The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (VAUMC), with central offices located in the suburbs of Richmond, VA, seeks to hire a Director of Intersectional Justice and Equity. VAUMC sees this opportunity as a leading step so that all may experience the God of welcome, belonging, inclusion, justice, mercy, unity, and reconciliation. This role is responsible for challenging, leading, and equipping the people of The Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church to grow in their competencies as it pertains to intersectionality, diversity, inclusion, equity and justice as the Conference strives to create a culture that better represents the fullness of God’s created humanity.
Our theology asserts that Jesus calls us to love one another as we have been loved. Our Baptismal vows call us to resist evil injustice and oppression and affirm the church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races. We affirm that individuals from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are valued and honored, and that dialogue on racial injustice is imperative. We affirm that people of all gender and sexual identities are of sacred worth. We affirm that people of all abilities deserve a place of full belonging. We affirm that each person is a beloved child of God, made in the divine image, and worthy of fully belonging and flourishing within all aspects of the life and leadership of the church.
Within these affirmations, we acknowledge that historically and systemically we have fostered our own spaces of injustice, oppression, and inequity that are at times obvious and at other times implicit. We acknowledge that we participate in a world where there is an intertwining web of justice concerns and barriers that impact individuals and systems simultaneously, creating combinations of discrimination and privilege.
Therefore, we seek a Director of Intersectional Justice and Equitywith the following capacities:
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
● Lead the charge in developing and implementing accountability structures for intersectional justice, equity, and inclusion in all facets of the Virginia Conference. These structures should call upon leaders and congregations to acknowledge and dismantle systems and behaviors of racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia that may be internalized, interpersonal, institutional and structural.
● Define and direct advocacy and intersectional justice and equity initiatives across the Conference, at all levels, doing so in leadership and partnership with the Bishop, Appointive and Extended Cabinets, Conference Office, Districts, local churches, general agencies, and the connectional structures of the United Methodist Church.
● Support efforts to integrate conference racial justice initiatives, promote the full inclusion of all people, and create a culture where all voices and ideas are welcomed in all related ministries.
● Work with Cabinet, local churches, and Board of Ordained Ministry to develop and support cross-racial/cross-cultural and multicultural ministries.
● Support the Center for Clergy Excellence in recruiting clergy from diverse communities.
● Providing training, resources, and consultation at all levels of the Virginia Conference.
● Work within the Nominations process to ensure all people are represented with both place
and voice on conference Boards and Agencies.
● Serve as a staff liaison for CCORR and work with any boards or agencies toward the promotion of intersectional justice and the opportunities to feature this work in front facing capacities.
● Communicate often with Conference leadership and local church representatives about successes, opportunities, and needs related to diversity, equity, justice, and advocacy.
● Publish an annual report on the status of the Conference on Advocacy and Intersectional Justice and Equity, including case studies, and develop a manual for responding to racism, injustice, and inequity.
● Engage in vital conversations about the realities of race, culture, disabilities, and LGBTQIA inclusion in local and global contexts through consultations, research, reports, and annual conference training.
● Increase diversity competency (also referred to as intercultural competence) among pastors and leaders who can engage in ministries that promote inclusion at every level of the Church.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS
● Bachelor’s Degree is required. Advanced degree(s) in relevant fields preferred.
● 3-5 years of related experience with at least 2 years of supervisory experience.
● Proven experience in program planning, training, and evaluation background and/or community organizing experience is strongly preferred.
● Profess a strong and obvious faith in God through Jesus Christ and a commitment to social justice grounded in the Christian Scriptures and Wesleyan tradition and theology.
● Grounded in an understanding that the local church is the primary arena through which disciple-making takes place.
● Comprehensive understanding of United Methodist doctrine and polity.
● Comprehensive knowledge, understanding, and experience with anti-racism; with systems of oppression; with the concepts and practices of equity, inclusion, and justice; and with how injustice intersects across social lines of demarcation (e.g., race, gender, sexuality, ability, and class).
● Ability to share knowledge, understanding, and experience to duplicate the models and practices of equity, inclusion, and justice to others within the Conference.
● High emotional intelligence, healthy conflict resolution skills, high cultural intelligence, an openness to learning, and an awareness of resources related to equity, inclusion, and justice.
● A high capacity to influence, manage, function in, and lead through organizational change, which includes a proven track record of fostering, driving, and implementing innovative ideas with broad impact.
● Demonstrated strategic partnering skills and the ability to work across functions and communities to develop ideas and deliver outcomes.
● Demonstrated experience articulating a vision, translating it into executable strategy and driving cross-functional teams to deliver against the plan.
● High level of proficiency with MS Office products including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Publisher.
ADDITIONAL
● This position reports directly to the Bishop of the Virginia Annual Conference
● The Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks and encourages applications from minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities. All offers of employment are subject to the applicant successfully completing background, reference, and other applicable checks.
Organization: The Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church
Contact: Cindi Kerr
Phone: 8045171012
Closing Date: 03/28/2025
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