Program Director for Sumud: for Justice in Palestine and Israel in CHICAGO, Illinois at Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

This posting will close August 14, 2026, at 11:00 pm central time.

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 3 million members in more than 8,600 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of “God’s work. Our hands.,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA’s roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.

The Lutheran Center (national office) is located in Chicago, Illinois. A staff of approximately 400, under the leadership of the Presiding Bishop, serve as administrators, advisors, conveners, partners, and resource people for the ELCA and its ministries. Staff lead the work of national, domestic, and global ministries and programs including Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger, Service & Justice, Christian Community and Leadership, and Innovation. We are also home to five of our separately incorporated ministries: The Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA, Women of the ELCA, Lutheran Men in Mission, the ELCA Foundation and the ELCA Federal Credit Union.

About the position

Through the Service and Justice unit, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Churchwide Organization (CWO) shall foster and facilitate this church’s engagement in service with and among communities and promote efforts to call and act for justice. The work of ELCA Service and Justice includes engaging in mission, service, and justice in accompaniment with churches and organizations in other countries. The Service and Justice unit serves as a channel through which churches in other countries engage in mission to this church and society.

Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel is an initiative of the ELCA that replaces the prior ELCA campaign known as Peace Not Walls. Sumud is an Arabic word meaning “steadfastness.” This work focuses on building ELCA engagement to support accompaniment, awareness-raising, and advocacy in relation to Palestine and Israel, with a focus on engagement that is 1) holistic (across expressions of the church, and bringing together many approaches and kinds of engagement), 2) intersectional (connected to similar issues of justice in U.S. and other communities such as gender and environmental justice, etc.), and 3) guided by longstanding relationships with Palestinian partners as the experts on the ground. The program director will lead the work of Sumud in engagement and awareness-raising and will collaborate with relevant ELCA colleagues on advocacy support, through the specific responsibilities outlined below. The work of Sumud continues to be grounded in the ELCA’s accompaniment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

This is a full-time, regular, exempt, Chicago-based/hybrid position. This position has responsibilities that will require being in the office a minimum of 2 day each week and more as needed, keeping regular weekday business hours for meetings and collaborative work, as well as some domestic and international travel to represent Sumud at events, conferences, and partner visits.

Candidates for this position must reside within the fifty United States or the District of Columbia and be authorized to work lawfully in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Job Responsibilities

1. Directs the Sumud: for justice in Palestine and Israel initiative; creates and implements a strategic plan that includes clear articulation of its mission, vision, values and goals; a yearly calendar of events and resources; and a communications strategy for online and in-person information sharing and network building, all grounded in and guided by accompaniment of Palestinian communities.

2. Leads effective, strategic engagement across expressions and institutions of the ELCA (congregations, synods, churchwide organization; ELCA seminaries, colleges and universities, campus and outdoor ministries; etc.) to connect these constituencies to the ELCA’s ongoing holistic work of accompaniment, awareness-raising, and advocacy for justice in Palestine and Israel; fosters and supports healthy, sustainable networks of grass-roots engagement, including the Sumud Ambassador network.

3. Oversees Sumud collaboration with key related areas of the Churchwide organization in areas related to Israel/Palestine, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and intersectional justice work (in the U.S. and globally) for shared awareness-raising, advocacy, and accompaniment in ELCA-affiliated spaces and for ELCA-related audiences.

4. Supports the work of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Desk in collaboration with the MENA Desk Director, including the implementation of the MENA strategy in relation to Palestine and Israel.

5. Oversees Sumud collaboration with key stakeholders including the Association of Lutherans of Arab and Middle Eastern heritage (ALAMEH) and the two companion synods of the ELCJHL (New England and Southeast Michigan); works with all ELCA bishops/synods to continue to identify and develop the Sumud Ambassador network within every ELCA synod.

6. Help the MENA desk to convene a review team with the help of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) Desk Director to examine the 2005 ELCA Strategy for Engagement in Palestine and Israel in preparation for presenting an updated, revised, or new strategy to the Church Council.

