Wheaton College
Rural Church Institute Director
Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, United States, 60189
Wheaton College Billy Graham Center
Director, Rural Church Institute
Vision
The Rural Church Institute (RCI) exists to serve, equip, and mobilize rural churches to reach their communities with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Across a wide range of rural communities and contexts, RCI reflects a community for pastors and Christian leaders working to address the unique and pressing needs of rural churches. Through pastoral cohorts, resourcing, and gathering rural leaders, RCI is a hub for gospel mission by and for rural leaders.
Responsibilities
The Director of the Rural Church Institute oversees the training, resourcing, and gathering of rural pastors and leaders related to the various projects, initiatives, and research of the institute. The director will be responsible for developing and implementing the RCI strategy to fulfill Lilly Foundation grant as part of its “Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative.” To this end, the director will oversee grant partnerships, craft and administer rural-focused evangelism curriculum-based cohorts, recruit and train cohort coaches, and develop online resources and events to serve rural communities and churches. The RCI Director reports to the Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center (WCBGC) and works in the WCBGC.
This position is full-time with benefits and is funded by foundation grants and cohort fees that extend through at least 2029.
Duties
Evangelism Pastoral Cohorts
Provide regular supervision and development to RCI cohort administration staff, working to coordinate cohort recruitment, administration, and logistics. Work alongside the Director of Operations of the Church Evangelism Institutes to develop a strategy for cohort administration. Work alongside key CEI leaders (including directors of CEI and AACEI) as well as in consultation with key rural leaders to adapt the existing CEI curriculum to fit rural contexts.
Online Training and Resources
Develop and implement online training and resources to address the unique sociological needs of rural churches and communities. Consult and coordinate with Wheaton College Marriage and Family Counseling and other areas of the College to develop timely and relevant training for rural church pastors.
Rural Church Leadership and Advocacy
Champion rural church needs, contributions, and perspectives through pursuing writing and speaking opportunities both within rural-focused platforms and within the broader evangelical community. Develop and sustain ongoing partnerships with rural leaders, organizations, and networks. Maintain the RCI website as a significant repository for rural leaders and provide thought leadership through WCBGC’s platforms.
Grant Partnership Administration and Leadership
Coordinate with Partner Organization Leaders and/or Initiative Leaders to ensure projects achieve key outcomes. Plan, coordinate, and host the annual gathering of Partnering Organizations at Wheaton College, establishing key objectives, training needs, and potential contributions. Attend regional gatherings of Partnering Organizations where applicable in order to support in line with the vision of the key metrics and vision of RCI.
Partner with the RCI Advisory Committee
Work with the founding RCI Advisory Committee (AC) and WCBGC Leadership to recruit and install other committee members. Partner with the AC to establish, sustain, and execute on the vision and mission of RCI. Coordinate and lead quarterly AC meetings.
As an institute of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, the RCI Director will be a key subject matter expert and leader within the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center team and will regularly engage in initiatives, events, and research related to its overall vision, mission, and strategy. Qualifications: Master level education required; Doctor level education preferred. Proven leadership gifts and experience. Rural pastor or ministerial experience is required. Strong strategic planning and administrative skills, strong follow-through. Knowledgeable, competent, and experienced in developing others. Experience and success in leadership within entrepreneurial environments. Strong communication skills in writing, speaking, and editing. Comfortable and effective in online environments. Demonstrated commitment to personal, relational evangelism and influencing others in evangelism. Committed to a church. Physical Requirements The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle, or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 10 pounds. FLSA Status:
Exempt As a Christ-centered community, Wheaton College faculty and staff must affirm the College’s Statement of Faith as expressing their own theological convictions and agree to live by the moral standards in Wheaton’s Community Covenant, modeling these commitments for the Christian formation of our students. Wheaton College faculty and staff also support the Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment which highlights our desire to treat all individuals as equal image-bearers of Jesus Christ through diversity, inclusion, justice, and unity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Provide regular supervision and development to RCI cohort administration staff, working to coordinate cohort recruitment, administration, and logistics. Work alongside the Director of Operations of the Church Evangelism Institutes to develop a strategy for cohort administration. Work alongside key CEI leaders (including directors of CEI and AACEI) as well as in consultation with key rural leaders to adapt the existing CEI curriculum to fit rural contexts.
Online Training and Resources
Develop and implement online training and resources to address the unique sociological needs of rural churches and communities. Consult and coordinate with Wheaton College Marriage and Family Counseling and other areas of the College to develop timely and relevant training for rural church pastors.
Rural Church Leadership and Advocacy
Champion rural church needs, contributions, and perspectives through pursuing writing and speaking opportunities both within rural-focused platforms and within the broader evangelical community. Develop and sustain ongoing partnerships with rural leaders, organizations, and networks. Maintain the RCI website as a significant repository for rural leaders and provide thought leadership through WCBGC’s platforms.
Grant Partnership Administration and Leadership
Coordinate with Partner Organization Leaders and/or Initiative Leaders to ensure projects achieve key outcomes. Plan, coordinate, and host the annual gathering of Partnering Organizations at Wheaton College, establishing key objectives, training needs, and potential contributions. Attend regional gatherings of Partnering Organizations where applicable in order to support in line with the vision of the key metrics and vision of RCI.
Partner with the RCI Advisory Committee
Work with the founding RCI Advisory Committee (AC) and WCBGC Leadership to recruit and install other committee members. Partner with the AC to establish, sustain, and execute on the vision and mission of RCI. Coordinate and lead quarterly AC meetings.
As an institute of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, the RCI Director will be a key subject matter expert and leader within the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center team and will regularly engage in initiatives, events, and research related to its overall vision, mission, and strategy. Qualifications: Master level education required; Doctor level education preferred. Proven leadership gifts and experience. Rural pastor or ministerial experience is required. Strong strategic planning and administrative skills, strong follow-through. Knowledgeable, competent, and experienced in developing others. Experience and success in leadership within entrepreneurial environments. Strong communication skills in writing, speaking, and editing. Comfortable and effective in online environments. Demonstrated commitment to personal, relational evangelism and influencing others in evangelism. Committed to a church. Physical Requirements The employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear; frequently required to use repetitive hand motion, handle, or feel, and to stand, walk, reach, bend or lift up to 10 pounds. FLSA Status:
Exempt As a Christ-centered community, Wheaton College faculty and staff must affirm the College’s Statement of Faith as expressing their own theological convictions and agree to live by the moral standards in Wheaton’s Community Covenant, modeling these commitments for the Christian formation of our students. Wheaton College faculty and staff also support the Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment which highlights our desire to treat all individuals as equal image-bearers of Jesus Christ through diversity, inclusion, justice, and unity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr