Multicultural Vitality Coordinator

Area Function

The Congregational Vitality department equips dioceses, congregations, and ministry leaders to cultivate healthy, adaptive, and sustainable Episcopal communities. Its work advances missional priorities through church planting, congregational revitalization and redevelopment, leadership formation, grants and strategic investments, coaching and networks, research and learning, and partnerships across The Episcopal Church. The department connects churchwide resources with local contexts so that dioceses and congregations can discern and take their next faithful steps toward vitality and mission. 

Job Summary

The Multicultural Vitality Coordinator provides program coordination for multicultural church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment initiatives within the Congregational Vitality department of The Episcopal Church. The position cultivates relationships and partnerships with dioceses and communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in church planting, and helps ensure that congregational vitality strategies, programs, resources, and partnerships are culturally responsive and rooted in the lived experiences of diverse communities.

Reporting directly to the Director of Congregational Vitality, the Multicultural Vitality Coordinator works collaboratively across the Episcopal Church, including with ethnic missioners, diocesan leaders, church planters, revitalizers and redevelopers. The Coordinator will also help build and work closely with the Multicultural and Global Advisory Group. The Coordinator supports the development and implementation of initiatives that strengthen the Church's capacity to engage diverse communities and develop culturally rooted expressions of Christian community.

Reporting Relationships

Reports to the Director of Congregational Vitality. This position has no direct reports and works closely with other Congregational Vitality staff and other staff when needed. 

Duties & Essential Job Functions

Develop and Maintain Strategic Partnerships: Establish and sustain partnerships with dioceses, ethnic missioners, Episcopal Church leaders, and other stakeholders to advance coordinated multicultural church planting, revitalization, redevelopment, and congregational vitality efforts.

Support Culturally Responsive Congregational Vitality Initiatives: Provide strategic support for the assessment, development, implementation, and continuous improvement of culturally responsive church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment initiatives, resulting in stronger and more sustainable congregations.

Coordinate Churchwide Learning and Resources: Coordinate churchwide learning, resources, peer support, and collaborative opportunities that strengthen the capacity of church planters, revitalizers, diocesan leaders, and other partners to advance multicultural congregational vitality.

Support Advisory and Evaluation Processes: Coordinate the Multicultural and Global Advisory Group into initiative development and evaluation, ensuring that the perspectives of historically underrepresented communities inform strategies, resources, and partnerships.

Strengthen Collaboration and Program Effectiveness: Improve communication, coordination, and resource-sharing among dioceses, ethnic missioners, and other partners, resulting in effective implementation and ongoing advancement of program goals.

Principal Responsibilities

• Cultivate and sustain partnerships with dioceses and other Episcopal Church leaders engaged in multicultural and/or ethnicity-centered church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment initiatives.
• Accompany and support diocesan partners as they assess, develop, and implement culturally rooted approaches to church planting and congregational vitality.
• Work closely with ethnic missioners across The Episcopal Church to coordinate cross-departmental support, resources, and opportunities related to multicultural church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment.
• Provide culturally responsive program leadership and contribute to the development of strategies, practices, resources, and learning opportunities that strengthen multicultural congregational vitality.
• Establish, coordinate, and support the work of the 12-member Multicultural and Global Advisory Group, which will help shape, review, and refine the initiative during its first three years. Ensure that the perspectives and experiences of communities historically underrepresented in church planting inform emerging strategies, resources, and partnerships.
• Assist with the assessment, development, and ongoing support of church planting, revitalization, and redevelopment efforts throughout The Episcopal Church, with particular attention to culturally responsive approaches.
• Design, coordinate, and implement online gatherings, learning opportunities, and other offerings that support multicultural congregational vitality initiatives and foster connection and shared learning across dioceses.
• Work closely with multicultural cohorts of church planters and revitalizers to facilitate learning, peer connection, accompaniment, and access to relevant resources and support.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, communication, and resource-sharing among dioceses, ethnic missioners, congregational vitality leaders, and other partners.
• Contribute to the evaluation and ongoing refinement of multicultural congregational vitality initiatives, incorporating feedback and learning from diocesan partners, advisory group members, and participating congregations.

Other Functions And Responsibilities

Performs other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience. 
• Three to five years of experience in ministry leadership, multicultural ministry, congregational development, church planting, program coordination, community engagement, or a related field. 
• Demonstrated experience building trusted relationships and working collaboratively across cultures, languages, racial and ethnic communities, and geographic contexts. 
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural humility and culturally responsive approaches to ministry, leadership, and community development. 
• Working knowledge of The Episcopal Church’s structures, polity, and ministries, or demonstrated experience working effectively within a comparable denominational, churchwide, or nonprofit context. 
• Strong relationship-building and partnership-development skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diocesan leaders, congregations, ministry practitioners, churchwide staff, and community partners. 
• Strong facilitation skills and experience creating spaces for listening, shared learning, collaboration, and relationship-building. 
• Strong program and project coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives, relationships, timelines, and stakeholders. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully across diverse cultural contexts. 
• Ability to listen to and synthesize perspectives from multiple communities and translate learning into practical strategies, resources, programs, and partnerships. 
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating effectively with a geographically and culturally diverse team and network of partners. 
• Ability and willingness to travel for diocesan visits, gatherings, cohorts, meetings, and other program activities.

Preferred

• Graduate education or advanced training in theology, ministry, intercultural studies, community development, organizational leadership, or a related field. 
• Ordained or lay ministry experience within The Episcopal Church. 
• Familiarity with the ethnic ministries and multicultural networks of The Episcopal Church. 
• Bilingual or multilingual proficiency, especially in a language represented among communities served by The Episcopal Church.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

This position regularly requires prolonged computer use and participation in virtual meetings; frequent written and verbal communication; and the ability to organize, transport, and set up event materials. The employee must be able to travel by air and ground transportation and navigate hotels, conference facilities, churches, and other event sites. The position may occasionally require lifting or moving materials weighing up to 25 pounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.