Asia Regional Director - Chiayi, Taiwan
LCMS Office of International Mission
Organization Profile
In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities, and world. The LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) aspires to most effectively carry out its foreign mission area roles and responsibilities as established by LCMS Constitution and Bylaws, giving primary focus to fulfillment of mission emphases, priorities and assignments provided by the Synod in convention, goals set by the Synod President and policies developed and determined by the Board for International Mission (BIM).
Reporting Relationships
* Reports to the OIM Managing Director – Global Mission Operations.
* Maintains strong working relationship with the Managing Director – Global Business Operations.
* As a member of the international team, relates to and collaborates with the Regional Directors with respect to matters of mutual concern.
* Maintains positive, dynamic relationships with partners, including LCMS mission societies, districts, and church leaders, working with them in the design and implementation of mission strategies within the region.
* Works in cooperation with Church Relations and, when requested, serves as the representative of the President with all official and unofficial partners in the region, establishing and promoting good inter‑church relationships on behalf of the LCMS.
Essential Job Functions
* Stays abreast of local and geo‑political realities, cultural, social, economic and other issues, that may affect the international operations of the LCMS.
* Leads the development of all LCMS witness and mercy ministries and programs, coordinating the design, documentation, monitoring, and evaluation of LCMS activities in the assigned region.
* Leads, manages and coordinates LCMS diakonic programs in the assigned regions.
* Leads and manages all LCMS employees and local personnel in the region and specifically seeks to develop leadership in the assigned regions.
* Coordinates with St. Louis Operations and assists in providing the security, management, development and spiritual care of all LCMS missionaries and staff in accordance with established policies and best practices.
* Prepares and manages, in cooperation with OIM, an annual budget for regional operations and in support of Lutheran ministries in the assigned regions.
* Ensures financial and theological integrity in all LCMS‑funded activities and programs.
* Builds and manages partnerships in support of Lutheran ministries while ensuring financial and theological integrity and maintaining goodwill.
* Collaborates with Lutheran partners in support of new and existing mission initiatives, Lutheran mission and planting of Lutheran churches.
* Strive to apply and expand the FORO model toward church planting (Res. 2‑07A, 2023 Convention Proceedings, p. 126).
* Builds the capacity of the LCMS to function as a faithful Lutheran partner in the region.
* Assists the OIM Executive Director, the Managing Director – Global Mission Operations and/or the Managing Director – Global Business Operations with special projects, as assigned.
* Builds the capacity of missionaries and staff in the assigned region, especially regarding the identification, mentoring, training, and supervision of missionaries to serve in various management and leadership roles.
* Represents the President of the LCMS, as requested and directed by the President, in inter‑church communication and relationships in the region and in regional church relations, especially with respect to official partner churches;
* Assists the Synod leadership in responding to international issues, trends and events, and in the development of international policies, procedures, and priorities.
* Advises and guides other Synod entities with respect to activities in the region.
* Maintains appropriate relationships as the LCMS liaison for all LCMS entities, including seminaries, schools and other institutions, in the assigned region.
Education and Experience
* Active, in good standing, member of an LCMS congregation, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws and policies.
* Rostered member status with the LCMS as a minister of religion – ordained, required.
* Master of Divinity degree or equivalent required.
* Advanced graduate degree(s) in field(s) relating to essential job functions preferred.
* Solid working knowledge of practical Lutheran theology and Lutheran missiology.
* A minimum of five years of experience as a parish pastor required.
* A minimum of three years of experience in a managerial/supervisory role, preferably church‑ministry related, required.
* International church mission or other professional international work experience required.
* Ability to communicate at a high level in language(s) other than English preferred.
* Competencies (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)
* Knowledge of and unequivocal concurrence with the doctrine, practices, mission, structure and programmatic ministries of the LCMS.
* Familiarity and ability to engage/work effectively within multiple cultural contexts with a broad spectrum of Synod stakeholders: LCMS senior national and district leadership, rostered workers, agencies, auxiliaries and other partners of Synod — with special focus on global church partners and others involved in international mission.
* Strong interpersonal communication abilities, written and oral, including attentive and active listening, critical thinking, persuasiveness and ability to effectively deliver counsel and advice.
* Ability to understand and manage organization budgets, general working expertise with business administrative and management principles and responsible practices with respect to human and financial resources.
* Ability to lead and supervise local and global teams of substantial size.
* Demonstrated discretion and judgment in confidential matters.
* Ability to prioritize activities in harmony with organization goals, plan and manage multiple projects and work effectively under the time and manpower constraints in a dynamic, complex environment.
Supervisory Responsibility
* Direct reports include:
o Regional Business Manager
o Area Facilitators
o Regional Care Coordinator
o Regional Chaplain
* Oversight of all missionaries, alliance missionaries and other expatriate staff working abroad in the designated regions.
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