Assistant to the Secretary of Synod

Organization Profile The Secretary performs the customary duties of a corporate secretary; carries out required responsibilities relating to conventions of the Synod; performs such other work as pertains to his office by bylaw or by assignment by conventions, the President, or the Board of Directors; and provides counsel from the Constitution, Bylaws, and resolutions of the Synod to the National Synod officers and departments, district officers, and members of the Synod on a daily basis.
The office supports several governance processes and other functions for the broader Synod: Synod Convention: Pre-convention, in-convention, and post-convention nomination and overture/resolution document management, editorial, and printing; delegate and representative registration; nomination process for President and vice-presidents; support of Committee for Convention Nominations, including its triennial meeting and the officer, board, and commission nomination process; online election of the President; election notifications; management of constitutional amendment and other congregational ballots; and elected office roster management.
Between conventions: handling of vacancy nomination and appointment processes for convention-elected positions.
Board of Directors: Maintenance and distribution of official minutes; support of nominations and appointments for board-appointed positions.
Commissions on Constitutional Matters and Handbook: Maintenance of minutes and other records; management of correspondence; editorial of communications, reports, and overtures; handling of frequently-asked / readily-answerable bylaw questions.
Editorial, maintenance, and printing of the Synod Handbook.
Dispute Resolution / Expulsion Processes: Training and maintenance of rosters of reconcilers and facilitators; administration of processes (assembling panels; cataloging, duplicating, and distributing exhibits; assuring and documenting compliance with formal, structured process) Council of Presidents / District Presidents: Support of roster processes and Clergy Call and Roster Committee; management of meeting/travel budget District Secretaries: Triennial training; support of various processes and questions at the district level.
LCMS Rosters, Statistics, and Research Services: Supervision of roster, statistical, and research work in service to the districts and broader Synod; coordination of processes involving congregational and district participation.
Concordia Historical Institute / Department of Archives: Archival of records at end of active life.
Recognized Service Organization Program: Handling of application and granting correspondence and records.
LCMS Communications: Maintenance of official notices, internet resources, and other communications related to the above.
Reporting Relationships Reports to the Secretary of the Synod.
Relates to Officers, staffs, and commissions of the Synod, especially Rosters, Statistics, and Research Services; rostered members of the LCMS, leadership of member congregations of the Synod; district and other agency leadership and staff.
Essential Job Functions Provide fundamental assistance with polity / historical research / Synod process and governance support.
Capable of managing and facilitating Bylaw-mandated SECR-related processes (nominations, reconciler roster maintenance and training coordination, system and communication modernization) efficiently.
Provide support and training to district staff and district presidents on roster-related functions, and maintenance of the COP manual.
Analyze processes with the ability to modernize and streamline them in concert with important partners throughout the Synod.
Provide valuable consultation and collaboration on research projects and help develop metadata for historical research, enabling more efficient access to a broader audience (convention documents, BOD minutes, etc.
).
Assist the Secretary of the Synod with additional duties as assigned.
Education and Experience Faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, Bylaws, and policies.
Formal education in understanding and applying Lutheran theology, preferably at a master’s level or with equivalent experience in responsible positions.
A minimum of five years’ experience serving with a significant administrative focus in a non-profit, church-related organization.
Rostered member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, minister of religion – ordained advantageous but not required; commissioned ministers and laypersons will also be considered.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Clear understanding of LCMS structure and doctrine.
Proficient command of the English language, spelling, and punctuation, that expresses solid communication and writing skills.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Able to use discretion with confidential matters, even within the working environment.
Ability to proof documents for spelling, punctuation, grammar, clarity, and accuracy relative to written standards and customs.
Able to draft correspondence according to appropriate templates/guidance and handle mail merge as necessary.
Able to take and follow instructions, to document and manage documented processes; to prioritize competing demands, multi-task, and budget time to maintain precision and timeline for multiple ongoing processes; to work efficiently, accurately, timely, and with appropriate level of independence under pressure.
Able to apply good judgment in administering tasks, coordinating face-to-face or online with the Secretary of the Synod, identifying those parts of processes that can be carried out or inquiries that can be answered confidently with independence, as well as those points at which clarification or escalation is needed.
Able and willing to work cooperatively with staff in the LCMS Office of Rosters, Statistics, and Research Services; the administrator to the Chief Administrative Officer; and others.
Able and willing to be flexible with schedule demands in periodically intense periods of work and willing to travel to Synod Conventions held out of state.
Able and willing to maintain professional appearance, as well as an accommodating and pleasant attitude, to work effectively and collegially with all levels of internal and external contacts and to maintain good working relationships with co-workers.
Microsoft Office suite (Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel), Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Experience in a multi-user / managed document environment (Microsoft SharePoint / OneDrive or Smartsheets) desirable.
Able and willing to learn and adapt to new computer software and electronic processes, including willingness to take additional computer training.
Supervisory Responsibility None