7. Administers the online presence of Sumud (ELCA website, social network platforms, webinars, email listservs and others) to ensure consistent, clear, and engaging communication with ELCA audiences and to provide avenues for further education, relational connection, and action.

8. Represents Sumud, and/or coordinates Sumud in-person presence at major ELCA gatherings, ELCA-affiliated institutions and events, and Sumud-sponsored events.

9. Develops, curates, and/or shares theological, educational, and practical resources for ELCA and U.S. Christian audiences about the historical and current context of the Holy Land, especially the story and presence of Palestinian Christians; the theological foundations of our ELCA engagement for justice in Palestine and Israel; and the intersections of that work with the ELCA’s justice work both within the United States and globally. Resources will include educational and devotional materials for use in church settings, guidance for the planning of accompaniment and justice-focused Holy Land pilgrimages, and online events to raise awareness among ELCA members and to equip ELCA leaders (rostered and lay) in their own awareness-raising efforts in ministry settings and in public theology. Highlights theological and other resources from the ELCJHL and other partners. Stays informed, educated, and current about the realities on the ground in Palestine and Israel.

10. Plans and/or participates in strategic accompaniment visits to the ELCJHL and Israel/Palestine for ELCA bishops, CWO and synodical leaders, rostered ministers, lay persons and other stakeholders; and advises synodical, congregational, seminary/university, and other ELCA-affiliated groups in planning independent Holy Land trips to incorporate Sumud goals.

Other duties as assigned.

1. 5+ years of relevant experience in one of the following areas: communications, theology, political science, social justice, or another relevant field; Bachelor’s degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Master’s degree preferred. ELCA rostered ministers are welcome to apply.

2. Extensive knowledge of and substantial experience in justice issues in Palestine and Israel, including the presence and role of the Palestinian Christian community. Recent (within the last five-ten years) direct (on the ground) experience in Israel/Palestine strongly preferred.

3. Capacity for and experience with critical thinking, theological and political reflection on issues of justice, and the ability to educate others on these issues and reflections.

4. Knowledge of techniques to create, build, promote, and sustain grassroots networks for engagement and to equip volunteer leaders within those networks.

5. Informed appreciation of the contributions of the Christian tradition to public life and the role of faith-based, ecumenical, and inter-religious coalitions in shared commitments for social change. Commitment to building and maintaining substantial knowledge of the social teaching and policy commitments of the ELCA in the areas of Israel/Palestine, accompaniment, and intersectionality.

6. A high standard of professional effectiveness including organization, efficiency, creativity, and follow through; flexibility, skill in time management, and the ability to prioritize effectively between competing priorities; initiative, ownership, and the ability to lead in a demanding environment.

7. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate well to and communicate effectively with politically and demographically diverse groups of people.

8. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience in strategic use of social media and online platforms, and the ability to address diverse audiences of various sizes and levels of familiarity, for awareness-raising and activation around common goals.

9. High ability to carry out instructions from supervisor in a timely and effective manner.

10. Appreciation for the mission, vision and values of the ELCA.

11. Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism.

12. Minimum Technical Competency: Computer knowledge that enables you to operate a Windows Computer and follow basic troubleshooting instructions. Software skills to efficiently use computer programs and applications. Ability to leverage computer knowledge and software skills to understand new software, follow process, and identify opportunities for improvement. Experience using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.) preferred.

Physical

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone. This position requires sitting for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel

Position requires considerable overnight, domestic, and international travel by plane or car. Valid driver’s license preferred. U.S. passport required. Considerable travel; up to 25% - approximately 12 weeks

Benefits

The ELCA offers a competitive benefits package for eligible employees, including employer paid health premiums for employees, health and dependent care FSA’s, a health savings account (HSA) with an employer contribution, life insurance, and a substantial employer contribution to 403b retirement plan (no match required). We also offer a generous paid time-off policy including 17 paid holidays. All benefits commence on your start date.

Contact

If you have questions about this job or your application, please email us at Careers.HR@elca.org.

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. As a religious organization, we reserve the right, where permitted by applicable federal and state law, to employ individuals who share and support our religious beliefs, mission, and values.