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Position Description

Scope of the Position

The General Secretary’s responsibility is to nurture the shared mission of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) and to ensure the effective implementation of this mission through the CRCNA Ministry Plan in Canada and the United States. The General Secretary will shape and embrace an organizational culture that supports an effective partnership and collaboration between the ministry boards, agencies, partners, and staff that serve the CRCNA. The General Secretary will nurture strong ecumenical relationships and will keep the CRCNA attentive to synod’s long-term vision for its mission in the world, both locally and globally.

Reports to

The General Secretary serves at the pleasure of the synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The General Secretary reports directly to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Council of Delegates.

Partnerships and Working Relationships

The General Secretary oversees the CRCNA governance and ministry frameworks and uses the Joint Ministry Planning System to outline the partnerships and working relationships required to implement the CRCNA ministry plans.

Supervises and Oversees

The General Secretary oversees the ministry leadership team.

Direct Reports

The Chief Administrative Officer, as a member of the Office of General Secretary, reports to the General Secretary. Other members that report directly or indirectly to the General Secretary will be identified in the table of organization.

Roles and Responsibilities

  1. Mission

    1. Serves as an effective partner with synod and the Council of Delegates in nurturing a culture that advances a shared mission for the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
    2. Ensures that each ministry agency and ministry partner is strategically and operationally aligned with the mission.
    3. Nurtures strong ecumenical relationships and will keep the CRCNA attentive to synod’s long-term vision for its mission in the world, both locally and globally.
    4. Prompts and mobilizes missional engagement by imagining possibilities, promoting learning opportunities, sharing stories and best practices, and facilitating use of resources for mutual learning.
  2. Synod and the Council of Delegates

    1. Board learning and development

      • Promotes an effective governance partnership between synod, the Council of Delegates, ministry boards, and partners in Canada and the United States.

      • Ensures that CRCNA boards and their members fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities and compliance with governmental rules and regulations.

      • Expands board capacity, builds board leadership, and promotes best governance practices and continuous improvement.

    2. Communications and logistics

      • Makes needed arrangements for the meetings of synod, the Council of Delegates, and synodical study committees and task forces; and functions as operations officer during such meetings.

      • Is responsible for all official proceedings and publications of synod, the Council of Delegates, and synodical study committees and task forces.

      • Ensures that the Acts of Synod are communicated to ministry leaders and partners, including Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.

      • Communicates the denomination’s mission, vision, and decisions based on synod’s actions to the congregations and classes.

      • Communicates with all churches regarding the denominational survey, synod’s agenda, and the request for synodical advisers.

      • Provides “a state of the church” address and report to synod.

    3. Functions

      • Has the privilege of the floor at synod and at Council of Delegates meetings in all matters relating to the exercise of this office.

      • Serves synod with information and advice as requested regarding matters that come to the floor of synod.

      • Is present during all executive sessions of synod and of the Council of Delegates, except when matters under discussion affect the person or performance of the General Secretary and the General Secretary is requested to be absent.

      • Serves as an ex officio, voting member of the executive committee of the Council of Delegates (COD), the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee, and such other committees as synod or the COD may, from time to time, decide.

      • Provides a report to each synod, offering a vision for the future ministry of the CRCNA.

      • Serves as ecumenical officer and author of church communications and correspondence on behalf of synod.

  3. Leadership

    1. Serves as a rallying point in times of crisis and as a voice of our shared faith.

    2. Assumes a pastoral stance of nurturing, guiding, and setting the tone for leadership and service in the CRCNA.

    3. Provides pastoral support to all ministry leaders and partners to build and support an organizational culture that promotes partnership, innovation, and accountability.

    4. Provides regular and ongoing communication to the denomination, using multiple media platforms and publications.

    5. In partnership with the Chief Administrative Officer,

      • operates an administrative and ministry leadership system that builds staff capacity, engagement, learning, satisfaction, and succession.

      • oversees capital and operating budgets, ensuring they achieve budget metrics.

