operate at the intersection of community engagement and program implementation—ensuring that LSTC’s formation pathways are both informed by the field and effectively delivered to those they are designed to serve.

Key Responsibilities

Community Engagement: 

• Cultivate relationships with ministry leaders, congregations, and community partners  
• Facilitate listening sessions, interviews, and community conversations  
• Identify emerging leadership challenges, spiritual practices, and formation needs  
• Gather and document qualitative insights to inform program development  
• Encourage participation and community building through the Faithia digital community spaces  

Listening & Field Research: 

• Design and facilitate listening sessions, interviews, and focus groups with ministry leaders and community members  
• Gather qualitative and quantitative insights on leadership formation needs, spiritual practices, and community challenges  
• Document and synthesize findings from field engagement in clear, actionable formats  
• Utilize digital tools (e.g., Faithia platform, surveys, transcription tools) to support data collection and analysis  

Insight Translation & Strategic Contribution:

• Collaborate with the Strategic Alliance Coordinator to interpret field data and identify key themes and opportunities  
• Contribute to the development of insight reports that inform program design and institutional strategy  
• Bring forward emerging trends, gaps, and opportunities in theological education and ministry practice  
• Participate in discernment processes within the Public Church Hub  

Program Development Support: 

• Partner with faculty, instructional designers, and project teams to ensure that new programs and resources reflect field insights  
• Provide contextual feedback on curriculum design, delivery models, and learner experience  
• Support pilot programs and user testing by identifying participants and gathering feedback  

Ongoing Engagement & Feedback Loops: 

• Maintain ongoing relationships with communities engaged in the design process  
• Support evaluation efforts by collecting feedback on launched programs and initiatives  
• Help close the loop between community input and institutional response   

Cohort Coordination and Facilitator Alignment: 

• Meet regularly with the SAM Development Program Coordinator to align on recruitment, onboarding, and participant progress  
• Support the training and onboarding of cohort facilitators  
• Meet monthly with cohort facilitators to:  
• Review cohort progress  
• Identify challenges or gaps in engagement  
• Ensure alignment with program goals and learner experience  
• Monitor cohort health and ensure participants remain on track  

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master of Divinity (MDiv) or related theological degree preferred  
• Demonstrated experience in ministry, community organizing, or faith-based leadership  
• Strong relational and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across diverse contexts  
• Experience facilitating conversations, focus groups, or community gatherings  
• Ability to synthesize qualitative insights into clear, actionable themes  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills  
• Willingness to travel regularly – up to 15% 

Preferred 

• Familiarity with ELCA or mainline Protestant contexts  
• Experience working across cultural, racial, and socioeconomic differences  
• Experience with digital engagement tools, research methods, or data collection platforms  
• Background in leadership development or theological education  

Work Environment & Expectations 

• Hybrid role with significant time spent in the field  
• Regular travel to ministry sites, synods, and partner organizations  
• Flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends 

LSTC is committed to diversity, anti-racism, and anti-oppression. Women and/or persons from historically underrepresented cultural groups are encouraged to apply. LSTC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.

Application Process 

Please submit a resume/CV and letter of interest that includes: a) your reasons for applying, b) your work experience relevant to this position, and c) a brief description of how you connect to LSTC’s mission. Please submit all applications through the employment application portal: https://www.lstc.edu/about/employment.