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The Role
Leads declining Christian Reformed congregations through discernment, renewal, closure, and legacy planning. Provides consultation, coaching, and pastoral care to church leaders navigating grief, conflict, organizational change, membership transfers, property dissolution, and asset designation. Advises denominational leaders on legal and financial requirements, develops guidance materials, and collaborates on church planting and ministry transition outcomes. The role requires extensive travel in Canada and the United States, including 50% travel during fall and spring.
Summary Generated by Built In
PURPOSE:
This position will support and implement Thrive’s Crossroads discernment pathway efforts by shepherding Christian Reformed congregations near the end of their lifecycle. This role seeks to walk alongside local church leadership to navigate the emotional terrain of grief and loss. Through a pastoral care posture and an open-handed Kingdom orientation, this role helps congregations discern their role in God’s redemptive mission in this moment of their congregational life.
This position will support and implement Thrive’s Crossroads discernment pathway efforts by shepherding Christian Reformed congregations near the end of their lifecycle. This role seeks to walk alongside local church leadership to navigate the emotional terrain of grief and loss. Through a pastoral care posture and an open-handed Kingdom orientation, this role helps congregations discern their role in God’s redemptive mission in this moment of their congregational life.
The starting salary for this position is $91,482/year USD or $93,084/year CAD
This position offers a flexible remote work schedule and an attractive benefits package, including retirement fund contribution, four weeks of vacation, and more.
The CRCNA exhibits love for the diversity of the human family. As such we welcome & encourage all regardless of race, ethnicity, ability and culture to apply. Should you require any accommodation throughout the recruitment process please do not hesitate contacting our Human Resources Department.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Lead declining congregations through Thrive’s Crossroads discernment process.
- Help church members gain clarity on internal dynamics, denominational expectations, and their missional context to make faithful decisions.
- Provide consultation, coaching, and pastoral care to pastors and council chairs, guiding them through administrative dynamics of the congregational lifecycle transitions or renewal pathways.
- Guide church leadership in providing compassionate care for departing members and facilitating membership transfers to nearby congregations.
- Advise classis leaders on legacy pathways, renewal options, and church closure processes, ensuring all legal and financial requirements are met.
- Guide disbanding congregations and classis leadership in property dissolution and the designation of financial assets.
- Partner closely with Resonate Global Mission, Candidacy, and local classis leadership teams to establish church planting and normalized legacy outcomes for concluding ministries.
- Author and curate clear, accessible guidance materials, tools, and case studies on legacy planning and asset designation for distribution across congregations and classes.
- Other duties as assigned.
None
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE:
QUALIFICATIONS
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
- Professing membership in a Christian Reformed congregation, or of a church in communion with the CRCNA, and agreement with the doctrine of the church signified by signing a covenant statement.
- Demonstrated capacity to navigate emotional landscapes, including grief, conflict resolution, and organizational change.
- Consultative and coaching skills with experience in guiding church councils through discernment processes and planning.
- Demonstrated capacity for working cross-culturally and collaborating with diverse congregations.
- Highly collaborative cross-functional team player.
- Master’s degree in pastoral ministry, theology, clinical counseling, social work, or a related field required.
- Intermediate experience with the Crossroads Discernment Process, specialized transitional ministry, or related congregational renewal framework.
- Advanced pastoral leadership experience in transitional ministry or church renewal.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to travel in Canada and the United States as needed to support classes and congregations.
- 50% travel during the fall and spring, including weekends, is required to perform the duties and responsibilities described above.
Full-time Benefits
Benefits may be pro-rated based on # of hours worked per week:
- Work-Life Balance
- Full-Time Flexible Work Arrangements
- Generous Vacation and Holiday Time
- Competitive benefits and retirement plan
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Contributing to an organization that is making an impact in the world
About
Who We AreThe Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) includes just over one thousand congregations across the United States and Canada. About 75 percent of the churches are in the United States and 25 percent are in Canada. While we're a denomination with churches and ministries in two countries, we share in the blessings of ecclesial unity and joint ministry. Almost 230,000 people belong to the CRCNA—not a large number when you consider the population of our two countries. But by God’s grace we can accomplish a lot when we work together.The CRCNA denominational offices serve the local church, providing resources to pastors and congregations so that people are introduced to Jesus Christ and their faith is nurtured. Other agencies of the CRCNA include ReFrame Ministries, Resonate Global Mission, and World Renew. Be Who You AreThe CRCNA is committed to building a culture of belonging that encourages, supports, and celebrates the voices and experiences of all our employees. We strive to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our broader culture and the Christian church, and invite all qualified candidates to apply. To read the CRCNA Diversity Statement click here
Skills Required
- Professing membership in a Christian Reformed congregation or a church in communion with the CRCNA, and agreement with CRCNA doctrine by signing a covenant statement
- Ability to navigate grief, conflict resolution, and organizational change
- Consultative and coaching experience guiding church councils through discernment processes and planning
- Ability to work cross-culturally and collaborate with diverse congregations
- Strong collaboration and cross-functional teamwork skills
- Master's degree in pastoral ministry, theology, clinical counseling, social work, or a related field
- Intermediate experience with the Crossroads Discernment Process, specialized transitional ministry, or a related congregational renewal framework
- Advanced pastoral leadership experience in transitional ministry or church renewal
- Ability to travel in Canada and the United States as needed
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The Company
What We Do
The Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) is a Protestant Calvinist Christian denomination that serves as a diverse family of congregations, assemblies, and ministries expressing the good news of God's kingdom.
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