      • oversees an integrated system of organizational policies and practices that ensures compliance with decisions made by synod, the Council of Delegates, the CRCNA-Canada Board of Directors, and governmental regulatory bodies.

  4. CRCNA Ministry Plan

    1. Serves as leader and partner in the design and development of the CRCNA Ministry Plan, ensuring that it is aligned with the decisions of synod.

    2. Ensures that the culture of Ministry Planning and Integration is based on a cycle of strategic thinking, planning, innovation, and evaluation.

    3. Brings administrative and ministry leaders, partners, and staff together to ensure consistent implementation of Joint Ministry Agreements to advance the priorities of the CRCNA Ministry Plan.

    4. Ensures that the relevant governance groups, including the Council of Delegates, have provided the necessary reviews and approvals.

    5. Ensures that an annual Ministry Plan report is provided to synod, supplying progress updates and identifying future ministry needs, opportunities, and making recommendations.

  5. Ecumenical Relations

    1. Invites ecumenical guests to synod and nurtures and tends those relationships.

    2. Consults and coordinates the ministry leaders and partners on international ecumenical and interfaith matters.

    3. Is responsible for advancing the work of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee by serving as an ex officio member of the committee and serving as Ecumenical Officer of the CRCNA.

    4. Works closely with the Executive Director-Canada as outlined in the Joint Ecumenical Agreement.

  6. Synodical Services

    1. Supervises the offices and staff of Synodical Services to ensure the delivery of services and synodical functions.

    2. Serves as an ex officio member of the Candidacy, Historical, Judicial Code, and Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations committees.

    3. Is responsible for the oversight of the budget processes for Synodical Services, synodical study committees, and task forces.

  7. Other Duties

    1. Performs such other duties as synod or the Council of Delegates shall direct.

Qualifications

  1. Personal and Professional Characteristics

    1. Exemplifies a strong, vibrant Christian faith marked by spiritual humility and moral integrity.

    2. Is a member of the CRCNA, or is willing to become such a member.

    3. Understands the life and polity of the CRCNA.

    4. Possesses the ability to provide exceptional leadership within a multiagency and binational denomination.

    5. Has the capacity to listen and learn.

    6. Exhibits the ability to bridge diverse perspectives and inspire trust.

    7. Has executive presence.

    8. Effectively stewards the authority of the position.

    9. Demonstrates sound judgment and wisdom in decision making.

    10. Has compassion for people who are poor, lost, or disenfranchised.

  2. Education and Experience

    1. An M.Div. degree is a minimal requirement.

    2. Ordination as minister of the Word in the CRCNA.

    3. A minimum of 10 years of parish experience or a combination of chaplaincy, parish, educational, or relevant professional/organizational institutional leadership experience.

    4. Advanced degrees in theology with specialization in missiology, ecumenism, church polity, ecclesiology and/or graduate degrees/professional designations in areas such as communications, business administration, nonprofit leadership, and organizational behavior and development are preferred.

    5. Experience in organizational communication is required.

      • advanced written and oral communication and group presentation skills

      • ability to utilize a variety of media platforms in organizational messaging

    6. Oral or written fluency in a second language is desired: Korean, Spanish, French, or Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese).

  3. Preferred Knowledge and Leadership Experience

    1. An exceptional knowledge and understanding of Reformed church polity and matters of Church Order interpretation and application.

    2. A developed understanding of Reformed theology and its relationship to other Christian traditions and major religions and their communities.

    3. Familiarity with the CRCNA, its history, its churches, its ministers, its lay leaders, and its ministries in both Canada and the United States.

    4. Ability to move with ease and dignity in North American and international ecclesiastical circles, and to be congenial and cooperative with representatives of other churches as well as with members of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

    5. Administrative and organizational ability in such measure as to be able to plan and work collaboratively with individuals and teams.

    6. Proven success in establishing relationships with individuals and organizations of influence, including partner agencies/churches and volunteers.